While antibiotics and self-treatment remedies take care of an infection once you have it, there are also many ways to try to prevent recurring urinary tract infections. Experiment to see what works for you.
Diet
As part of any healthy diet, you should drink six to eight glasses of water a day and minimize your intake of alcohol and caffeine. If you do drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks, try to counteract their effects by drinking plenty of water.
Some of the dietary changes that relieve the pain of UTI may also help prevent them. Try to cut back your intake of refined starches and sugars, vegetable fats, onions, beans, and chocolate.
Toilet, Bathing, and Menstrual Habits
Try to urinate every two to three hours rather than "holding it in." After the flow of urine has stopped, lean forward on the toilet and gently press out the last few drops. This is known as double emptying. Most important though is to keep your genital area clean by wiping from front to back after bowel movements and cleaning the urethral area with moist cotton balls. You should wash your entire genital area every day with mild, unscented soap, then rinse and pat dry with a clean, soft, cloth.
Some doctors believe that women with frequent UTIs should always take showers rather than baths. Others believe a hot bath during a bout of UTI will help kill the bacteria. If you decide on baths, do not use bath oils or bubble bath and limit them to one or two a week, with no more than five minutes of soaking time. Hot water can excite the urethra.
Do not use oils, feminine hygiene sprays, or talcum powder in your genital area and don't douche with any chemical substances. All of these agents irritate the skin.
When you have your period, frequently change whatever form of sanitary protection you use. Both sanitary napkins and tampons have been known to provide a route for bacteria. In addition, tampons may put pressure on the urethra, encouraging infection. If you think your brand is the problem, switch to a different product.
While at home, wear long skirts without underwear for several hours a day if you can. This can increase circulation while eliminating genital contact with potential infection-bearing material.
Clothes and Laundry
Avoid nylon-crotch underwear and tight jeans, both of which create a moist environment in which bacteria can grow. Instead, it's best to wear only cotton-crotch underwear and pantyhose and to change them at least once a day. Similarly, if you've been swimming, change into a dry suit after you come out of the water, particularly if you were in a chlorinated pool. Use a mild laundry detergent and make sure that your clothes, nightwear, and sheets are well rinsed. Do not use a public laundry to wash your underwear since soap and detergent deposits can accumulate in the washers. If you don't have your own washing machine, the best and oldest method of sterilizing underwear is boiling it in a pot.
Sex
Urinate and drink a glass of water before having intercourse. Within 10 minutes after sex, urinate again to flush out any bacteria that may have entered the vagina. If you find that UTIs are a constant problem, try washing your vaginal area with a hand-held shower attachment after sex.
If you use a diaphragm, make sure it is the correct size with a snug but comfortable fit. Pressure from the rim of the diaphragm can lead to UTIs. If you've lost or gained more than 10 pounds, have your diaphragm refitted. Remember that many forms of birth control can create situations that encourage a UTI. If necessary, talk to your doctor about alternatives. In some cases, your sexual partner will require treatment to prevent possible reinfection.
A Healthy Future
In the great majority of cases, the prognosis for urinary tract infections is excellent. Improved drugs now provide fast relief of symptoms as the infection is cleared up. In the future, there may be a vaccine to prevent UTIs from recurring. But even now, if you're plagued with repeated infections there are plenty of measures you can take to fend them off. Between your own efforts and your doctor's treatments, you can keep this painful problem at bay.
