Other Treatments

The following are hygiene tips. Although there is no evidence that good hygiene makes a real difference in preventing UTIs, it is always a wise practice.

• Cleanse the genital and urinary areas from front to back with soap and water after each bowel movement.
• Keep the genital and anal areas clean before and after sex. Urinate before and after intercourse to empty the bladder and cleanse the urethra of bacteria.
• Avoid tight-fitting pants.
• Wear cotton-crotch underwear and panty hose, changing both at least once a day. (Mild detergents are best for washing underwear.)
• Take showers rather than baths.
• Avoid bath oils, feminine hygiene sprays, douches, and powders. As a general rule, do not use any product containing perfumes or other possible allergens near the genital area. Douching in is never recommended. It may destroy the natural antiviral organisms normally present in the vagina, making women more susceptible to human papillomavirus (HPV), a risk factor for cervical cancer.
• Choose sanitary napkins instead of tampons (which some doctors believe encourage infection). Napkins and tampons, in any case, should be changed after each urination.
• Urinate frequently.

Appropriate hygiene and cleanliness of the genital area may help reduce the chances of introducing bacteria through the urethra. Females are especially vulnerable to this, because the urethra is in close proximity to the rectum. The genitals should be cleaned and wiped from front to back to reduce the chance of dragging E. coli bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.

Sexual Precautions

The following recommendations may reduce the risks from sexual activity:

• In women using contraceptives, consider alternatives, particularly if exposed to spermicides from condoms or diaphragms. Discuss the best contraceptive choice with a doctor.
• Avoid sex with multiple partners. This can cause many health problems, including sexually transmitted diseases and UTIs.

Estrogen Cream or Estrogen-Releasing Vaginal Devices

Postmenopausal women with recurrent UTIs may consider the use of an estrogen vaginal cream or estrogen-releasing vaginal ring (Estring). Estrogen may resist infection by increasing the number of lactobacilli, the microorganism that fights infection by lowering the vaginal pH levels and preventing E. coli from adhering to vaginal cells. Estrogen creams and estrogen-releasing rings may help reduce the risk of recurring urinary tract infections. Oral hormone replacement therapies that contain estrogen do not seem to provide the same benefit as the topical forms. Estrogen HRT carries many health risks, including an increased risk for breast cancer and heart disease. It is not clear if vaginal forms of estrogen are associated with these risks.

Fluids

Many doctors believe that emptying the bladder frequently will help prevent bladder irritation and therefore recommend drinking plenty of water daily and urinating often.

Cranberries, Blueberries, and Lignonberries

Cranberries, blueberries, and lignonberry, a European relative of the cranberry, are three fruits that may have protective properties. Researchers are finding that red pigments in these closely related fruits called tannins (or proanthocyanadins) prevent E. coli bacteria from adhering to cells in the urinary tract, thereby inhibiting infection. Fructose, which is commonly used to sweeten fruit juices, may also interfere with bacterial adhesion.

Cranberry juice offers well-known protection against urinary tract infections. In one study, only 15% of elderly women who drank cranberry juice daily for six months experienced UTIs, compared with 28% of women who did not drink the juice. Its effects were stronger in helping the body rid itself of infections than in preventing them in the first place, but it showed benefits in both situations.

Studies suggest that for protection, it is necessary to drink at least one to two cups of 30% cranberry or lignonberry juice daily, or to take at least 300 mg to 400 mg in tablet form twice daily.

Probiotics, Lactobacilli, and Fermented Milk Products

Important research has targeted probiotics (essentially friendly organisms), which may protect against infections in the genital and urinary tracts. They may have other health benefits as well. The best-known probiotics are the lactobacilli strains, such as acidophilus, which is found in yogurt and other fermented milk products (kefir). The probiotics bifidobacteria and GG lactobacilli may prove to be even more important. Other probiotics include the lactobacilli rhamnosus, casel, plantarium, bulgaricus, and salivarius, and also Enterococcus faecium and Streptococcus thermophilus.

Lactobacilli have the potential to help protect women from UTIs in a number of ways:

• Maintain a low pH environment
• Hinder E. coli growth
• Produce hydrogen peroxide, which produces an environment hostile for bacteria

In a 2003 study, drinking fermented milk reduced the risk for UTIs. Not all studies show benefits from drinks containing lactobacilli, but more research is warranted.

Circumcision in Infant Males

Although there is some controversy over whether circumcision helps prevent UTIs in boys, a 2000 analysis of nearly 15,000 male infants reported that the uncircumcised boys under 1 year old had nine times the risk for UTIs as circumcised boys. (The risk is still very low, in any case.)

Click the icon to see an image of a circumcised penis in comparison to an uncircumcised penis.

Biofeedback in Children

Biofeedback is a technique that provides visual and auditory clues in response to specific exercises. Some research indicates that biofeedback teaches children who are prone to UTIs to relax and control their pelvic muscles, resulting in fewer recurrences of infection.