UTIs and Antibiotic Resistance

If you've ever had a urinary tract infection, you probably remember the relief you felt when your medicine made it go away. That urgent need to pee, the burning pain -- meds that fight bacteria called antibiotics can make symptoms like that fade fast.

The bacteria that cause lots of UTIs and other health problems are getting used to antibiotics' knock-out punch -- They're changing in ways that let them shrug off the beat-down and thrive. It's a serious problem called "antibiotic resistance," and it's growing as we overuse or misuse these meds.

So, what can you do? First off, if your doctor prescribes antibiotics for a UTI, it's important to take them. You need to treat the infection to stop it from causing other problems. Even if you feel better in a day or two, follow the instructions for finishing your medicine. And don't skip doses.

You can also do some things to lower your chances of getting another UTI.

Pee after you have sex.

Don't use spermicides and diaphragms.

Wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom.

Drink lots of water.

And think about trying cranberry extract.

For WebMD, I'm Dr. Michael Smith.