5 Ways to Prevent Recurrent UTIs

Do you ever experience a constant urge to urinate and a burning sensation or discomfort when you go? These are common signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI). 

A UTI is an infection of your urinary system, which includes your urethra, kidneys, and bladder. Typically, UTIs are mild and only infect your urethra and bladder — known as your lower urinary tract. However, if left untreated, the infection can move to your kidneys and become more serious. 

Women — especially those who have gone through menopause — are particularly prone to recurrent UTIs, meaning they continually come back even after treatment. If you suffer from frequent UTIs, it can be frustrating to constantly need to treat them. 

Because of this, our team at San Feliz Urgent Care in Glendale, California, wants you to better understand how to prevent the infections from happening in the first place. 

Here are some guidelines on how to reduce your risk of recurring UTIs. 

1. Drink plenty of hydrating fluids

By aiming to drink at least 50 ounces of hydrating fluids — preferably water — every day, you can ensure that you’re able to flush out bacteria from your bladder. By diluting your urine and urinating more often, infectious bacteria don’t get the chance to sit in your bladder and populate. 

2. Urinate before and after sex

While sex doesn’t directly cause UTIs, it can increase your likelihood of one. During sex, bacteria from your genital or anal areas can enter the urethra. By urinating before and after, you can reduce your risk of these bacteria entering your urinary tract. 

3. Empty your bladder as often as you can

Holding your urine for too long can cause a myriad of issues, and a UTI is just one of those. Bacteria love warm and wet environments, and emptying your bladder often takes away their opportunity for perfect living conditions. You should urinate about 4-8 times every day.  

4. Use proper bathroom hygiene

By choosing to wipe front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement, you minimize the chances of bacteria entering your urinary tract. Just using this rule of hygiene can do a lot to reduce your risk of UTIs.

5. Take a cranberry supplement

Cranberries help keep bacteria from sticking to your urinary tract, which is why cranberry juice is so often recommended to assist with treating UTIs. Consider taking a cranberry supplement rather than drinking cranberry juice since you’ll reap more benefits from it and reduce sugar intake. 

If these things aren’t enough to keep UTIs at bay, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team to discuss further treatment options. Call our office or book online today.