Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be uncomfortable, annoying, and miserable, and there are many women who experience chronic UTIs. If you are tired of getting these infections and want to put a stop to them, you may have to take some extra steps to prevent them from occurring. While it might be impossible to prevent them completely, you might be able to reduce the number of UTIs you experience by following these steps.

Understand the causes

A UTI is an infection that can lead to frequent urination, pain during urination, and many other symptoms. A UTI occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and reaches the bladder, kidneys, or both. Preventing bacteria from entering back into your body is the best way to prevent a UTI; however, this can be hard to do, especially for women. Women are more prone to UTIs simply because of the size of their urethras.

Wipe properly

One of the main reasons women develop UTIs is from the way they wipe after using the bathroom. Wiping from front to back is the best method to use, because this method helps prevent contamination that can occur from wiping the rectal area and then wiping the vaginal area. Using moist wipes may also help you prevent contamination during wiping.

Urinate after intercourse

Having sexual intercourse increases your chances of developing a UTI. Each time you have intercourse, your vaginal area is exposed to bacteria, and this bacteria can lead to an infection if it enters your urethra. To reduce your chances of developing a UTI, you should make a habit of urinating right after you finish having intercourse. Your urine will clean out this area and can prevent the bacteria from working its way up.

Consume cranberries

Drinking cranberry juice is a great way to decrease your chances of developing a UTI. Cranberry juice contains compounds that kill bacteria in your body. If you drink cranberry juice daily, you might be able to prevent getting UTIs in the future. If you prefer, you can take cranberry capsules instead. These contain the same active ingredients as juice, and they can have positive effects on your body.

If you want to avoid the pain and discomfort of UTIs, following these steps may help you. If you continue to experience problems with UTIs, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor or visit a site like http://www.thefamilyhealthcntr.com to find out what else you can do about this common issue.