How To Prevent UTI

It’s well worth learning how to prevent UTI recurrence if you’ve suffered from this infection before. A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria travels up the urinary tract into the bladder and potentially onward into the kidneys. Though typically associated with pain in women, a UTI can cause no pain in men until the infection spreads to the kidneys. Unaware, men may pass the infection to their sexual partners. By learning how to prevent UTI from starting in the first place, you can maintain the health of your urinary tract system. The following steps are easy and inexpensive to follow and have been proven to prevent UTI in males and females of all ages.

1. Drink cranberry juice. Daily consumption of cranberry juice containing at least 200 mg of cranberry extract has been proven to prevent UTI occurrence. Look for organic, pure cranberry juice rather than from-concentrate or cranberry juice diluted with apple or grape juice. If you don’t care for the taste of cranberries, you can still prevent UTI by taking cranberry supplements in the form of pills or chewable fruit squares containing at least 500 mg of cranberry extract.
2. Take a different contraceptive. Certain contraceptive options, especially spermicidal products, may increase your risk of getting a urinary tract infection. Ask your doctor how to prevent UTI recurrence by switching to a different contraceptive method such as condoms.
3. Take preventive antibiotics. If you suffer from frequent or repeated urinary tract infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to be taken regularly at the first sign of UTI symptoms. Alternatively, a single dose of daily antibiotics may prove more efficacious in preventing UTI, or perhaps a single dose taken directly after sexual intercourse. Any form of UTI prevention through antibiotics must be prescribed by your doctor and taken under medical supervision.
4. Pass urine after sexual intercourse. Bacteria naturally resides on the human body. Sexual intercourse may cause bacteria in the genital area to enter the urinary tract through the urethral opening. By urinating after sexual intercourse, you can flush potential bacteria out and prevent UTI recurrence.
5. Drink more water. Flushing out your urinary tract system on a regular basis will prevent bacteria from proliferating in your bladder. By simply drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water each day, you can prevent UTI occurrence in your bladder and urinary tract.
6. Urinate frequently. In addition to drinking more water, you can prevent UTI by passing urine as soon as you feel the need. Holding the urine in the bladder for longer durations can potentially give bacteria time to multiply.

Learn to prevent UTI recurrence in your body based on your unique needs. For some, drinking tea or coffee may heighten the chances of a urinary tract infection by generating increased urination followed by dehydration. For others, a day on the beach with little access to a toilet can be enough to trigger a UTI. Once you learn to identify your body’s weakens, you can prevent UTI onset by avoiding triggers and offering your body the support it needs.