Understanding Urinary Tract Infections -- Prevention

How Can I Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?

• Women should urinate right after sexual intercourse.
• Women should wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Drink cranberry juice or any citrus juice.
• Use a form of contraception other than a diaphragm and/or spermicidal jelly.
• Women should use vaginal estrogen cream if they are past menopause.
• Women should avoid bubble baths, which does not cause infections but can irritate the urinary tract.

In rare cases, antibiotics may be used for prevention. For example, women who consistently develop urinary tract infections after intercourse may be advised to take a single dose of antibiotics after sex.