Healthcare Professionals
The symptoms of a UTI are hard to forget: frequent urination (even when the bladder is empty), urgency to go, severe burning, and embarrassing incontinence. Once you’ve suffered through one, you’ll never want to experience another.
UTIs are extremely common — about 60% of women will get a UTI at some point, and roughly 40% of those will get another. They account for more than 8 million doctor visits each year, making them the second most common type of infection in the body.*
Whether you’re a first-time sufferer or a seasoned veteran, here are six simple things you can do every day to keep the pesky infection at bay.
6 daily habits to help prevent a UTI
- Stay hydrated. For overall health, we should all drink plenty of water — for most people, about 8 cups a day. It’s especially important for the urinary tract: drinking enough water flushes bad bacteria out of the urethra when you urinate, so the bacteria can’t multiply and make their way into the bladder.
- Wipe from front to back. When you finish in the bathroom, always wipe from front to back, never back to front. This reduces the amount of bacteria that can creep from the rectum into the vagina and, ultimately, the urinary tract.
- Choose breathable undergarments. It may surprise you, but your clothes and underwear — especially the ones you wear to the gym — can affect your health. When you exercise, moisture builds up in the groin, vaginal, and rectal areas, making it easier for bacteria to grow. Opt for cotton underwear that lets you breathe, and change out of tight or damp workout clothes immediately after a sweat session.
- Pick birth control methods wisely. Certain methods — specifically diaphragms and spermicides — increase the chances of a UTI. Diaphragms can keep the bladder from emptying completely, letting bacteria grow; spermicides can alter vaginal pH and deplete good bacteria, allowing yeast and other bad bacteria to flourish and reach the urinary tract. Talk to your doctor about other options if you’ve had a UTI on one of these methods.
- Take care of your vagina before and after sex. Always clean your genital and anal areas before and after sex (a baby wipe or damp washcloth works) to remove as much bacteria as possible. Note that “cleaning” does not mean douching, which can be harmful and actually increase UTI risk. Try to urinate before and immediately after sex to flush the bladder — and never hold it, which only keeps bacteria in your system longer.
- Eat and drink your way to urinary health. Staying UTI-free can be as simple as adding powerhouse foods and drinks to your routine. A product like Cystex Urinary Health Maintenance is formulated with antioxidants and probiotics to help maintain urinary-tract health — add a tablespoon to your morning smoothie. If that’s not your cup of tea, try other options like high-fiber foods or fermented milk products, which have been shown to promote healthy bacteria.
Getting into the practice of maintaining urinary-tract health is key. Think of it like regular exercise: the more consistently you do it, the better off your body is in the long run. We already have enough to worry about — a little daily effort to prevent UTIs goes a long way.
*Data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.