Reasons Why Sex Causes Uti And 6 Holistic Ways To Heal
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Sex causes UTIs, STDs, babies, and orgasms. What a mess! But lets focus only on UTIs for today.
Escherichia coli bacteria cause between 80 and 90% of all urinary tract infectionsthat affect up to half of all women during their lifetime. Yet, the E.coli dont normally start out in your bladder, they live in your large intestine or colon.
To put it simply: your poop is full of E. coli and there is always bacteria living in and around your anus.
Fear not, however: most E. coli are harmless and are actually an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. For example, did you know that they help produce vitamin K?
However, E. coli can cause serious damage to your health when it leaves its rightful place in your intestinal tract. So, how does this happen? Scroll down to check out the infographic.
How Common Are Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5 women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children. One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year, 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract infections.
If You Have Gone Through The Menopause Vaginal Oestrogen May Be An Option
If you have gone through the menopause and had your last natural period , your hormone levels will have dropped. As explained earlier, this leads to changes in the vagina and the urethra that can increase the chances of getting recurrent cystitis, as well as other problems like dryness and painful sex. You can read more about this in the separate leaflet called Vaginal Dryness .
Vaginal oestrogen has been shown to reduce the number of bouts of cystitis in postmenopausal women who get recurrent cystitis. However, it is not as effective as taking antibiotics regularly. It is usually taken as an estradiol tablet that you insert into your vagina at night twice a week or as a ring that releases estradiol continuously and stays in the vagina for three months at a time. It can help even in postmenopausal women who dont have any of the other vaginal symptoms.
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What Should Men Know About Sex And Urinary Tract Infections
The urinary tract is a group of organs responsible for processing urine. It includes:
- The kidneys a pair of organs that filters blood and removes waste.
- The bladder the organ that stores urine.
- The ureters two tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder
- The urethra the tube from which urine exits the body. When men ejaculate, semen is expelled from the urethra.
Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that find their way into the urinary tract. They typically enter the body through the urethra and can travel to other organs.
Urinary tract infections are not as common in men as they are in women. This is largely due to anatomy. A womans urethra is closer to her vagina and anus, making it easier for bacteria to enter. A mans urethra runs for the length of his penis, so bacteria have a much longer route to other parts of the urinary tract.
Symptoms of UTIs are similar for men and women. They include a constant need to urinate, discomfort during urination, cloudy or discolored urine, and abdominal or lower back pain. Men might have an unusual discharge from the penis.
Older men are more likely to develop UTIs than younger men. Other common risk factors are an enlarged prostate, diabetes, and kidney stones. Any abnormalities in the urinary tract or recent catheter insertion can also raise the risk of UTIs.
Most of the time, UTIs can be treated with antibiotics. People who get frequent UTIs may need to take an antibiotic after having sex.
Utis After Sex When It Really Kicked In
Years later all was forgotten, including my shift working boyfriend, and I found myself in another relationship with a man who could literally go for hours.
Were brought up to believe this is the ultimate quality in a lover but apparently excessive friction coupled with a short and narrow urethra does not equate to the best sex of your life to the contrary this was arguably the worst year of my life.
I began to realise that every time I had sex, I would get another UTI. UTIs after sex had officially become my modus operandi and post coital intimacy had been replaced by me sitting on a toilet trying to force a decent stream of urine from my body.
I couldnt help but wonder why it was happening in this relationship and not others? Id been in long term relationships and had never had this ongoing problem.
Was my boyfriend carrying bacteria that was reinfecting me each time we had sex? Was something happening in my own body that was causing some kind of imbalance in my urinary tract?
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What Is Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Interstitial cystitis is a painful condition in which the bladder wall becomes irritated and inflamed.
Chronic inflammation can cause scarring and thickening of the bladder wall, making the bladder very stiff and unable to hold a normal amount of urine.
Most treatments for IC are aimed at controlling symptoms, and no single treatment works for everyone. But most people eventually achieve significant relief from pain and discomfort.
When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider
- Fever.
- Back pain.
- Vomiting.
If you have any of these symptoms, or your other symptoms continue after treatment, call your healthcare provider. A UTI can spread throughout your urinary tract and into other parts of your body. However, treatment is very effective and can quickly relieve your symptoms.
