The Secret Formula to Preventing a UTI: It’s Not What You Think
No one likes an itchy, burning vag. Urinary tract infections (or UTIs) are no joke when it comes to discomfort and pain– but you can try to prevent them!
A UTI is an infection in the urinary system that often involves the bladder and the urethra. They occur as a result of bacteria (sometimes from poo… gross, but true!) entering the urinary tract. This can lead to a variety of nasty, unpleasant symptoms including pain or burning sensations while peeing, a frequent urge to pee, and pee that’s cloudy, dark, or has a strong odor.
You’re most likely to get a UTI if you don’t drink a lot of water, don’t pee immediately after sex, don’t keep your cooch clean and dry, or if you wipe improperly (we’ll get into wipe etiquette) after using the bathroom. If we know what causes them, we can be ready to fight back. Grab your cranberry juice sis, because we’re going to teach you our secret formula for preventing UTIs.
Wipe Etiquette
After you’ve finished your # 1 or # 2, it’s important to wipe! The direction of your wipe matters more than you may think. Make sure to always wipe from front to back, towards the direction of your bum. That way, you’re not spreading any poo germs that might enter your urethra. If you do wipe in the other direction, gently rinse the area with water to flush out any germs that may be threatening to your lady bits. You can also try Happy Girl’s Vadge and Bum Refresher, our equivalent of a healthy, feminine wipe that cleans out the bad stuff and leaves the good stuff.
Post-Sex Hygiene
Believe it or not, sex is one of the most common causes of UTIs– and a lot of it comes from a lack of post-sex hygiene. The friction and pressure from your nighttime romps can lead to bacteria traveling in or around your cooch. Peeing helps to flush bacteria out of your bladder and urethra, so it’s important to always use the toilet when sexy time is over. You should also clean your vag with a clean ingredient feminine wash, or you can simply freshen up with Happy Girl’s Vadge and Bum Refresher to remove any bacteria that might still be hanging around. And girl, if it was put in the booty hole, it can't go in your va-jay afterwards unless you wash it off. I'm just sayin’ the “no double dipping” rule applies here too!
Stay Hydrated
One of the most important things you can do to prevent UTIs is to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine as well as makes you urinate more frequently in order to consistently flush out your system and remove any harmful bacteria before infection can occur. Staying hydrated is one of the best things to do after you develop a UTI, because it can reduce the infection and flush out the nasty stuff faster, helping your body heal more quickly.
Don’t Hold It In!
Okay fine, you might have to hold it sometimes. But if you gotta go, then go, girl! Holding in your pee can lead to bacteria build-up, which in turn can lead to a UTI. It can also weaken your bladder muscles over time and cause incontinence. It’s best just to let that river flow; you'll feel better right after and in the long run.
Cranberry Supplements
You’ve heard it time and time again-- cranberry juice helps prevent UTIs. This isn’t exactly the case, but it’s not too far off. A substance in cranberries called proanthocyanidins might prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, making it easier for these germs to be flushed out of the system. Some studies have shown that drinking pure, unsweetened cranberry juice or taking a daily cranberry pill can prevent UTIs, but this isn’t an end-all-be-all for everyone. All bodies are different, and while cranberries have helped in some cases, they don’t help everybody. While they aren’t a proven fix, there’s no harm in incorporating cranberry products such as juice, tablets, or powder into your daily prevention routine.
When you start developing symptoms of a UTI, contact your doctor as soon as possible. They’ll likely take a sample of your urine and test it immediately, then prescribe you antibiotics to fight the infection and ease the painful symptoms. If you frequently get UTIs, you might be suffering from something more serious, such a kidney infection.
By making simple changes in your daily routine, such as grabbing an extra water bottle on your way out the door or changing the direction of your wipe, you’re helping your body fight off bacteria that threatens your health. Say bye bye to burning, and hello to a happy cooch!
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The author.
Allison Kindley is a Digital Media Production & Journalism student at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. She loves working with Team Happy Girl because she gets to inform others on feminine wellness, learn every day, write creatively, and empower women.