UTI

How to Prevent UTI (Urinary Tract Infection): Causes, Prevention, and Overall Hygiene

One may wonder why urination is so important, but we'll be sure to tell you about everything there is to know about urine and the parts of the body it affects.

In the case of UTIs and UTI symptoms, the most common symptom is pain during urinating (or passing urine). 

This article will help you acknowledge how to prevent a UTI

 

1. Causes of UTI

UTIs are quite common in people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, but there are ways to minimise how often you might suffer from one. 

If you suspect you might have a UTI or worrying about how to stop getting UTI, the first thing to do is talk with your doctor!

There can be mild symptoms, complicated uti symptomssymptoms after drinking alcoholand sometimes UTI occurs without any symptoms

 

What is UTI

 

Image Credits: Cloudfront

 

Some common causes behind UTIs in men and UTIs in women - (1) 

 

MEN

  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Prostatitis due to prostate
  • Diabetes

 

WOMEN
  • Bacteria from skin
  • Obesity
  • Heredity
  • Types of genitals and bacteria around it
  • Sexual transmission

 

2. Preventive Measures of UTI: How to prevent UTI

UTIs cannot be avoided if it goes untreated.

But some of your risk factors can be reduced namely by implementing the following prevention methods which may help you know how to avoid UTI for men and women - (2) 

 

  1. Wipe properly: How to not get UTI? Well, never wipe your genitalia back to the front.

    This increases the chance of introducing E.coli into the urethra.

    It’s even more important not to do this if you have diarrhea, as this can make it harder to keep track of bowel movements, which may increase the risk of transferring E.coli. 

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  1. Drink fluids: How to prevent UTI and kidney infections? Well, drinking water throughout the day keeps you healthy.

    Drinking water also prevents urinary tract infections and other bladder problems.


    Drink fluids
    Image Credits: Unsplash

    Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day flushes bacteria out of your urinary tract and helps prevent it from building up to where it starts causing problems for you.

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  1. Don’t hold your pee: Avoid holding in your urine for long periods at a time. One should try to urinate every 3-4 hours, ideally emptying their bladder each time.

    This is especially important when pregnant because you're at greater risk of developing a UTI.

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  1. Avoid using scented products: Bacteria are something that can be found anywhere, including in our bodies. All body parts come with different bacteria populations and the balance keeps a certain acidity level.

    This can go wrong when too much of any kind of bacteria is introduced to the general area. It will naturally disrupt everything in the area, including pH balance.

    The consequences can cause health issues like UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections amongst other things such as itchiness down below.

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  1. Try probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that promote healthy bacteria.

    Unlike many harsh antibiotics, they do not kill the helpful and essential bacteria of your gut.


    Probiotics
    Image Credits: Unsplash

    Instead, probiotics work by staying where they are needed most to keep your gastrointestinal system working smoothly and bowel movements regular and trouble-free.

    This means a decrease in constipation, diarrhoea, and infections which can cause discomfort in GIT as well as UTIs.

3. Foods to Eat to keep UTI away 

 How to prevent a UTI in early stages?

Well, consuming blueberries, oregano oil, oranges, tea for uti, unsweetened yogurt for UTI, and probiotics are great ways to help prevent a urinary tract infection. 

Substances like these contain antioxidants that can help your body fight infection. 

 

Foods to take with UTI

Image Credits: Unsplash

 

Some of the best foods to consume high in antioxidants include tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and watermelons (watermelon rinds are exceptionally high in this vitamin).

 

Consume Cranberries

Cranberries, an old-time favorite for delicious holiday foods and beverages as well as for health reasons, have numerous properties that make them potent in helping women combat and prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Though recent studies show conflicting evidence in preventing UTIs, cranberries do protect against E. coli infection. (3)

Cranberry juice for UTI is consumed by many people suffering from this infection. 

 

Cranberries
Image Credits: Unsplash

 

Overall Hygiene

While only some people are susceptible to recurrent infections, there are things that those vulnerable to UTIs can do within the realms of safer sex to prevent UTI after sex and good genital hygiene to reduce the number of UTIs they experience.

This was all about
how to prevent frequent UTI infections. (4)

If you find yourself at the receiving end of these unpleasant bladder infections, we hope that this article has been of some use to you in your quest for a less painful urinary tract.

Apart from these foods, we have also created a list of foods to avoid with UTI. We suggest you give it a definite read. 

 

Have more queries about Urinary Tract Infection? Use our guides to the following topics for support:

1. How to relieve UTI pain?

2. Can anxiety cause UTI symptoms? 

3. UTI vs yeast infection symptoms

4. Can caffeine cause UTI symptoms?

5. Is turmeric tea good for UTI?

6. How to get rid of a UTI with baking soda?

 

4. To Conclude

With all being said, the best natural ways to feel a UTI coming on how to prevent it include maintaining hygiene habits, urinating before and after sex, and taking probiotics. 

Medical methods range from antibiotics or different types of birth control to reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection. 

Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women may find relief with estrogen therapy that rebalances vaginal bacteria. 

If you have questions about how to prevent a UTI then you should speak with your doctor who will discuss all of your options in more detail on an individual basis with you.

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