Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic

Can I prevent a urinary tract infection?

The following lifestyle changes can help prevent urinary tract infections:

Practice good hygiene

Practicing good hygiene is one of the best ways to help prevent UTIs. This is especially important if you have a vagina because your urethra is much shorter, and it's easier for E. coli to move from your rectum back into your body. Always wipe from front to back after a bowel movement (pooping) to avoid this.

During your menstrual cycle, it's also a good idea to regularly change your period products, including pads and tampons. You should also avoid using any deodorants on your vagina.

Drink plenty of fluids

Drinking extra fluids — especially water — each day can help flush out bacteria from your urinary tract. Healthcare providers recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water daily.

Change your peeing habits

Peeing can play a big role in getting rid of bacteria from your body. Your pee is a waste product, and each time you empty your bladder, you help remove that waste from your body.

Peeing frequently can reduce your risk of developing an infection, especially if you get UTIs a lot.

You should also try to pee right before and right after having sex. Sex can introduce bacteria to your urethra, and peeing before and after sex helps flush it out. If you can't pee, wash the area with warm water.

Change your birth control

Some people have an increased risk of developing a UTI if they use a diaphragm for birth control. Talk to a healthcare provider about other birth control options.

Use a water-based lubricant during sex

If you use lubricant during sex, make sure it's water-based. You should also avoid spermicide if you have frequent UTIs.

Change your clothing

Tight-fitting clothing can create a moist environment, which promotes bacterial growth. You can try loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear to prevent moisture from accumulating around your urethra.

Medications

If you're postmenopausal, a healthcare provider may suggest a vaginal cream that contains estrogen. These creams may help reduce your risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of your vagina. Talk to a healthcare provider if you're postmenopausal and get a lot of UTIs.

Over-the-counter (OTC) supplements — including cranberry extract and probiotics — may also help prevent UTIs. Talk to a healthcare provider before you start taking any supplements.

Adblock test (Why?)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rashes that look like scabies: Causes, symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today

Image
Scabies is a skin condition that occurs as the result of a mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. The rash that results from scabies may appear similar to other skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, or contact dermatitis. In this article, we look at what a scabies rash looks like. We also look at other rashes that are similar in appearance and their treatment options. Scabies is a common condition that occurs as the result of an infestation of a microscopic skin mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. The mites burrow under the skin, causing intense itching and a rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the rash as pimple-like. On darker skin, the rash may be more difficult to see, but a person should be able to feel it. According to DermNet, a scabies rash is varied in appearance, and may appear as: pimple-like on the limbs and trunk widespread or coin-shaped small blisters scales lesions in the armpits, groin, navel, areolas, scrotum, buttocks, and along the penil...
Read more

Symtuza: Uses, side effects, alternatives, and more - Medical News Today

Image
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Symtuza to treat certain conditions. Symtuza is FDA-approved to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 40 kilograms (kg), which is about 88 pounds (lb). It's approved for people who: have just been diagnosed with HIV and haven't started treatment yet, OR are changing from another HIV treatment and: have been on a stable antiretroviral regimen for at least 6 months (this means you haven't had any changes to your HIV drugs for at least 6 months) have a viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) that's less than 50 copies per milliliter (mL) have HIV that doesn't have mutations (changes) that could make it resistant (less likely to respond) to darunavir or tenofovir (two of the active drugs in Symtuza) HIV explained HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. There are two forms of this virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the most common form. HIV is transmitted through body fluid...
Read more