Are You Planning For Baby
If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a momthen I want to help you optimize your fertility.
Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, my upcoming Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception.
to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.
Hormones Utis And Yeast Infections
I also stopped taking the contraceptive pill, forever.
This is emphasized because quitting the pill felt momentous at the time. I had been on the pill since I was 16. Not for contraception then, but because I had periods so heavy I ended up severely anemic and required treatment.
Later, the pill became convenient for other reasons. I didnt want to worry about irregular, heavy periods, but I also didnt want to get pregnant, so the pill allowed me to live a life fairly free from those concerns.
My problems with the pill started around the same time as my recurrent urinary tract infections. The antibiotics I was taking meant my gut and vaginal flora took a serious hit. Despite being on the pill, my cycle had become unpredictable.
A gynecologist I saw suggested the pill I was on just wasnt right for me and prescribed me another, then another. They didnt help, and my unpredictable cycles continued.
Soon, I began suffering from skin sensitivities and itchiness that drove me crazy.
Leaving Uti Anxiety Behind
Out of fear, leftover antibiotics had become a permanent feature in my bag. If I changed bags, the antibiotics came with me. I never opened them, but they were my psychological backup.
Around the nine month mark I made the momentous decision to leave the antibiotics behind. It might sound overly dramatic, but tearing up your safety blanket and tossing it to the wind IS huge. I hadnt taken antibiotics in nine months, but I still relied on their presence, psychologically speaking.
When I embarked on my healing regimen, I envisioned massive celebrations at the one year mark, for I would then be officially free of recurrent urinary tract infections. In reality, I had put UTIs so far behind me that it was almost a non-event.
I did have some celebratory drinks, with an emphasis on the fact I COULD drink alcohol without fearing a UTI.
Read Also: What Antibiotics Are Good For Kidney Infection
Utis And Yeast Infections Are Both Relatively Common Fyi
Both of these issues suck all-around, but we hope shame isnt part of your discomfort. Every year there are an estimated 1.4 million outpatient visits for yeast infections in the United States, the CDC says, . The Mayo Clinic estimates that 75% of women have had a yeast infection at some point in their lives.
UTIs are also pretty run-of-the-mill, with about 40 to 60% of women experiencing one in their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases .
All this means that if you have either of these infections, youre not alone. Whats more, you have treatment options.
Recommended Reading: How Do Doctors Treat A Kidney Infection
You Have Kidney Or Bladder Stones
For anyone, frequent UTIs could also be a sign of kidney or bladder stones.
“Bacteria love to attach to foreign objects,” Dr. Herati says. “So if you have a structural abnormality like a stone, the body can’t fight those bacteria as effectively.”
âThe fix:â Drinking more fluids, especially water, may help you pass the stones, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Even more reason to drink? A November 2018 study in âJAMA Internal Medicineâ found that people assigned female at birth who drank an extra six cups of water a day experienced half as many UTIs as those who didn’t add the extra H2O. “Dilution helps,” Dr. Herati says.
If this advice doesn’t remedy your problems, it’s important to see your doctor, who can perform tests to check for stones and recommend other treatments, such as surgery.
Also Check: What Do Doctors Prescribe For Yeast Infections
If Youre Experiencing Recurring Yeast Infections Youve Got Options
You can take an over-the-counter antifungal like Monistat. Earthman recommends using the three- or seven-day regimens instead of the one day. Its more of a hassle, but it tends to work better.
For more complex and long-term yeast infections, your provider might prescribe fluconazole .
If youd like to keep things natural, there are vaginal suppositories like boric acid that can sometimes provide relief.
Lily swears by Yeast Arrest. Ill put in a suppository like Yeast Arrest at the first sign of itching, and Ill use a three-day over-the-counter antifungal if it gets worse. I take that with me on vacation, just in case. And if I really cant kick it, thats when Ill call my doctor for Diflucan. Diflucan always seems to work, but I like to try other things first.
As Earthman puts it, Recurring BV is the bane of my existence! It probably keeps our office in business its all too common.
Symptoms of BV are fairly obvious. Discharge is thin white, grey, or greenish, and often comes with a fishy smell.
Could your partner have anything to do with it? Earthman says that, yes, occasionally there are bacterial strains that you and your partner can pass back and forth.
The only way to really know if you have these specific strains is to have a culture taken of vaginal flora, so that both partners can be treated. She doesnt advise taking cultures immediately for BV since they can be pretty costly and most strains will respond to one or two antibiotic types.
Why Am I Getting Urinary Tract Infections
Ever since I started having sex I get urinary tract infections a lot. Does that mean there could be something else wrong? Mandy*
If you have burning or pain when you pee, it could be a number of things. One possibility is a urinary tract infection , but others include a sexually transmitted disease , such as chlamydia, or chemical irritation from a spermicide . Its hard to tell the difference without seeing a doctor or .
