Ask A Healer Women's Health Series

Health care information for recurrent urinary infections - Keeping your urinary tract healthy
© Neva J Howell, All Rights Reserved


Natural UTI Remedy

Excuse me for being blunt......

I would assume most women have been told (either by their mother or by their gynecologist) about a very important thing you can do to prevent UTI's but just in case some of you missed it, it has to do with how you wipe after going to the bathroom.

Wiping from back to front after urination can allow bacteria such as e. coli to travel from the back of that part of the body to the front of that part of the body, if you get my drift. It's a BIG urinary health no-no for women.

Who gets UTI's? There are certain factors that may cause a person to be more at risk for a urinary tract infection.

If you have diabetes you may be more apt to have UTI's or chronic cystitis.

Anyone who has to have a catheter for any period of time can be at greater risk because of bacteria that can accumulate on the catheter.

A pregnant woman is also more prone to developing this type of infection.

If you are pregnant you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you begin to experience any of the symptoms of a UTI, including pain on urination or what you consider to be more frequent urination than would be considered normal for your stage of pregnancy.

For men, the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections increases with an enlarged prostate.

In addition to these higher-risk groups, some tend to get UTI's after having intimate relations with someone (ps. I'm not a prude but also don't want to get my page blocked for the wrong word here).

This may be due to bacteria being carried from back to front during intimate movement, just as in the case of wiping the wrong way. Getting in the habit of urinating within at least fifteen minutes of intercourse can be helpful in reducing risk of developing infection this way.

How do you know you have an infection?

The symptoms of urinary tract infection can include pain on urination as well as a need to urinate frequently.

Many with UTI's report feeling fatiqued and even a bit shaky.

The color of urine can change when you have a urinary tract infection, to a cloudy or milky hue and may even have a reddish tint to it if blood is present.

Preventing UTI's could be as simple as answering nature's call in a timely manner.

Do you go when you need to go? You know who you are. There you are at the desk, typing away and you know you need to go to the bathroom but you have just one more page to finish or one more call to make or one more thing to do for one of your children .... don't put off urinating when you need to do so because nature made us in a wonderful way so that the very act of urination helps to flush out bacteria that may be accumulating in the urinary tract and could develop into infection. Holding it in is not good for your health.

What to rule out if you have recurring infections: If you are having chronic reinfections of the bladder or urinary tract, rule out kidney stones which may sometimes cause the bladder not to empty fully.

Also rule out interstitial cystitis, which is a more serious condition. Interstitial cystitis has some of the same symptoms as regular UTI or cystitis, such as frequent urination.

However, the frequency may be quite extreme, needing to urinate as often as every few minutes, strong smelling urine, and/or pain as the bladder fills up, which relieves as the bladder empties.

In addition, suspect this more serious form of infection if you have trouble getting your urine to start at all or experience excessive urination at night.

For men, rule out enlarged prostate as a factor. Also, visit the Urology of Indiana website for excellent information on male uti's. They cover symptoms and causes, evaluation and diagnosis and treatment options.

Do you drink enough water? I'm one of those that harps on adequate fluid intake, to help the body in almost every situation except edema. Most people I know do not drink enough water. How much is enough? Well, that's debatable but there is a good test to see if you drink enough water for your body's needs....

If you drink water only when you've become consciously aware of being thirsty, then you are probably dehydrated to some extent every day. An active signal of thirst is the body's way of telling you that dehydration has already set in.

Most people drink coffee, diet sodas, tea or other liquids a lot more than they drink pure water. These do not serve the same purpose and our body does not process them the same way as water. A good rule of thumb is the old half your weight rule. In other words, if there are no medical contraindications to doing so, a person should consume half their weight in water per day.

What does this have to do with recurrent UTI's and chronic cystitis? I firmly believe that a dehydrated body is a compromised system. Drinking adequate fluids on a regular basis may not ward off these infections but I believe the body has an easier time dealing with them and also an easier time avoiding them if adequately supplied with water. I recommend ionized water.

Health Disclaimer: The information within this educational article on urinary health is not intended to take the place of medical attention that may also be warranted. In particular, if you are pregnant and suspsect you may be developing a UTI or cystitis, it's important to consult with your obstetrician asap to avoid complications and greater discomfort with the pregnancy.