Healthytalk8 Urinary Tract Infection
Contents
Prevent urinary tract infection – It is an infection that occurs in different parts of the body like the bladder, kidney, urethra and ureters.
It occurs due to several reasons like not maintaining overall hygiene, and after-intercourse hygiene, however, it mainly causes by (E.coli bacteria).
Moreover, it affects individuals of all ages, but it’s common in women due to shorter urethra (a shorter path is a more manageable way to reach the bladder)
But still, more people ask – Why do they keep getting UTIs? there are several reasons of its reasons are different in individuals which include:
- Being women (more prone to UTI due to shorter urethra)
- weak immune system
- not maintain overall hygiene (private or public)
- do not take vital precautions before, during, and after intercourse (use protection, wash, and urinate after intercourse)
- hormonal imbalance
- unhealthy lifestyle (consuming processed food, smoking, alcohol frequently, etc)
- genetics or family history
- any medical conditions (diabetes, etc)
These reasons are one of the common reasons for UTI, so make sure to consult your doctor, if you notice or experience any discomfort.
The urinary tract is responsible for removing waste, unwanted bacteria, and extra liquid from our body.
So, in this post, we will focus on how to prevent UTI in individuals and different conditions like during pregnancy, menopause, etc
8 Ultimate Ways to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection
Preventing the disease or illness before it becomes serious is the best way to prevent further complications.
Here are 8 ultimate ways to prevent Urinary tract infections which include:
Drink plenty of Water
Consuming water from time to time is vital for our physical and mental health, such as regulating body temperature, helping with constipation, etc.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to reduce the chance of UTI, by flushing out the unwanted bacteria from UT.
Moreover, warm water in the morning with an empty stomach is the best way to detox the unwanted substances from the body.
How much water should we drink throughout the day? it depends on a person’s age and weight, and their physical activity.
Try to avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, which contribute to kidney damage, and other serious issues.
Maintain Overall Hygiene
Hygiene is the best way to prevent Urinary tract infections and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) whether it is private or public hygiene.
Make sure, to give more priority to private hygiene (intimate hygiene) these include genitals, vagina, and penis (4)
- Avoid harsh soap, and use clean water, make sure to do gentle cleaning
- After urination clean the back and front parts to prevent urinary tract infections
NOTE: Sharing your items with other increase the chances of spreading infection, bacteria, and viruses (3)
Don’t hold Urinate
Hold urinating leads to several issues so don’t hold urination for a long time, otherwise, it increases the chance of:
- UTI (urinary tract infection)
- infection with pain
- weaken your bladder holding strength
- In rare cases, holding urine can damage their kidney
If you experience any penis and bladder issues, then you should consult your doctor, it may become a serious issue in future (5)
Urinating frequently allow the body to dispose of the unwanted substance include E.coil bacteria (responsible for UTI)
Urinate After Intercourse
Failure to urinate after s*x or for a long time due to any reason that leads to bladder extension leads to discomfort and other health issues.
It is essential to prevent intimate hygiene, 2 major infections include STI and UTI and contribute to overall s*xual health.
But why it is important to urinate after intercourse, here are some important point is:
- Prevent sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- promote pleasure and comfort feeling
- maintain intimate area natural pH balance
- prevent any type of irritation after ejaculation
- flush out bacteria (like UTI urinary tract infection)
If you notice any difficulty in urination (in daily life and after intercourse) then you should consult your healthcare provider.
Wipe front to back
To prevent UTI, it becomes vital to wipe from front to back (from your vagina and genitals to back to your anus) after using the toilet.
Use toilet or tissue paper and use clean water to wipe your overall private parts (2)
Making this hygiene in our daily life reduces the chance of spreading several infections, bacteria, and other diseases.
Do you know, that E.coli bacteria is allied with diarrhea (and it can easily spread to others through poor hygiene)
Wear Clean and Breathable Underwear
Tight and dirty clothing traps the moisture or heat inside, which creates an atmosphere of bacteria, and infection (4)
Make sure to wear clean and breathable underwear which allows air to come inside and keeps the private area dry.
So choose breathable underwear that will keep the private area dry and reduce the risk of UTI and STI.
Avoiding tight underwear or fitting clothes prevents proper blood circulation, discomfort, infection chance, etc.
Avoid Douches and Scents
Douching is a gadget that is used to clean or wash the vagina from the inside, but it can disturb the normal hormone balance.