Urinary tract infections tend to be more common in girls who have sex. Often, they happen because bacteria entered the urethra .
Follow these steps to help decrease your chances of getting UTIs:
- Wipe front to back after going to the bathroom.
- Pee right before and after sex.
- Drink plenty of liquids, especially water.
STDs can cause symptoms similar to those of a UTI, such as burning, vaginal discharge, belly pain, and irregular bleeding.
Many times, though, STDs have few symptoms, which is why it is important for anyone who has had sex to be tested at least once a year. And always use condoms with any type of sex to help prevent STDs.
In any case, the best thing to do is get checked out ASAP by a health care provider who can look for the reason you’re having symptoms. It’s really important to get the right diagnosis and treatment!
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Recommended Reading: Does Monistat Clear Up Yeast Infections
I Refused To Accept Utis As My Future
Its not in my nature to learn to deal with something that I know shouldnt be. There is no way my body is built to crumble at the first hint of sex, or fatigue, or dehydration. Ive always been stronger than that.
Im pretty good at knowing exactly what is happening in my body and when. Ive accurately diagnosed myself with injuries that have taken years to show up in scans. Im my very own body whisperer.
So when this happened, it was a virtual kick in the guts, or more specifically, the bladder.
Getting a UTI every few weeks or months doesnt give you much breathing room to feel human. To get things done.
There is a constant shadow hanging over you. Restaurant and bar reconnaissance isnt about people anymore. Its about toilets. You learn to scope out any venue for its bathrooms. At any given moment, I could tell you where the nearest public toilet was.
I never went anywhere without a remedy in my bag. For me, that meant carrying antibiotics 24 hours a day.
Holiday planning came with underlying anxiety, and relationships dont even get me started on how recurrent urinary tract infections impact those.
Too late Im on a roll.
I Stopped Taking Antibiotics For Recurrent Uti
I had tried every UTI home remedy I could find. Nothing helped.
Id been fighting this for 3.5 years. Keeping my life together and keeping up appearances. I even managed to travel to the Balkans to volunteer for a few months.
Sarajevo was the turning point. I like to think of it as the final frontier.
I got a UTI that never went away. The symptoms stayed with me despite taking a longer course of two different types of strong antibiotics. These were prescribed to me as a last resort.
Without finding out what was causing my UTI, I knew there was little chance of finding the right antibiotic and I wasnt willing to continue taking them without being better informed.
My body was suffering. It had become sensitive to everything.
I would get itchy daily, still had yeast infections constantly, and my contraceptive pill had ceased to control my cycle. I felt like a complete mess.
So I stopped taking antibiotics.
For me this was like taking a deep breath and jumping from a cliff into the sea, without knowing if I could really swim.
Don’t Miss: Signs Of Hernia Mesh Infection
Preventing Yeast Infections And Utis
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent a yeast infection or UTI from ever happening, there are some things you can do to ward off both types of infections.
Avoiding irritating feminine products, like douches, sprays, and scented tampons, can help prevent both UTIs and yeast infections, says the Office of Women’s Health. You should also skip long baths and hot tubs. And if you think the type of birth control you’re using is increasing your risk of yeast infections or UTIs, consider switching to another method.
There are also more specific things you can do to fend off yeast infections vs. UTIs, depending on which one you’re most prone to. You can further reduce your risk of a yeast infection by:
- wearing cotton underwear
- avoiding tight undergarments, like underwear or pantyhose
- not staying in a wet bathing suit or sweaty leggings for long
- avoiding unnecessary antibiotics
As for preventing yeast infections, you can try:
- taking cranberry supplements
Can Utis Be Prevented
While not a cure for UTIs, providing more water for your dog can lessen the chance of this infection from starting. Be sure your dog always has plenty of fresh, clean waterchange the bowl when you see globs of drool or food floating around. Let your dog outside more often if possibledont let him hold it for hours and hours. This can prevent an accident from happening in your home as well! You can also give your dog probiotic supplements to encourage the growth of healthy bacteria. Last, make sure the area around your dogs urinary opening is clean of any debris, scratches, etc. Most pet stores sell antibacterial wipes, which can be used to clean this area.
