Urinary tract infection (UTI)
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A urinary tract infection is a common infection that can occur from having sex.
It can affect different areas of the urinary tract from the lower areas where the urethra and the bladder are, to the upper areas where the areters and the kidneys are. If bacteria get into the bladder, it can cause cystitis, while if the bacteria travels up to the kidneys, it can cause pyelonephritis.
Women are more likely to contract UTI than men after sex, because the opening of the urethra (the tube you pee through) is at the front of the vagina, and the urethra in women is shorter than it is in men. Bacteria can enter the vagina from sex (contact from penis, fingers or other objects) as well as spermicides or diaphragms.
Is there a quick fix?
Antibiotics can usually treat a UTI with most symptoms usually disappearing between 1 and 2 days. If not treated, the UTI can become a kidney infection which may require a visit to the hospital.
While your on antibiotics you will probably still be in pain while waiting for hte antibiotics to start working. Taking over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen or paracetamol) at its recommended dose will help ease some of the pain you're experiencing from the UTI.
Even though it might be painful to pee, it is also a good idea to drink a lot of water during this time. The extra water will help your body to get rid of the bacteria in your bladder as well.
Ugh, I can't seen to get rid of them. Now what?
Some people may have chronic UTIs. A chronic UTI is when a UTI won't go away with treatment, or when you keep getting UTIs over and over again. When you've had a UTI 2 or more times in 6 months, or 3 or more times in a year, it might mean that you have chronic UTIs.
So how do I stop the cycle?
First, your medical team will want to figure out why you have chronic UTIs and if there is an underlying cause. An underlying cause means that you have a health issue that hasn't been found yet that could be causing the chronic UTIs.
Underlying causes for chronic UTIs include:
- kidney stones or bladder stones
- menopause - During menopause your hormone levels will drop. One of these hormones, estrogen, will lower during this time which could lead to UTIs.
- shape of bladder - An abnormally shaped bladder can cause UTIs to occur more often
- bladder function - If the bladder isn't functioning properly, this can also make it more likely that you will develop UTIs.
If you have one of the above underyling issues, then your medical team will look to treating the underyling issue to stop chronic UTIs. If there is no specific underlying issue, your medical team may suggest:
- taking an antibiotic for an extended period of time, anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years
- taking an antibiotic after sexual activity
How can I make sure this doesn't happen again?
If you have recently had a UTI or have chronic UTIs, you know how uncomfortable they are and want to do everything you can to avoid getting another in the future.
To prevent UTIs it is a good idea to:
- wash thoroughly around the vaginal opening daily with mild soap rather than any other feminine products
- drink lots of water to flush out the urinary tract (where the bacteria infection is)
- drink or take oral pills of unsweetend cranberry
- wipe front to back after a poo
- take showers rather than baths
If you're doing all of these things and nothing seems to work, chat us below! We would love to help direct you to the answers you need.
Talk to me.
A urinary tract infection is a common infection that can occur from having sex.
It can affect different areas of the urinary tract from the lower areas where the urethra and the bladder are, to the upper areas where the areters and the kidneys are. If bacteria get into the bladder, it can cause cystitis, while if the bacteria travels up to the kidneys, it can cause pyelonephritis.
Women are more likely to contract UTI than men after sex, because the opening of the urethra (the tube you pee through) is at the front of the vagina, and the urethra in women is shorter than it is in men. Bacteria can enter the vagina from sex (contact from penis, fingers or other objects) as well as spermicides or diaphragms.
Is there a quick fix?
Antibiotics can usually treat a UTI with most symptoms usually disappearing between 1 and 2 days. If not treated, the UTI can become a kidney infection which may require a visit to the hospital.
While your on antibiotics you will probably still be in pain while waiting for hte antibiotics to start working. Taking over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen or paracetamol) at its recommended dose will help ease some of the pain you're experiencing from the UTI.
Even though it might be painful to pee, it is also a good idea to drink a lot of water during this time. The extra water will help your body to get rid of the bacteria in your bladder as well.
Ugh, I can't seen to get rid of them. Now what?
Some people may have chronic UTIs. A chronic UTI is when a UTI won't go away with treatment, or when you keep getting UTIs over and over again. When you've had a UTI 2 or more times in 6 months, or 3 or more times in a year, it might mean that you have chronic UTIs.
So how do I stop the cycle?
First, your medical team will want to figure out why you have chronic UTIs and if there is an underlying cause. An underlying cause means that you have a health issue that hasn't been found yet that could be causing the chronic UTIs.
Underlying causes for chronic UTIs include:
- kidney stones or bladder stones
- menopause - During menopause your hormone levels will drop. One of these hormones, estrogen, will lower during this time which could lead to UTIs.
- shape of bladder - An abnormally shaped bladder can cause UTIs to occur more often
- bladder function - If the bladder isn't functioning properly, this can also make it more likely that you will develop UTIs.
If you have one of the above underyling issues, then your medical team will look to treating the underyling issue to stop chronic UTIs. If there is no specific underlying issue, your medical team may suggest:
- taking an antibiotic for an extended period of time, anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years
- taking an antibiotic after sexual activity
How can I make sure this doesn't happen again?
If you have recently had a UTI or have chronic UTIs, you know how uncomfortable they are and want to do everything you can to avoid getting another in the future.
To prevent UTIs it is a good idea to:
- wash thoroughly around the vaginal opening daily with mild soap rather than any other feminine products
- drink lots of water to flush out the urinary tract (where the bacteria infection is)
- drink or take oral pills of unsweetend cranberry
- wipe front to back after a poo
- take showers rather than baths
If you're doing all of these things and nothing seems to work, chat us below! We would love to help direct you to the answers you need.
Symptom list:
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
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