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I Keep Getting Urinary Tract Infections After I Have Sex With My Boyfriend Ive Tried Drinking A Lot Of Liquids But That Doesnt Help Is There Anything I Can Do To Stop The Pain
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Urinary tract infections are more common in girls who are sexually active. Thats because the urethra is very close to the anus and bacteria can find their way to the bladder very easily. Girls who have had UTIs before can usually recognize the symptoms of frequent urination, pain especially at the end of peeing, often accompanied by blood in the urine. To try to lessen your chance of UTIs, you may find helpful drinking lots of fluids, peeing at least every two hours and after sex, and talking with your health care provider about cranberry juice or tablets, and whether you should take antibiotics, either to prevent infections or as soon as you get symptoms.
Make sure your symptoms are from a UTI and that you have seen your health care provider. Burning, frequent urination, and pain in the lower belly area, can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection such as Chlamydia. If you are sexually active, you should use condoms 100% of the time to lessen your risk.
Can I Prevent Recurrent Utis
There are steps you can take to help reduce UTIs. The most basic is to drink plenty of fluids. This encourages frequent urination and helps flush out bacteria.
For women, following good hygiene practices is especially important:
- After a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to reduce the chance of moving E. coli bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.
- Pee immediately before and after sex.
- Dont douche or use feminine deodorants on your genitals.
- Wear cotton underwear.
For older adults, take care to deal with retention problems, which are especially an issue as you age.
I tell them to double-void urinate and then go back and urinate again, Dr. Vasavada says.
What about drinking cranberry juice to fight UTIs?
Thats one of the most commonly asked questions, Dr. Vasavada says. Theres conflicting data. Its not going to cure an infection, but it could help prevent one, so we dont discourage it.
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Go Straight To The Sellers Website To Find Out More > >
A UTI after sex is surprisingly common in women and there is a very good reason why this happens.
As someone who has suffered with UTIs for several years, I quickly became pretty knowledgeable on the subject.
I discovered how to prevent and cure these infections without needing to keep visiting the doctor and swallow down repeat doses of antibiotics. D-Mannose is the natural cure for cystitis that stops my problem from the first dose every time.
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Recurrent Cystitis In Women
In this series
Some women have recurring bouts of cystitis, sometimes defined as two proven infections within six months, or three infections in a year.
In this article
Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. It is usually caused by a urine infection. Some women have repeated bouts of cystitis. Doctors define a recurrent infection as either three proven separate infections in a year or as two in six months. In many cases there is no apparent reason for a woman to get frequent attacks of cystitis. There are a number of treatment options to consider. This might be treating each episode promptly with a short course of antibiotics, a regular low dose of antibiotics taken long-term, or taking a single dose of antibiotic after having sex . You can read more about cystitis in the separate leaflet called Cystitis in Women.
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What Foods To Avoid If You Have A Bladder Infection
So try to avoid lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and tomatoes when youre treating a UTI. Other fruits that may cause bladder irritation and worsen a urinary tract infection include apples, peaches, grapes, plums, strawberries, and pineapple. You should also steer clear of juices made from these fruits.
Are Utis The Same In Older Women As Younger Women
Although women can get UTIs at any age, they can affect older women differently. UTI symptoms can be different or more severe in older women. Sometimes older women can have a UTI and be asymptomatic.
In addition to the general symptoms listed above, older women should be aware of these additional symptoms:
- Delirium or hallucination
- Agitation and restlessness
- Social withdrawal
Older women are also more likely to have an underlying medical condition thats triggering their recurrent UTIs or causing UTI-like symptoms. For example, pelvic organ prolapse can cause symptoms that are very similar to UTIs, such as a frequent urge to urinate or pain and pressure in the lower abdomen.
Since these conditions cant be treated with the antibiotics often prescribed for UTIs, its important to have a comprehensive medical exam. At Alpenglow Gynecology, we rule out underlying causes or conditions that may be causing your UTI symptoms.
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Timing Of Sexual Intercourse And Risk Of Incident Urinary Tract Infection
After adjusting for intercourse on other days of the month, the HR for UTI was 3.30 2 days after the reporting of intercourse in the diary compared with no reporting of intercourse. Further adjustment for diabetes changed this HR slightly . The risk for UTI was higher among diabetic women compared to women without diabetes . The risk of UTI was not elevated 1 day after intercourse or between 3 and 30 days after intercourse . These relationships did not vary substantially after adjustment for other potential confounders, such as hormone replacement therapy, age, physical function, marital status, race, education, income, and smoking status. When we repeated these analyses using a diagnostic threshold of 104 CFU/mL rather than 105 CFU/mL with acute urinary symptoms, there were 83 women experiencing 117 UTIs. The risk of UTI 2 days after intercourse was similar to what is presented above after including these additional UTI events , while intercourse on other days remained unassociated with the risk of UTI.
