How to prevent UTI reinfection?

Verified by Dr. Vaishali Sakpal Rane (MBBS, DGO Obstetrics and Gynaecology, DNB Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Unless you're among the women who have never experienced a urinary tract infection (UTI), you're familiar with the symptoms. You may have frequent urges to pee yet discharge little urine when you do. Your urine may be murky, blood-tinged, and pungent. In 25% to 30% of women who have had a urinary tract infection, the illness returns within six months.

If you frequently have UTIs, you are aware of the negative effects they can have on your life. However, you may take solace in the fact that they aren't the product of anything you've done. Recurrent UTIs are not the result of inadequate hygiene. In most cases, the infections are caused by Escherichia coli, a bacteria that resides in the intestine. E. coli can enter the urethra (the tube that transports urine from the bladder) and infect the bladder if they are transferred from the rectum to the vagina.

UTI risk factors change with age. Prior to menopause, the most prevalent risk factors include sexual activity and the use of spermicides. Sex is considered to increase the quantity of germs in the bladder, and many doctors recommend that women pee after sex to wash them out. Here are some ways you can prevent UTIs from reoccurring:

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• Including lots of fluids: Every day, drink lots of water. Every two to three hours, try to sip on a glass of water. 
• Frequent urination: Urinate often and attempt to thoroughly empty your bladder each time. When your bladder feels full, don't try to retain your urine.
• Avoid the use of spermicide: Use a spermicide-free alternative contraceptive method. 
• After getting intimate: After sexual intercourse, promptly empty your bladder. 
• Postmenopause: For postmenopausal women, consider vaginal oestrogen treatment.
• Personal hygiene: Maintaining your cleanliness. After a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to keep germs and anus away from your urethra. 
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided or limited. Both can cause bladder irritation. If you consume either, make sure you drink plenty of water to dilute it.