Recurring Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs are the second most common type of infection that people get, accounting for 8.3 million doctor visits every year in the United States. When a UTI occurs more than twice in six months, it is considered to be a recurrent urinary infection. About one in five women will get a recurrent UTI, and women who have more than three UTIs are more likely to continue having them. Men can also have recurrent UTIs, but this is not as common in men as in women.
What Causes Recurrent UTIs?
Bacteria can enter the urinary tract from the outside to cause a UTI to come back, or a recurrent infection can be caused by bacteria that remain in the urinary tract after a previous infection. Symptoms of recurrent UTI in men and women include the frequent urge to urinate, burning pain or pressure, cloudy or discolored urine, and chills and fever. Children with UTIs are more likely to have fever without the other symptoms.
Common conditions that can lead to recurrent UTIs include:
- Being in a nursing home or hospital
- Diabetes
- Kidney or bladder stones
- Having a catheter
- Previous urinary tract surgery
- Sexual activity
- Having an infected or enlarged prostate
- Being born with an abnormality of the urinary tract
While the above conditions can increase risks for recurrent UTIs, there are certainly people who experience such infections without clear reason. Indeed, an expert at Harvard Medical School says some people are just more prone to UTIs with genes and family history potentially playing a role. For example, having a parent or sibling who gets frequent UTIs can increase an individual’s chances of repeat UTIs, too.
If you have frequent UTIs, your doctor may make certain treatment recommendations, such as:
- Low dose antibiotics, initially for six months but sometimes longer
- Self-diagnosis and treatment, if you stay in touch with your doctor
- A single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse if your infections are related to sexual activity
- Vaginal estrogen therapy if you’re postmenopausal
- Self-care like increasing fluid intake, personal hygiene adjustments, and considering supplements formulated for urinary health
Recurrent UTIs are common and there are many effective treatments available. Some simple things you can do to help prevent UTIs include drinking lots of fluids, keeping the genital area clean, wearing cotton underwear, and wiping from front to back after a bowel movement or urination. Drinking cranberry juice and taking vitamin C supplements can also help by making your urine more acidic, which decreases the growth of bacteria. You can also try Cystex® Urinary Health Maintenance that can benefit urinary health.*
Formulated with multiple urinary health boosting ingredients including:
- Cranberry: anti-adherent, antioxidant*
- FOS (fructooligosaccharides): prebiotic*
- Vitamin C: antalkaline, antioxidant*
- D-Mannose: anti-adherent, prebiotic*
- Bromelain: anti-swelling agent*
- Antioxidant: helps protect your body*
- Antalkaline: helps maintain healthy urine*
- Anti-adherent: helps keep bad bacteria from remaining*
- Prebiotic: helps promote healthy bacteria*
Just one tablespoon daily of Cystex Urinary Health Maintenance can help maintain your urinary health.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Sources:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/urinary-tract-infections-keep-coming-back.aspx
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/basics/treatment/con-20037892