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Are Utis Dangerous To Health
Many UTIs clear up within a few days after being treated with antibiotics. But if a UTI is left untreated you risk running into more serious health complications. Complications include kidney infections and kidney damage, recurring urinary tract infections, and even sepsis.
UTIs are also more dangerous during pregnancy, when there is greater risk for a mother and baby. Its important to see or get in touch with your doctor right away If you have any symptoms of a UTI while pregnant.
If you would like to meet with a knowledgeable doctor, consider contacting Womens Health Arizona. As Arizonas largest ObGyn group, were trained and solely dedicated to delivering the best ObGyn experience in convenient and comfortable settings around Phoenix.
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What Are Utis And Who Should Care
UTIs are infections of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the system that creates, collects, and gets rid of urine from your body. When bacteria enter the urinary system and find a place to grow, this is called a UTI.
Your urinary tract begins with your kidneys, which create urine. A pair of tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys down into your bladder. Urine is held in your bladder until you are ready to empty it. When you go to the bathroom, urine comes out through your urethra, which is the tube that connects your bladder to the outside.
Infections of the kidney, called pyelonephritis, can be quite serious. Bladder infections, called cystitis, are the most common type of UTI. Usually, when people talk about a UTI, they are talking about a bladder infection.
What Is The Prognosis For A Person With A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections typically respond very well to treatment. A UTI can be uncomfortable before you start treatment, but once your healthcare provider identifies the type of bacteria and prescribes the right antibiotic medication, your symptoms should improve quickly. Its important to keep taking your medication for the entire amount of time your healthcare provider prescribed. If you have frequent UTIs or if your symptoms arent improving, your provider may test to see if its an antibiotic-resistant infection. These are more complicated infections to treat and may require intravenous antibiotics or alternative treatments.
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What Can I Do To Help Prevent Cystitis
Unfortunately there is no evidence that any lifestyle changes really help to prevent cystitis. Traditionally, doctors have advised drinking plenty of fluids to âflush outâ the germs , and drinking cranberry juice. However, there is no evidence this makes any difference. Researchers are also studying the effects of probiotics on preventing cystitis but currently there isnât enough evidence to know if they are of any use either. Other changes, such as the way you clean yourself and which underwear you wear, have also not been found to make any difference. If recurring cystitis is a problem, you may need to discuss one of the options below with your doctor.
Can You Get A Uti From Having Sex
Yes, you can get a UTI from having sex, especially if youre a woman.
During sexual intercourse, thrusting can introduce bacteria up the urethra and into the bladder, increasing the risk of a UTI, explains Dr. Lakeisha Richardson, MD, OB-GYN.
The reason that women are more prone to getting a UTI from sex is due to female anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra than men, which means its easier for bacteria to get into the bladder.
Also, the urethra is closer to the anus in women. This makes it easier for bacteria, like E. coli, to get into the urethra.
Its important to keep in mind that you can also get a UTI from oral sex, not just penetrative sex. With oral sex, bacteria can still get introduced into the urethra, which can lead to an infection.
Although anyone is susceptible to getting a UTI from having sex, Richardson says women with a history of recurrent UTIs or urinary abnormalities have an increased risk for these infections.
Although it might not be possible to come up with a completely foolproof plan to prevent a UTI, you can certainly take steps to reduce your risk for getting a UTI after sex.
Here are some tips:
Richardson also says women who have recurrent UTIs may benefit from taking a prescribed antibiotic after sex. This is typically one dose taken immediately after having sexual intercourse.
If youre prone to getting UTIs, you may want to talk with your doctor about an antibiotic prescription for this purpose.
- nausea
- drink plenty of water
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What Are The Risk Factors For A Uti
Some people may have risk factors that make them get UTIs such as diabetes, kidney stones, or abnormalities in the urinary tract, Mamta Mamik, M.D., a urogynecologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital, tells SELF. If you have, consider yourself prone to UTIs. If this sounds like you, ask your doctor about treatment options and medications that you can take preventively or at the first sign of infection.
However, if you never or rarely get UTIs and you don’t typically pee right after sex, this is permission to keep doing your thing. If it’s never been a problem for you, it’s fine to keep doing it , Dr. Mamik confirms. Maybe you’re typically healthily hydrated and have good, regular urination, or your body’s just great when it comes to preventing this bacterial invasion. Either way, sit back and be thankful for being UTI-free.