Warning: This is a bit like the "how can I treat cancer without chemo and radiation" questions. You "can" try natural and OTC remedies for an infection of the bladder or kidneys, but any nurse or doctor worth their weight in yellow gold will tell you like I'm telling you: it won't work. And leaving a UTI untreated puts you at risk for serious organ damage, sepsis and death.
Just like any other type of infection in the body, UTI is nothing to play around with. It requires swift and thorough treatment to knock it out and you need to get to the root of WHY it's happening if it's a recurring problem. And that treatment is antibiotics, and not just "any" antibiotic but the appropriate type to match the strain of bacteria causing your infection--something only a doctor can determine after gathering a urine sample to diagnose what type of infection you have. If you suspect you have a UTI, please get to the doctor ASAP to get an appropriate diagnosis, rule out other things and get started on an effective treatment.
Now, as for prevention, there's a lot you can do in that regard even if you suffer chronic or hard-to-treat UTI's like me. Nobody wants to take antibiotics constantly as we've all heard the potential downsides so prevention should be the long-term goal. Just keep in mind that it's a daily thing & not something to resort to when you start feeling UTI symptoms cropping up. By then it's already too late. Unfortunately for women (who suffer far more often from this problem), we can't do much about the proximity of the anus to the urethra, but we can do a lot to keep things clean, dry & soothed down there. But how does this prevent a bacterial infection? Allow me to explain.
I break UTI prevention into two parts: downstairs (urethral opening leading up to the bladder) & upstairs (mouth leading down to the kidneys). Let's start with the downstairs, shall we?
Note: this is for UTI sufferers for whom the typical preventative tips haven't worked. If Cystex and cranberry juice work for you, great. But some of us have tried all the usual things and need to take things to the next level before we start breeding the next strain of antibiotic resistant bacteria in our bodies. UTI is so rare in men you should suspect an STD if you're male & experience symptoms like burning urination, lower flank pain, urgency or other "typical" UTI symptoms. Either way, do not hesitate to seek diagnosis & treatment as UTI can be dangerous or fatal if left untreated.
(Text in RED = Stop/Avoid It; GREEN = Go/Try It)
THE DOWNSTAIRS 🡻
My pee hole burns just looking at this pic. 😬
In the downstairs, preventing irritation and inflammation is key. While these things don't
CAUSE UTI, they allow bacteria to grip onto the urinary tract and can overwhelm the immune cells that would normally attack the nasty little buggers, allowing them to gain a foothold deeper in the body. Bubble bath gets a bad rap but truly, ANY perfumed or scented product from
body wash to bath bombs to shampoo or regular bar soap can irritate the hell right out of your pee hole if given the chance. If you're a big fan of Bath & Body Works or other strongly scented products, listen up because I'm talking to
you.
The vagina is a self-cleaning oven that needs ONLY water to clean itself and as much free-flowing air as possible the rest of the time. (I like to run around pantsless as many evenings as possible to let things "breathe"). While some UTI sufferers are only bothered by sitting in sudsy tubs for 45 minute runs or longer, others will need to experiment with changing up their entire bathing routine. For some super-duper-sensitive ladies,
bathing in general is problematic because they're, for lack of a better term, marinating their private parts in a soup of scented perfumes from their shampoo, conditioner, body wash and soaps even if they aren't applying them directly TO their vagina/vulva.
In that case,
showering would be a safer option. Avoid all
douches & other feminine "cleansing" products or freshening sprays--remember,
only water! (And in no universe should you
shove garlic, yogurt or other food items up your birth canal to "treat" UTI. That's just introducing more "ingredients' with the potential to contaminate the environment with pathogens and upset the delicate pH balance). When it comes to vaginal health, less is definitely more.
