5 Tips for Preventing Recurring UTIs

It only takes one time to know you never want to feel that burning pain again. If you have recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), you want to know what you can do to prevent them.

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, our specialists understand how you feel. We provide comprehensive care for our UTI patients, including those with recurring infections. Here, we share with you some of our best tips for preventing recurring UTIs.

1. Stay hydrated

A UTI is an infection in your urinary system. The infection occurs when bacteria or some other microorganism enters your urethra — the tube that eliminates urine — and multiplies. 

Urine is normally germ-free. Staying well hydrated keeps the urine flowing, helping to flush out germs and potentially preventing an infection. At a minimum, you should drink six to eight glasses of water a day. 

What about cranberry juice? Not too long ago, many health providers recommended that people drink cranberry juice as a preventive measure for recurrent UTIs. Current research indicates that cranberry juice may not be as beneficial as once thought, but there’s no harm in drinking the tart juice, especially if it helps you meet your fluid needs.

2. Don’t wait to go

You’re drinking more, which means you're urinating more. If you’re drinking more to prevent recurring UTIs, the last thing you want to do is hold in your urine, giving the germs a chance to multiply. 

Don’t wait to go. Frequent urination helps clear out those germs that cause infection. 

3. Improve your bathroom hygiene

Most of the germs that cause UTIs come from the genital area — more specifically, your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Escherichia coli (E. coli), for example, is a bacteria that commonly causes UTIs, and it comes from the GI tract.

How you clean up after going to the bathroom may help prevent UTIs. We recommend wiping from front to back, especially women who are more prone to UTIs because of their anatomy and shorter urethra. Wiping in this direction prevents the accidental transmission of germs from your GI tract to your urethra.

4. Skip genital sprays and powders

Avoid using perfumed sprays or deodorants in the genital area. These products may irritate the urethra. 

And don’t douche. Women with recurring UTIs may consider douching as a way to clean the vagina after sex, but douching only irritates the tissue. Instead, urinate right after having sex. 

5. Try preventive antibiotics

When lifestyle changes fail to prevent your recurring UTIs, you may benefit from preventive antibiotics. Our team first prescribes a short-term antibiotic to clear up your acute infection. Then, we prescribe a low-dose antibiotic that you take for six or more months. 

Recurring UTIs are painful and frustrating. Making a few changes to your lifestyle may help prevent these infections. 

When you’re suffering, our urgent care specialists can provide the care you need to clear up your UTI. Call our office in Midland, Michigan, or book an appointment online today. We also offer telehealth appointments for your convenience.