Sexual Health - Women Forum

keishori wrote:

1.) I have been "sexually active" for many years due to things I wish not to mention... Really personal... And still am
a.) I am protected
b.) duestch every so many months
c.) use the bathroom after sex [my doctor said that that might help with avaoiding another uti
d.) do not have sex all the time

as you say you are not on b/c pill I can only assume you mean condoms when you say you are protected??
So that raises the question - do you have a latex allergy?
Douching is not good - don't do it.
It upsets the chemical balance in the vagina. The vagina is a self cleaing organ - that is why you get discharge.
Douching aslo lowers the acidity of the vagina and this can allow bacteria to increase dramatically - these bacteria can then get into and infect the urethra.

I'd also go the route euphoric suggested - how do you wipe?
If you wipe from back to front that is a major contributor as you are wiping bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethra.
Always wipe from front to back and don't use the same to wipe again (as it has picked up anal bacteria).
For this reason avoid anal to vaginal sex as well.

Again perfumed soaps, vaginal deodorants etc are all major contributors.
What about your washing detergent? That can have an affect.
As can your under wear. Thongs/strings provide an ideal way for bacteria to move around. Make sure your underwear is a natural fabric preferably cotton as this allows your pubic area to breathe. Following on from that is outerwear - if you wear tight and/or synthetic fabrics you are again producing an ideal environment for bacteria - try to fabrics as natural as possible and avoid wearing clothes that fit tight on a frequent/regluar basis.

Unfortunately many women are just prone to uti's and treatment is the only thing to do.
Women have a very short urethra and so it doesn't take much for the bacteria to get in. Men have a rather long urethra and this is why uti's are less common in men, and because their urethra is not near their anus.

When you have sex make sure he is squeaky clean in his pubic area as any bacteria here will be squished up against your urethra while you are having sex (peeing after wards can help flush bacteria out of your urethra out but it isn't 100%).

What else can you do?
* keep a decent uptake of fresh water
* include cranberry juice in you diet (even just one glass per day) or take capsules of cranberry concentrate.
* make the urine less acidic by drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in it. Products from the pharmacist that contain sodium citrate (such as cystemme) have the same effect. However, neither of these treatments is suitable if you have high blood pressure or heart trouble, so ask your pharmacist for advice.

As you have recurrent infections it might be worth (on your doctors advice) to take a lose dose anti-biotic for 6-12 months.

Constant Utis