And the irritants don't stop when the bath water goes down the drain:
dark colored panties with a non-cotton crotch, wet/sweaty clothes worn for too long, pads or tampons left unchanged too long, sex toys, scented toilet paper/menstrual products, unclean hands, spermicide, diaphragms, non-lubricated condoms, scented powders...all these things can cause irritation, microscopic cuts or obstruct airflow to the area & promote the growth of bacteria. And I know it's cliche but avoid
holding your urine and go as often as you feel the need, taking the time to
fully relax your pelvic muscles and completely empty your bladder before wiping. And ALWAYS
wipe front to back. If you're experiencing diarrhea,
immaculate toilet hygiene becomes even more important as bacteria can spread even more easily. (And it's those pesky bacteria that actually cause the infections). Consider using wet wipes/baby wipes for diarrheal illnesses, just don't flush them down the toilet as they clog septic tanks.
Oh, and make sure to
pee immediately after masturbation or sex to help flush out the urethra, as bacteria can sometimes get pushed into that area by sexual activity. And it should go without saying but avoid
putting things in the vagina after they've been in the anus, as this spreads the offending bacteria directly where it shouldn't be.
THE UPSTAIRS 🢁
From a study on D-Mannose for UTI
What you put into your body via the mouth is just as important as what you do down below when it comes to UTI prevention.
D-Mannose as a first-round of defense is affordable, generally safe & can really be a lifesaver for recurrent UTI's because bacteria don't seem to develop a resistance to it like they do with antibiotics. D-Mannose is a sugar that occurs naturally in cranberries and flushes out the urinary tract, helping to scrape bacteria from the bladder wall and out of the body when taken with generous amounts of water. Avoid brands with added
cranberry or
Vitamin C as these are unnecessarily acidic and can irritate the bladder as you're about to see. 1,500 mg per day of plain D-mannose (or as directed by your doctor) is generally the recommended dose. I've had luck using it only after "risky" things like masturbation or wearing a wet swimsuit a bit too long, though you'll need to experiment to see what works for you.
For some chronic UTI sufferers,
foods and beverages containing citrus, hot/spicy flavor, bitterness or carbonation can irritate the bladder and urethra from the inside and should be limited or avoided. People with
interstitial cystitis know this all too well, but those with chronic UTI may also suffer from a less severe form of bladder irritation from these items, and that irritation can predispose to infection. Examples include
citrus fruits, hot peppers, tomato juice, dark chocolate or coffee, soda and salad dressing. You can keep a food journal & eliminate things one by one to check for any patterns, or you can just make a concerted effort to cut down on the ones you like the least and add an acid-neutralizing supplement like
Prelief when you ingest the others. It's available over-the-counter with no prescription.
Prelief acid reducer
Staying hydrated even when a bathroom isn't nearby or accessible is a challenge sometimes but is even more important for people with recurring UTI than the general population. Read that again. Water is needed to dilute and wash bacteria out of the urinary tract regularly--without it, toxic bacteria become too concentrated in the urethra, bladder and kidneys, allowing them to multiply & cause infection.
Plain water is best--avoid diuretics like
caffeine, alcohol or soda as much as possible as all 3 of these tend to cause bladder irritation & slight dehydration. Healthy adults should aim for
1.5 liters of water daily to prevent UTI. Electrolyte drinks like
Pedialyte and
Gatorade are okay occasionally, particularly if it's hot outside & you're especially active, but for the most part opt for
Spring, Purified or Drinking water. (Choose
distilled water only as a last option as it
lacks the vital minerals needed to prevent fractures, heart disease & other serious conditions and it may not hydrate as well as the others).
Note: If you're experiencing fever, nausea, bloody urine, confusion or cannot control your bladder, seek emergency medical attention. These can be signs of a complicated UTI that requires immediate medical attention. Left untreated too long, oral antibiotics may not be sufficient and IV treatment may be needed. Kidney infection is considered a medical emergency so don't delay diagnosis and treatment if you suspect one. In people 65 or older and those who are hospitalized, confusion/delirium may be the only symptom of a UTI.
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