A - Z Encyclopedia
Understanding Urinary Tract Infections
the Basics | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention
Prevention
How Can Women Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?
- Women should urinate directly after sexual intercourse.
- Carefully wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement.
- Drink lots of water (at least eight glasses a day).
- Drink cranberry juice or any citrus juice.
- Use a form of contraception other than a diaphragm and/or spermicidal jelly.
- Use vaginal estrogen cream in women past menopause
- Young girls should avoid bubble baths, which does not cause infections but can irritate the urinary tract.
Women who consistently develop a urinary tract infection after sexual intercourse may be advised to take a single dose of antibiotic after sex. Women who have very frequent urinary tract infections may benefit from taking a dose of antibiotic once a day, or three times weekly (called a prophylactic dose). Pregnant women who have required treatment for two bladder infections during pregnancy should be treated with prophylactic antibiotics until two weeks after delivery.
the Basics | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention
