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Treatment Options
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Helping Yourself
The good news is that urinary tract infections can usually be prevented by adopting a few personal habits and behaviors:
- Decrease or eliminate the use of spermicides and diaphragms
- Void immediately after intercourse
- Drink plenty of water every day
- Drink at least 8 ounces of cranberry juice every day or take a cranberry supplement (some persons report good results although there is currently no scientific evidence to definitively support this suggestion. The thought is that cranberry juice makes the urine more acidic which in turn makes it more difficult for bacteria to grow.)
- After using the restroom, women should wipe from front to back so bacteria from the bowels don't get into the urinary tract
- Urinate when you feel the urge; don't wait
- Avoid tight fitting clothes
- Wear cotton underware
- Take showers instead of baths
- Avoid bath oils, feminine hygiene sprays, douches, and powders
- Change tampons and feminine napkins after each urination
Over-the-counter preparations that may relieve your UTI symptoms and help you determine if you have a UTI include:
- Products such as AZO and Uristat may lessen the pain associated with a UTI.
- Urine-testing kits will help you determine if you have a UTI and should see your doctor.
Be sure to contact your doctor at the onset of symptoms and before taking any of these products, which may reduce your symptoms but won't cure your infection. Your physician will probably want you to start an antibiotic. As always, carefully read product labels and heed all cautions. And as you should when you have any infection, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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