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Hello,
I am a 22-y.o. female with a history of chronic UTIs. My first UTI was around the age of 13, and since becoming sexually active my number of UTIs has skyrocketed. In the past year, I have had 6 or 7 UTIs. I have talked with my OB/GYN about this as well as a urologist specializing in women's urology. The prognosis: There's not a whole lot I can do about these recurrent issues other than be reactionary with antibiotics on hand at all times and a nice stock of Azo.
My question lies here-I always seem to be either on a course of antibiotics or in the waiting period for the antibiotics to clear my system so I can resume having sex without backup protection. I am in a long-term monogamous relationship with the love of my life, and this has put a serious damper on our intimacy. Am I doomed to have to use backup protection for the rest of my life (or at least until I am ready to conceive)?
Also, is there a better, proactive option for these UTIs? I am also currently taking a cranberry supplement, but have not noticed any serious improvements.
Thank you in advance!
-Kristin
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Hello and welcome to EmpowHer,
I'm so sorry to hear this has put a strain on your relationship. I've love to give you some helpful advice on how to prevent UTI's in the future.
Fortunately, your doctors were wrong. There is plenty you can do besides pumping yourself with antibiotics to prevent UTI's.
-First of all, since sex seems to be the main influence here, it is important that every time you have sex that your husband thoroughly cleans his privates. Whatever is on him, gets into you, and can easily off balanced the bacteria in the vagina.
-Secondly, always urinate after having sex and clean your vaginal area thoroughly. Urination after intercourse acts as a cleaner to help prevent infection.
-Third, use hypogenic, water-based lubrication. Not being well lubricated can also cause infection.
-Forth, reduce caffeine intake and drink more than 11 cups of water a day.
-Fifth, the real deal on cranberries. The raw cranberry does indeed have amazing properties that can help prevent UTI's. But by the time it makes its way into the pill, those properties have been processed and isolated to the point where it is a mere resemblance of the berry and not the real thing. So, the closer you get to consuming to real food the better. You can do this by eating them in diet, or drinking raw, organic non-sweeted cranberry juice. You get the picture. Eating the real thing is much different than taking a pill.
-Sixth, pumped your diet with foods rich in Vitamin C (this includes cranberries)! Once again, eating the real thing is much different than taking the vitamin. Examples: broccoli, kale, bell peppers, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, berries, mango etc.
If absolutely none if this helps. Be aware that there are dozens of herbs that also prevent infections. A traditional doctor will never discuss those with you. But in most cases herbal treatments for UTI's work much better than traditional antibiotics. So if all else fails, I highly suggest that you see a herbal specialist.
November 15, 2015 - 11:38amFaith
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