5 Best Ways To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Needless to say, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can be very painful. More than 150 million individuals worldwide suffer from it every year. If you’ve already had one in your lifetime, you should know how painful and frustrating it can be. And if you’re wondering about ways to avoid them, continue reading to find out how.

Here is a list of easy and effective ways to avoid urinary tract infections:

1. Stay Hydrated-The safest and easiest way to prevent UTIs would be to drink plenty of water, especially the first thing in the morning. This can help flush out bacteria from your bladder and urinary tracts. When you always stay hydrated, you tend to void very often. This can help keep the harmful bacteria at bay and prevent UTIs.

2. Practice personal hygiene- After bowel movements, wipe from front to back. This can push away bacteria from the anus and prevent it from entering your urinary tract. Do not douche or use scented powders, perfume sprays or other feminine products that can cause irritation. And make it a habit to wash before and after sex to get rid of bacteria. Also, when you urinate after sex, it can push bacteria that have entered the urinary tract back out. Take showers instead of baths and avoid wearing tight clothes.

3. Try taking Cranberry Juice or Supplements- Although still considered a myth, cranberry juice and supplements are believed to treat and prevent UTIs. It is believed that cranberries contain an active ingredient that can prevent bacteria (especially E.Coli) from adhering to the walls of the bladder. Though there is no FDA regulation yet, about these products, taking them cannot hurt and might help. So, it might be really worth trying.

4. Apply Estrogen Creams - Women under postmenopausal age have been prescribed vaginal estrogen creams which can increase their resistance to bladder infections. The cream also helps keep the tissues around the bladder healthier and further resistant to infections.

5. Preventive Antibiotics- For women with recurrent urinary tract infections, especially those which are associated with sexual intercourse, taking preventive antibiotics after sex (postcoital prophylaxis) can help. Doctors usually prescribe a single dose of an effective antibiotic like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cephalexin or nitrofurantoin to be taken after sexual intercourse.