How to prevent a UTI? Tips that can help you

An infection that affects the urinary system is known as a urinary tract infection, or UTI. UTIs primarily affect the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. Most infections affect the lower urinary system, which includes the bladder and urethra.

The most typical signs and symptoms include frequent and painful urination, discomfort above the bladder, and urgency. Strong smells and cloudiness are not indicators of an infection. Since women’s urethras are shorter than men’s, bacteria can enter the bladder more easily. Putting women at higher risk for a UTI. 

You are more prone to develop another UTI if you have already experienced one. 30% to 44% of women experience a second UTI within six months after their first one, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Fortunately, we have some helpful tips you can take to avoid getting a UTI. 

Drink a lot of water

Filling your bladder not only makes it easier for you to urinate more frequently, but it also dilutes your urine, which helps in preventing the growth of bacteria. The simplest method of avoiding a UTI is to flush bacteria from the bladder and urinary tract before they have a chance to develop.

Drinking fluids also preserves the health and hydration of bladder tissue. Some people can successfully treat an infection on their own by simply consuming fluids. Consider consuming at least 50 ounces, or 1.5 liters, of fluid each day to prevent infections.

Pee frequently

When bacteria enters your urinary tract through your urethra, that is the major reason why you get a UTI. So, making sure to pee frequently is one of the best strategies to reduce your risk of developing a UTI. 

Urine won’t accumulate in your bladder for a long time if you empty it frequently. This eliminates favorable conditions for the bacteria, which like warm, moist locations to develop. Normally, your bladder should be emptied four to eight times per day.

Avoid using harmful feminine products

Most urologists advise that when it comes to vaginal hygiene, all you need to wash your vulva with is warm water (your vagina already has self-cleaning properties). By keeping things simple down there and avoiding harsh chemicals when cleaning and caring for your vagina, you can help prevent potential UTIs.

Avoid using douches, perfumed powders, deodorant sprays, and other potentially irritating feminine items. They may alter the balance of beneficial bacteria in your vagina and make it easier for the bacteria that cause UTIs to grow.

Wipe from front to back

Women are instructed to wipe front to back from an early age for a reason: E. coli, the primary cause of UTIs, likes to linger around near the anus. Normally it doesn’t damage you back there, but if you push it unintentionally forward, it can move up the urethra and infect your bladder completely.

Pee after sex

Having intercourse significantly raises a person’s risk of developing a UTI if they have a vagina. Sometimes all that pushing unintentionally introduces bacteria into your urethra. Additionally, germs literally have a direct route to the urinary system thanks to women’s shorter urethras than those of males, which explains why women experience UTIs 30 times more commonly than men.

You can prevent a full-blown UTI by urinating both before and after sex to help keep bacteria out of your urinary tract.

Check your birth control

Depending on the method of birth control you employ, you can be fostering the growth of the bacteria that causes UTIs. You may be more prone to develop a UTI if you use a diaphragm, spermicide, or spermicide-lubricated condom because they can all promote bacterial growth.

It might be a good idea to discuss possible birth control switch options with your ob-gyn if UTIs have started to become a recurring issue in your life.

Try cranberry supplements

Proanthocyanidin (PAC), which is concentrated in cranberry supplements, makes it more difficult for germs to stick to your bladder, lowering the chance of a UTI. If you want to try this strategy, think about switching from cranberry juice to a concentrated over-the-counter cranberry supplement. It probably offers additional advantages and lessens added sugar, which is normally included in juice.

Takeaway

Some people frequently have bacteria in their urine yet show no signs of illness. No therapy is required in these circumstances. 

However, if you experience a fever, chills, disorientation, back or side pain, you should visit a doctor. These symptoms could indicate a kidney infection that has to be treated or a bloodstream infection that necessitates hospitalization.