You’ve just cleared up a urinary tract infection (UTI). Then, you notice symptoms coming back. You feel an intense urge to urinate, even when you don’t actually have a very full bladder. Your urine smells strong and might appear cloudy or blood-tinged. At this point in your life, the symptoms are familiar – another UTI. Why does this keep happening to you?
While repeat UTIs are frustrating to suffer through, they’re also a common women’s health issue. Instead of losing your patience, reach out to women’s health expert and board-certified urogynecologist Dr. Kristin M. Jackson at Advanced Urogynecology. Dr. Jackson and her team in Maitland, Florida, can help you understand the cause of your recurring UTIs and recommend strategies to end this uncomfortable and embarrassing cycle.
To understand why women are so vulnerable to UTIs, you need to know more about the biology behind the issue. In women, a short tube, called the urethra, connects the bladder to the opening where you urinate. In men, the urethra is longer, creating less opportunity for infection.
The shortness of the female urethra is the main culprit behind women’s higher risk of UTIs. Escherichia coli bacteria travel from your intestines to your vagina, where they can potentially enter your urethra and cause an infection in your urinary tract or bladder.
You should know that, even if you have frequently recurring UTIs, your hygiene is most likely not to blame. Myths that tell women with UTIs to clean more frequently or douche vaginally are inaccurate. You most likely don’t have UTIs because you’re not cleaning yourself well enough, and using scented products like douches can irritate your vaginal area and increase your discomfort.
If you’re one of the unlucky women who are particularly prone to UTIs, you need personalized advice on avoiding infections. You’re not alone in dealing with this issue. Approximately 25-30% of women experience a second UTI within six months of the previous infection.
Some risk factors influence how easily you contract UTIs. These can change over the course of your life. When you’re younger, your risk of UTIs goes up with sexual activity. If you use spermicide contraceptives, you might be killing off the good bacteria in your vaginal area, leaving you vulnerable to a harmful bacterial infection. After menopause, you may naturally lose bacteria in your vaginal area, with similar risks attached. Loss of pelvic muscle tone can also contribute to the problem.
To reduce your risk of repeat UTIs, here’s what you need to do.
You clear your urinary system when you pee. And, the better hydrated you are, the more frequently you urinate. To keep your urinary system free from obstruction and infection, maintain a regular flow! Staying well-hydrated also benefits your health in many ways, from clearer skin to better brain function.
Vaginal intercourse provides an opportunity for bacteria to enter the urethra. That’s why it often helps to pee immediately after sex to stay free of UTIs. Urinating flushes the area before infection can take hold and start to develop.
You have plenty of good options for contraception and family planning, so if you know you’re prone to UTIs, don’t use spermicides as a primary form of birth control. Talk to Dr. Jackson about the best family planning approach for you and your body.
With these strategies, you can keep UTIs to a minimum.
When you do develop a UTI, the most effective treatment is a prescription for antibiotics. However, you should know that, over time, you may develop antibiotic resistance, and the treatment may not work as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to do everything you can to limit the number of UTIs you experience each year. That, and the intrusive and uncomfortable symptoms that accompany each infection!
You don’t have to keep going through UTI after UTI. For personalized, non-judgmental support with frequent UTIs in the Maitland, Florida area, contact Advanced Urogynecology over the phone today and book your appointment with Dr. Jackson.
