Statistics say that almost half of all women will suffer from a UTI at least once in their life.
Another factor to be noted is that it is more common in women than men. The reason being that their urethra is much shorter than that or a man – 4 centimetres in women as compared to 20 centimetres in men – making it easy for the organism to infect the bladder.
The most common UTI causing organisms are those found in your faeces, while these organisms are naturally present in your stomach but when they enter your urinary system they cause an infection.
Talking of Prevention Here are top 10,
1.Toilet Paper is your Best Friend:
If your job require field work or you happen to travel a lot, keep an extra roll of toilet paper in your bag. Every time you go pee-pee, wipe-wipe! The idea here is to keep the “area” dry. to prevent growth of bacteria.
2. Drink Plenty of Water:
The best way to both prevent and treat urinary tract infection is to drink plenty of water (3-4 litres/day). This is one of the simplest yet effective remedy to prevent UTI naturally. Why? drinking more water flushes the infection-causing bacteria thereby aiding in easy recovery.
3. Eat vitamin C rich foods:
A research study conducted by a medical team from Thorne Research, USA, vitamin C and other natural supplements may help prevent and manage urinary tract infections. A daily dose of 500 to 1000 mg of vitamin C may be beneficial for managing bladder infections, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dietary sources of vitamin C include citric fruits, berries, kiwi, red pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes, cauliflower, green pea, spinach and potatoes.
4. Be Cautious while Having Sex:
If you are experiencing the unmissable symptoms of a UTI, such as frequent and burning urination, sex will probably be very uncomfortable or painful so it’s better to wait until your UTI has been completely treated, or you have completed the course of antibiotics, and you don’t have any more symptoms. In fact, almost 80 percent of premenopausal women with a UTI have had sex within the previous 24 hours. Steps that you can take to minimize bacteria buildup from sex are, Urinate before sex, and promptly after. Clean your genital and anal areas before and after sex. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water; this will help rid your urinary tract of bacteria and don’t use a diaphragm or spermicide as your form of birth control.
5. Avoid Using Skin Products:
Avoid bath oils, feminine hygiene sprays, douches, and powders. As a general rule, do not use any product containing perfumes or other possible allergens near the genital area. Douching is never recommended as it may irritate the vagina and urethra and increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Wear Loose Clothes:
No matter how much you are attracted to those lace and synthetic panties stick to pure cotton underwears for maximum number of days, especially during summers. Wash with mild detergents.
7. Practice Good Hygiene:
Today there are a number of ways including the use of sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups to stay clean. In India, most unmarried girls prefer to use sanitary napkins. If you do decide to use a tampon remember that it is essential to choose one that has the lowest absorbency rate for your flow. Menstrual blood – once it has left the body – gets contaminated with the body’s innate organisms. This rule applies for even those days when you don’t have much bleeding, since your pad is still damp and will have organisms from your vagina, sweat from your genitals, etc. When these organisms remain in a warm and moist place for a long time they tend to multiply and can lead to conditions like urinary tract infection, vaginal infections and skin rashes. Stay dry during your periods. If you do have a rash, change your pads regularly and stay dry. Apply an antiseptic ointment, after a bath and before bed. Carry extra sanitary pads or tampons properly stored in a clean pouch or paper bag, a soft towel, some paper tissues or towels, hand sanitizer, a healthy snack, bottle of drinking water, a tube of antiseptic medication (if you are using one).
8. Add Yogurt to your Diet:
Probiotics are often referred to as “good bacteria.” This good bacteria can be purchased as supplements or found in yogurt (curd) as well as soy and miso. The active species of probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Lactobacllus acidophilus is used to help balance the vagina and small intestine. More research is needed to back the use of probiotics for UTIs. According to a study published in the “Clinical Infectious Diseases” by Ann E. Stapleton, M.D., findings support the use of Lactobacillus crispatus by means of intravaginal suppositories for improving symptoms in women with frequent and recurring UTIs. Do not use yogurt if you have experienced a past allergy to it. There is no guarantee yogurt or probiotics can help to treat UTIs
9. Urinate Fully to Clean out the Badder:
Urinate whenever you have the urge, or after any time you have pressure against the urethra, and be sure it’s a generous and well-diluted urination. Holding urine causes bacteria to multiply.
10. Use the Right Washing Technique:
Always wash or clean the area in a motion that is from the vagina to the anus. Never wash in the opposite direction. Washing in the opposite direction can cause bacteria from the anus to lodge in the vagina and urethral opening, leading to infections. Read about urinary tract infections.