You May Like: Whats The Best Antibiotic For Ear Infection
Classification Of Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs are classified into 6 categories. The first category is an uncomplicated infection this is when the urinary tract is normal, both structurally and physiologically, and there is no associated disorder that impairs the host defense mechanisms. The second category is an complicated infection this is when infection occurs within an abnormal urinary tract, such as when there is ureteric obstruction, renal calculi, or vesicoureteric reflux. The third category, an isolated infection, is when it is the first episode of UTI, or the episodes are 6 months apart. Isolated infections affect 2540% of young females. The fourth category, an unresolved infection, is when therapy fails because of bacterial resistance or due to infection by two different bacteria with equally limited susceptibilities. The fifth category, reinfection, occurs where there has been no growth after a treated infection, but then the same organism regrows two weeks after therapy, or when a different microorganism grows during any period of time.9,10 This accounts for 95% of RUTIs in women. Bacterial persistence happens when therapy is impaired by the accumulation of bacteria in a location that cannot be reached by antibiotics, such as infected stones, urethral diverticula and infected paraurethral glands. The sixth category, relapse, is when the same microorganism causes a UTI within two weeks of therapy however, it is usually difficult to distinguish a reinfection from a relapse.11
How To Manage Chronic Yeast Infections
The sooner you treat a yeast infection, the faster you can get rid of the associated discomfort. Call your doctor if your yeast infection seems persistent.
Once your doctor confirms the diagnosis, its important to take the necessary steps to make sure you get rid of it for good. This will also help manage the possibility of chronic cases. Consider the following tips to manage chronic yeast infections:
- Make sure you take your full course of medication, even if symptoms go away before the medicine is gone and even if you dont think its working right away.
- If youre sexually active, ask your partner to get tested for Candida, too. This will help prevent the infection from spreading.
- Change and launder your clothing and fabrics, like towels and sheets, regularly and separate from other clothing. Consider adding bleach, or distilled white vinegar to the wash.
- Wash items that come into contact with infected areas directly after use to prevent spreading yeast cells or re-infecting yourself.
You May Like: Best Over The Counter Treatment For Penile Yeast Infection
You’re Having A Lot Of Sex
Whether you and your partner can’t keep your hands off each other or you’re having fun with multiple people, more sex can lead to more UTIs.
In premenopausal people assigned female at birth, having sex at least three times a week and having new or multiple partners can increase the risk of UTIs and recurrent UTIs, per the NIH.
“Being sexually active can push bacteria into the urethra opening and into the bladder,” Dr. Ellerkman says.
Using spermicide also increases the risk, according to an older, May 2008 study in âGeneral Internal Medicineâ. It’s believed that the spermicide damages the vaginal flora, encouraging the growth of bacteria that causes UTIs, according to âAmerican Family Physicianâ.
âThe fix:â None of this means you have to give up sex. First, if spermicide seems to be the issue, talk to your doctor to find another form of birth control and other ways to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections .
If you frequently get UTIs, you should pee after intercourse, Dr. Ellerkman says. Although it has not been proven effective in randomized controlled studies to reduce the risk of UTI, Dr. Ellerkman says it doesn’t hurt to try if you’re prone to infections. “You don’t need to spring out of bed as soon as your is complete,” he says, but try to hit the bathroom within about a half hour.
Related Reading
Why Do I Keep Getting Utis And Yeast Infections
To know why you keep getting UTIs and yeast infections?
You may be experiencing a problem that is actually quite common and that is really an infection that could have been avoided with proper hygiene.
There are many reasons that UTIs and yeast infections occur and the most common is because of poor hygiene.
This is very true, but it is also true that if we can figure out a way to wash our hands more often, then we can prevent a lot of these problems.
It just takes discipline and using the right products.
Another simple answer to this question is, it is traditional medicine.
The antibiotics, such as tetracycline and penicillin are dangerous for your body and will not heal the infection.
You are prescribing these medicines to fight the symptoms, but they kill your good bacteria.
Thus causing increase urination and an increase of yeast.
If you keep on taking these medicines you will end up with more serious conditions such as diabetes.
Diabetes is a great cause of yeast infections.
They will not give you the same effects as antibiotics, and they are not dangerous for your health.
The first one is garlic, which is very effective in preventing bacteria growth in the vaginal area.
Garlic can be taken orally.
You just chew a garlic clove a few times a day.
The problem is that you need to chew the whole clove as it is bitter and it is difficult to swallow whole.
You should also take some capsules or tablets every day.
There are natural methods that are really helpful.
Don’t Miss: Can You Fight Off Bacterial Infection Without Antibiotics
Sex With A New Partner Causes Utis And Yeast Infectionshelp
8:06 p.m.
With a new boyfriend and a newly found hunger for sex, I find Im getting more UTIs and yeast infections. Im trying to use all the advice Ive researched and recommendations from my doc, like peeing after sex. Please give me some insight. Ive even read that certain sex positions could be the cause of UTIs.
Its not uncommon for sex, especially sex with a new partner, to cause problems like yeast infections or urinary tract infections . Although theyre relatively easy to treat, they can be incredibly irritating and/or painful.
Stay on top of the news of the day to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee’s latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.
UTIs and yeast infections are something that almost every female-bodied person will experience in their lifetime, but that doesnt mean they arent serious. If you have recurring yeast infections or UTIs, dont be afraid to talk to your health care provider about them to see if they have more intensive treatments to suggest. Diet can impact yeast infections too.