How to Prevent (or Survive) a Urinary Tract Infection
Developing a urinary tract infection is something that, unfortunately, can affect anyone. However, people with vaginas are at greater risk of developing a UTI than those with penises. The infections can occur within any part of your urinary system, including the ureters, bladder, urethra, and can sometimes develop into a kidney infection.
While there can be numerous causes of UTIs, with multiple triggers able to work together, there are prevention methods everyone should be taking. In the regrettable case that you do develop a urinary tract infection, there are several treatments you can use to rid yourself of UTI symptoms and prevent it from spreading (and potentially becoming a kidney infection).
Prevention: Urinate after sex to avoid a urinary tract infection
One of the leading causes of UTIs is not peeing after having sex. Whether it’s intercourse with a partner that you’ve been with for years or you’re taking part in an orgy, whether you have a penis or vulva, flushing the urinary tract of bacteria post-sex is so incredibly important to stop an infection from forming.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of! Get comfortable talking about sex with your partner, including the preventative measures you can take together to keeping yourselves as healthy as you can be.
Prevention: Take a daily probiotic
Taking probiotics, particularly lactobacilli, is a better-known way of preventing a urinary tract infection from occurring. By creating a more resilient gut flora through a daily dose, you’re naturally helping your body form ‘good’ bacteria, which can prevent ‘bad’ bacteria (such as those that cause UTIs from developing) from forming in the urethra.
Prevention: Care for your vagina
As mentioned earlier, while anyone can develop a UTI, it’s more common for people with vaginas. Unlike penises, where semen and urine pass through the same urethral opening, urine does not pass through the vagina (instead, it excretes through a separate urethral opening). Thus, in addition to peeing after sex — to flush out any bacteria that may be sitting in the urethra from intercourse or sexual play — it’s also essential to keep the area around the urethra generally clean.
Cleaning your sex toys between uses, cleaning up after butt play and anal sex (including fingering or cunnilingus near the anus) is crucial before moving on to the vulva. You don’t want E. coli strains from the anus entering your urethra and causing UTIs!
Treatment: Drink plenty of water to flush your urinary system
There are health checks for folks with vaginas and health checks for folks with penises, but both should involve being aware of UTI symptoms. While it’s generally a good idea to drink lots of water throughout the day and take bathroom breaks whenever you feel the sensation of needing to relieve yourself, this is especially important when you notice symptoms. Pain or burning while urinating (including urine that is cloudy or bloody and having to go more frequently than usual) are signs to begin drinking more to begin the urinary system’s flush.
Treatment: Ease UTI symptoms with home remedies
If your UTI symptoms are mild or you are unable to get to a doctor right away, there are some ways you can help your body naturally rid itself of a urinary tract infection. Avoid anything with caffeine and take sodium bicarbonate to ease the discomfort and help your body with its natural flush. A heating pad over the lower abdomen and over the counter pain killers can work wonders to manage pain. However, if the symptoms persist, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment: Take an antibiotic
Once visiting with your doctor, they will likely have you provide them with a urine sample and prescribe you an appropriate antibiotic to kill off the bacteria. Typically, UTI symptoms will ease within a few days of beginning your treatment, and the infection will be gone by the time you’ve completed your course of antibiotics. Remember: always take your prescription for the duration your doctor has prescribed, even if you begin feeling better before that. While you may be feeling fine, it doesn’t mean that the bacteria has been eliminated from your urinary system.
While there are many causes of UTIs, it’s important to make yourself aware of them, to be vigilant in preventing urinary tract infections. In the unfortunate case that one does develop, seeking immediate treatment is crucial to stop it from spreading to other areas of the urinary system, including developing into a kidney infection.
We hope that this guide will offer some relief to you.
Are you prone to urinary tract infections? How do you treat your UTI symptoms and flush out your urinary system? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
