The End of UTIs…With These Tips!

Most likely, if you are a female in college, you have experienced a UTI (urinary tract infection) at some point in your four years. I remember the first time I experienced one was during a double shift while waitressing.

Running to the bathroom every five minutes while trying to wait on customers is not an easy task. For those who have not had one before, you are very lucky.

Until you have had one, you cannot truly understand the discomfort and annoyance that comes along with one.

Well, after that horrific experience, I take preventive measures to make sure that one never plagues me again. Luckily, Glamour magazine recently published an article titled the “UTI Fixes No One Ever Tells You About.”

The tips go beyond the commonly known things like peeing after sex, drinking cranberry juice, and wiping front to back (gross, I know, sorry) to show that there is actually more that you can do.

1. Choose the Right Condom: “Research has found that using ones with spermicide increases UTI risk.” So, make sure you and your boy are always using non-spermicide condoms.

2. Don’t Wait All Day to Pee: “Holding it in gives infectious bacteria more time to grow in the urine.” Take frequent bathroom breaks, no matter where you are.

3. Change Tampons Frequently: “When left in longer than three hours, tampons can become breeding grounds for bacteria that may find their way into the urethra as you move around or when you wipe.” I think that’s pretty explanatory…Make sure you are changing your tampon frequently for this, and a number of other reasons, like toxic shock syndrome.

4. Don’t Hover: “Squatting over the toilet, which a lot of women do when using public restrooms, deson’t allow your pelvic muscles to relax and fully empty your bladder.” Quit popping a squat in public restrooms…seriously. Put toilet paper down or something on the seat if you are scared of dirty bacteria. And plus, did you know your cellphone is probably dirtier than a public toilet?

5. Try a New Trick in Bed: “Frequent sex in the same position causes friction on the urethra, making you more susceptible to UTIs.” Okay, this one shouldn’t be so hard for most girls, and maybe even a little fun. Who doesn’t love another excuse to spice things up in the bedroom?

So, as you see from these five tips, there is more that you can do daily to prevent UTIs. And some of it isn’t actually too bad. I know I will use these tips to stay UTI free for as along as possible!