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Drink lots of fluids. This is probably the single most important tip, for two reasons: comfort and health.

“Some women get a UTI and think, ‘Aha! It only burns when I go to the bathroom,’ ” says Dr. Cohen. “They then reason that they won’t have to go if they don’t drink, so they don’twhich is absolutely the worst thing they can do.”

The reason: The longer any amount of urine stays in the bladder, the more bacteria there are in itE. coli doubles its population about every 20 minutes, according to Dr. Staskin. More bacteria mean more pain.

“Absolutely the best thing a woman can do to fight the burning is drink fluids to flush out the bacteria that are causing the inflammation,” Dr. Cohen says.

“There’s a very strong argument for drinking more fluid both to prevent UTIs and to treat them,” Dr. Staskin says. “Studies have been performed where bacteria were mechanically introduced into the bladders of volunteers. But voiding just twice effectively sterilized the bladder.”

Message: The more you drink, the sooner the pain will stop. And a hint: If your urine’s clear, you’re drinking enough. If it’s colored, you’re not.

Take a hot bath. “This helps relieve pain for many women,” says Richard J. Macchia, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn College of Medicine. “I don’t think anyone’s researched the exact mechanisms involved, but a hot bath often seems to help where there’s inflammation.”

Take aspirin or ibuprofen. “These are anti-inflammatories, and they do help some people,” Dr. Macchia says. “They reduce the inflammation in the bladder, and the less inflammation, the less burning.”

Take vitamin C. “About 1,000 milligrams taken throughout the day will acidify the urine enough to interfere with bacterial growth,” Dr. Macchia says. “This is a good idea if you’re having problems with reinfection or have recurrence in the middle of nowhere without quick access to medical help.” Caution: Some antibiotics prescribed for bladder infections don’t work will in acidic urine, so tell your doctor if you’re taking vitamin C. Also tell him how much you’re taking. Vitamin C is not toxic, but 1,000 milligrams is considered a large dose and should have your doctor’s approval.

Back away. Wiping from front to back helps prevent infection from recurring, the doctors say. Wiping the wrong way is one of the most common causes of infection and a good way to get repeat infections. Wiping away is pure common sense, you want to move bacteria away from, not toward, the vagina and the opening of the urethra.

Go to the bathroom before intercourse. This helps flush out bacteria that may be present in the vagina, the experts saybacteria that otherwise might be pushed into the bladder by intercourse.

Go to the bathroom after intercourse. This is where the myth of your partner’s involvement gets its startand like most myths, there’s a grain of truth to this one, according to Dr. Staskin. A man’s penis can massage bacteria present in the opening of the urethra into the bladder. Voiding effectively “rinses” the bladder out.

“There’s no doubt that UTIs are more common in sexually active women,” Dr. Cohen says. “But that’s more the result of not knowing how to protect themselves than of sexual activity itself. If bacteria have been pushed into the bladder, urinating will flush most of them out.”

Reconsider the diaphragm. “Diaphragms have been documented as major contributors to those who have stubborn, repeated bladder infections,” Dr. Staskin says. “Two mechanisms are probably involved: Bacteria colonize the diaphragm itself, which is then inserted deep into the vagina, and the diaphragm interferes with bladder emptying, which means that bacteria already there aren’t flushed out.”

If this description fits you, you might want to talk to your doctor about another method of birth control.

Use pads instead of tampons. “No one’s absolutely certain why certain women seem more susceptible to reinfection, but vaginal manipulation of some sortsex, inserting the diaphragm, putting a tampon inalways seems to precede it,” says Joseph Corriere, M.D., director of the Division of Urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

“I advise those of my patients experiencing chronic infection at the time of menstruation to quit using tampons and replace them with pads,” he says.

Practice good hygiene. Good hygiene means wearing cotton underwear that keeps you dry, avoiding tight pants that decrease ventilation, and most of all, keeping cleanbut sensibly clean.

“If you don’t bathe to remove bacteria in the perineal region [between vagina and rectum], obviously you run the risk of repeated infection,” Dr. Staskin says. “But too much can be as bad as too little. Douching constantly can both introduce bacteria into the vagina and rinse out the normal “friendly,” noninfectious vaginal bacteria, which are then replaced with infectious E. coli. Irritation of the urethra may occur, which may feel like another UTI. Strong antibacterial soaps can do the same thingand change the vaginal flora enough to make the individual more susceptble to infection.”

The point: Be clean, but don’t be obsessed.

You could also try to drink canberry powder, I heard that works too….

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
Lower urinary tract infection (cystitis): The lining of the urethra and bladder becomes inflamed and irritated.

Dysuria – Pain or burning during urination
Frequency – More frequent urination (or waking up at night to urinate)
Urgency – The sensation of not being able to hold urine
Hesitancy – The sensation of not being able to urinate easily or completely (or feeling that you have to urinate but only a few drops of urine come out)
Cloudy, bad smelling, or bloody urine
Lower abdominal pain
Mild fever (less than 101F), chills, and “just not feeling well” (malaise)
Upper urinary tract infection (pyelonephritis): Symptoms develop rapidly and may or may not include the symptoms for a lower urinary tract infection.

Fairly high fever (higher than 101F)
Shaking chills
Nausea
Vomiting
Flank pain – Pain in your back or side, usually on only one side at about waist level

Before I was on the bc pill I don’t remember ever getting infections, but on the pill I was very prone to them. Thanks!

I thought I was pregnant once because of the symptoms of my UTI, but no.. it was just a UTI. I didn’t get pregnant for nearly a year afterwards. You’re probably just getting another infection.

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