Urinary tract infection
Preventing UTIs
If you get UTIs frequently, there are some things you can try that may stop it coming back. However, it's not clear how effective most of these measures are.
These measures include:
- avoiding perfumed bubble bath, soap or talcum powder around your genitals use plain, unperfumed varieties, and have a shower rather than a bath
- going to the toilet as soon as you need to pee and always emptying your bladder fully
- staying well hydrated
- wiping your bottom from front to back when you go to the toilet
- emptying your bladder as soon as possible after having sex
- not using a contraceptive diaphragm or condoms with spermicidal lubricant on them you may wish to use another method of contraception instead
- wearing underwear made from cotton, rather than synthetic material such as nylon, and avoiding tight jeans and trousers
Speak to your GP if these measures don't work. They may suggest taking a long-term course of antibiotics or they may give you a prescription for antibiotics you can use as soon as you experience symptoms of a UTI.
There's currently little evidence to suggest that drinking cranberry juice or using probiotics significantly reduces your chances of getting UTIs.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about urinary tract infections (UTIs), including what the symptoms are, when to get medical advice and how they're treated.
Symptoms of UTIs
Infections of the bladder (cystitis) or urethra (tube that carries urine out of the body) are known as lower UTIs. These can cause: a need to pee more often than usual pain or
When to get medical advice
It's a good idea to see your GP if you think you might have a UTI, particularly if: you have symptoms of an upper UTI (see above) the symptoms are severe or getting worse the symptoms haven't
Treatment for UTIs
UTIs are normally treated with a short course of antibiotics. Most women are given a three-day course of antibiotic capsules or tablets. Men, pregnant women and people with more serious sym
Causes of UTIs
UTIs occur when the urinary tract becomes infected, usually by bacteria. In most cases, bacteria from the gut enter the urinary tract through the urethra. This may occur when wipi
Preventing UTIs
If you get UTIs frequently, there are some things you can try that may stop it coming back. However, it's not clear how effective most of these measures are. These measures include: avoiding p
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