Frequent UTI's...and I'm only 18!?!
Question: Frequent UTI's!.!.!.and I'm only 18!!?
I am 18, sexually active, and have been in a monogamist relationship for over a year!. (You can keep comments about THIS part to yourself!.)
I get urinary tract infections almost every month!. Sometimes right before menstration, sometimes not!. I am in and out of the doctor's office constantly being put on antibiodics!. It got so bad last summer that I ended up in the hospital for a week last summer with a kidney infection!.
I eat healthy, drink lots of water, take cranberry tablets religiously, wipe front-to-back always, and am always clean "down there!."
I am frustrated!. I do not know what is causing them to happen so frequently!.
HELP!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
I get urinary tract infections almost every month!. Sometimes right before menstration, sometimes not!. I am in and out of the doctor's office constantly being put on antibiodics!. It got so bad last summer that I ended up in the hospital for a week last summer with a kidney infection!.
I eat healthy, drink lots of water, take cranberry tablets religiously, wipe front-to-back always, and am always clean "down there!."
I am frustrated!. I do not know what is causing them to happen so frequently!.
HELP!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
In women, the urethra is very short and close to the vagina; and bacteria easily enters the urethra during intercourse!.
Drink a huge class of water before having sex, and make sure you urinate before having sex!. After having sex, go pee right away to flush out any bacteria!. Avoid bubble baths, because it just flushes bacteria into your bladder!. You should probably avoid sex for awhile until you get this under control!.
I don't know what antibiotics you've been put on!. Most of the time, doctors put people on Bactrim DS (generic: sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim); it's my opinion that this antibiotic doesn't work well for many people with UTI's!. I've found that an antibiotic called macrobid works best, and people with chronic UTI's might need to take a low-dose antibiotic called macrodantin (taken each day for a year or more)!. Both macrodantin and macrobid are urinary "antiseptics" (and not true antibiotics), and the medication pretty much stays in the urine!.
Sorry, I know it sucks!. See your doc and get on a low-dose antibiotic (assuming your doctor agrees with the course of treatment and you are able to tolerate the medication)!. Sounds like you've already had major problems with UTI's (such as the kidney infection), so this needs to be addressed sooner than later!. Read the below link and bring it to your doctor with you should you choose to pursue this route!.
I had a similar problem when I was your age (pretty much had a UTI for 6 months straight)!. I tried so many different antibiotics from my doc and saw several urologists - it was crazy!. After taking macrobid and being on macrodantin for 14 months, all was well (and this is 10 years ago, and since then I've only had 1 UTI)!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Drink a huge class of water before having sex, and make sure you urinate before having sex!. After having sex, go pee right away to flush out any bacteria!. Avoid bubble baths, because it just flushes bacteria into your bladder!. You should probably avoid sex for awhile until you get this under control!.
I don't know what antibiotics you've been put on!. Most of the time, doctors put people on Bactrim DS (generic: sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim); it's my opinion that this antibiotic doesn't work well for many people with UTI's!. I've found that an antibiotic called macrobid works best, and people with chronic UTI's might need to take a low-dose antibiotic called macrodantin (taken each day for a year or more)!. Both macrodantin and macrobid are urinary "antiseptics" (and not true antibiotics), and the medication pretty much stays in the urine!.
Sorry, I know it sucks!. See your doc and get on a low-dose antibiotic (assuming your doctor agrees with the course of treatment and you are able to tolerate the medication)!. Sounds like you've already had major problems with UTI's (such as the kidney infection), so this needs to be addressed sooner than later!. Read the below link and bring it to your doctor with you should you choose to pursue this route!.
I had a similar problem when I was your age (pretty much had a UTI for 6 months straight)!. I tried so many different antibiotics from my doc and saw several urologists - it was crazy!. After taking macrobid and being on macrodantin for 14 months, all was well (and this is 10 years ago, and since then I've only had 1 UTI)!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You may want to ask your doctor to consider testing you for ureteral reflux!.
When the ureter enters the bladder it travels through the wall for a distance creating a tunnel so that a flap valve is created!. This valve prevents urine that is in the bladder from backing up and returning into the ureter!. If this valve is not working correctly urine backs up from the bladder and returns to the ureter!. This waste may carry bacteria causing a urinary tract infection!.
There are several ways bacteria can get into the urethra!. During sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area can be pushed into the urethra, which causes irritation in the bladder!. In fact, any time the vaginal area is rubbed, bacteria can be pushed into the urethra!. You can get a bladder infection from oral sex too!. Infections are also common in women who wear tight jeans!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
When the ureter enters the bladder it travels through the wall for a distance creating a tunnel so that a flap valve is created!. This valve prevents urine that is in the bladder from backing up and returning into the ureter!. If this valve is not working correctly urine backs up from the bladder and returns to the ureter!. This waste may carry bacteria causing a urinary tract infection!.
There are several ways bacteria can get into the urethra!. During sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area can be pushed into the urethra, which causes irritation in the bladder!. In fact, any time the vaginal area is rubbed, bacteria can be pushed into the urethra!. You can get a bladder infection from oral sex too!. Infections are also common in women who wear tight jeans!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You need to go and pee within 30 min to 1 hour after having sex!. Women get UTI's more often than men because our urethra is shorter and straighter than a man's!. Going to the bathroom helps flush the bacteria out before they have had time to travel upward to the bladder!. It works!. I promise!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Your partner must be treated when you are!. You are obviously getting the infection back from him everytime you are cured!. It is called the ping-pong effect!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Have you been tested for diabetes--a simple finger prick for a drop of blood!. Results while you wait!. Because they happen around your period, they could be partially hormone induced!. Your dr!. should be able to give you more options, other than antibiotics all the time, this can't be good for you either!. Antibiotics can make you suseptible to yeast infections too!. I had these infections often and the pharmacist suggested Lactobacillin Acidophilus over the counter!. This has made a great difference for me!. Also, I switched to Neutrogena unscented bar soap (don't leave it in the shower or it will melt fast) & when I dry off I'm very conscious of the way I dry that area with one different end of the towel for each area!. I've given up on baths!. I've heard it's important to urinate after sex, has something to do with flushing the area so bacteria can't travel!. I have found that for some reason after eating very spicy foods I get them!. You might want to start a detailed diary with diet, change in laundry detergents, etc!. etc!.--I'm sure you've heard it all!. Take it to the dr!. Together maybe you can find a pattern & pinpoint what's the cause!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com