About 30% of women suffer from urinary tract infections on a regular basis. This type of infection, of which cystitis is one of the most common, causes a lot of pain and can lead to kidney problems. With the summer heat and visits to beaches or swimming pools, these types of infections multiply and although it is possible to solve them with a visit to the urologist or gynaecologist, with a few tips we can reduce the chances of them appearing.
Causes of urinary tract infections.
The micro-organisms that we naturally have in our body live in a balance that can easily be destabilised, and when we leave the genital areas wet for longer periods of time, they become unbalanced and infections can appear.
Why do UTIs occur so often?
There are 25% of women who suffer 3 or more infections in a year, or 2 in the last 6 months. This is because the bacteria causing the second one is different from the first, or because after finishing a treatment, the same group of bacteria reappears within 2 weeks.
With menstruation, pregnancy, menopause or ageing, urinary tract infections also appear because these are major hormonal changes, which alter the pH of the vagina.
The same characteristics of the female body can increase the likelihood of infection, because the female urethra is short (3-5 centimetres) compared to the male anatomy, and bacteria from the urethra can more easily reach the bladder.
Tips to prevent urinary tract infections at home.
In our daily routines we make mistakes that can lead to these infections, and with a few changes, we can eliminate risks.
- Drink 2 litres of water a day.
- Emptying the bladder completely when urinating.
- Wiping the genitals from front to back after using the toilet.
- Urinating immediately after sexual intercourse.
- Maintain normal hygiene. If the genital/urinary area is washed excessively, or with products that may be abrasive (such as deodorants, soaps or vaginal creams), the natural balance of germs may be disturbed.
Tips to avoid holiday UTIs.
Due to the changes in our routines that occur during the summer, we may pay less attention to some aspects that favour the development of urinary tract infections, but we can easily change them.
- Replace the wet swimming costume with a dry one as soon as possible.
- Avoid fabrics that do not allow the genital area to perspire and dry.
- Hydrate ourselves by drinking 2 litres throughout the day, it doesn't have to be just water, we can drink liquids such as herbal teas, coffees, etc.
- Introduce fruits containing vitamin C in the diet to acidify the urine and prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Empty the bladder frequently as the longer the fluid remains in the bladder, the more bacteria can grow.
GUA treatment of urinary tract infections.
At GUA we have a medical laboratory where we can analyse urine samples quickly in order to identify the cause of the urinary tract infection and diagnose it optimally.
☎️ Call us at 629 334 583
💬If you want more information write us at info@urologiayandrologia.com
🌐Ask for an appointment: https://urologiayandrologia.com/pedir-cita/
📍We are located at Av. José Mesa y López, 54. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain.