URINARY TRACT INFECTION PREVENTION

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is the presence of microorganisms in the urine which cause symptoms, such as frequent urination, difficulty in urination and urgency.

These microorganisms usually enter our body through the urethra.

Owing to gender-related anatomic differences:

  • Women are more frequently affected by UTIs compared to men and this is due to the comparatively short length of the female urethra
  • In men, UTIs are mainly due to prostate hyperplasia, bladder stones or urethral strictures

There are some general precautions for the prevention of UTIs:

  • Plenty of fluid intake: through the increased production of urine, any microbes responsible for the development of an infection are carried away and excreted
  • Avoidance of voiding postponement: when urine is retained in the bladder for a long period of time, microbes have the opportunity to grow and proliferate (multiply), resulting in an infection
  • Voiding before and after sexual intercourse: in this way, any possible “microbial invaders” are excreted via the urethra during sexual contact
  • Proper personal hygiene: after urination or defecation, cleaning of the area must be from the front to the back. In this way, the transfer of any bacteria from the anus to the urethra and vagina is avoided
  • Avoidance of antiseptic products for personal hygiene purposes: these products destroy the normal bacterial flora of the vagina and pave the way for pathogens to colonize
  • Avoidance of synthetic underwear
  • Cranberry juice consumption
  • Avoid taking any antibiotic not recommended by the doctor: once symptoms are present, visit a urologist to receive the appropriate infection diagnosis and therapy