On the other hand, the scent differently avoids private areas or other sensitive areas like undereye, wounds, etc.
Scent can lead to several issues like disturbing hormone balance, redness, and irritation, and give bacteria a growing atmosphere (5)
So avoid using both these products in a private area or sensitive areas of the body, to prevent urinary tract infection, etc.
Wear Protection During Intercourse
Did you know that improper intercourse whether is it oral or anal, can spread 30+ bacteria, and viruses?
Wear protection during intercourse not only prevents unwanted pregnancy, but also prevents infection, and bacteria risk (4)
Here are why practising safe intercourse is important:
- Use protection (decrease the chance of unwanted pregnancy, and infection)
- Use high-quality condoms and check the expiry date and any sign of damage)
- Avoid changing multiple partners
- Use lubrication to prevent friction (also improve overall feeling)
- Avoid sharing personal intercourse toys and needles
- If you do not try to conceive use birth control pills
- Avoid alcohol and other substances, which can lead to unsafe intercourse behaviours
- Start slowly, so the other person also feels pleasure, and then gradually speed up
If you have any questions regarding intercourse health and preventing unwanted pregnancy, then should talk to your doctor.
Consult your Doctor
If you already experiencing UTI, then you should consult a professional doctor, who will diagnose you and recommend proper treatment.
Talk to your doctor about – getting any type of medicine or probiotics to prevent UTI, or unwanted pregnancy, before buying it.
Proper diagnosis and then prescribed medication ensure no more other risks come in disease.
On the other hand, if you notice any discomfort then you should consult to your healthcare provider.
Prevent UTI after Intercourse
After intercourse, both are at high risk of STI, and UTI due to several reasons, and why not because UTI is spread through the urethra.
So make follow these guidelines before and after intercourse such as:
- Use protection to avoid pregnancy and any chance of infection
- Get tested for STI and UTI
- Use lubrication to prevent friction and unwanted infection chance
- urinate before and after intercourse is necessary
- stay hydrated
- take a shower after intercourse
- Wipe from to the back (for girls)
- Contact your healthcare provider, if you get infected with a UTI
Prevent Urinary Tract Infection in babies and Children
As we know that is more common in women, however, it can affect children also.
Here are some ways where you can prevent UTI in your babies and children include:
- Change diapers frequently and maintain hygiene
- Wipe front to back (especially tech your girls)
- keep your child with fluids
- teach not to hold urinate and to urinate often
- monitor their health and consult your doctor
Ensure that you teach your children the wipe front-to-back method (especially for girls) after using the toilet, and other bathroom hygiene.
Prevent UTI in older adults
Older adults are at high risk of UTI due to weak immunity, and other several things.
Here are some tips that you can reduce UTI chance in at an older stage which include:
- Drink plenty of water (it is vital for all individuals and all genders)
- urinate often and don’t hold urinate for a long time
- Use a catheter (a device used to empty the bladder)
- consume Cranberry juice or supplement (help prevent UTI)
- Talk to your doctor
- Give priority to your intimate hygiene
- if you have diabetes manage it (because it can worsen the situation)
After menopause women are at higher risk of UTI, due to a decrease in estrogen and progesterone, So can use estrogen supplements.
Prevent UTI after menopause and during pregnancy
After menopause, women should more take care of their health, due to a decrease in estrogen hormones, and during pregnancy also.
Here are other ultimate ways to prevent UTI after menopause and during pregnancy include:
After menopause
- Take estrogen supplement (but first talk to your doctor)
- use wipe from front to back rule
- use lubrication during intercourse (because after menopause body’s natural lubrication decrease)
- empty bladder from time to time
- take help from your doctor
During pregnancy
- At this time, you have to drink more water
- see your doctor, if you notice any sign of UTI like pain, colour change during urination, and unpleasant smell)
- lose weight, if you saw that your weight an increase
- wear loose and comfortable cloths
During pregnancy, women should follow more precautions, whether it is food, exercise, and their lifestyle.
Down Line
Urinary tract infection is more common in women, due to shorter urethra, so women should maintain more hygiene.
If you experience any discomfort, then you should consult your doctor, for proper diagnosis and treatment help in it.
UTI is easily prevented by maintaining overall hygiene, don’t hold urination, drinking enough water throughout the day, etc.
