Many of my patients keep visiting me with complaints of recurrence of urinary tract infection. Most of these females are either in their 20’s or early 30’s. Few are post menopausal.

Symptoms– I have seen different presentation of UTI in males and females. Males get severe symptoms, but majority of females get milder symptoms like- burning urination, urgency, frequency, lower abdominal pain. Rarely do they have high grade fever or bleeding in urine.

One in 3 women will need antibiotic treatment for UTI by the age of 24.

UTI is very common among women compared to men counterpart. One of the reasons for this is small urethra whose opening is very near to vaginal opening. So organisms have easy access to urinary system.

If a woman gets 2 or more UTIs within 6 months or 3 in a year, this is called recurrent UTI

Possible reasons for recurrent UTI:

• Vaginal dryness after menopause
• Sexual activity
• Inadequate fluid intake
• Kidney Stones
• Constipation
• Holding urine for long time
• Use of unhygienic toilets

How to Prevent Recurrence:

Don’t try to treat yourself especially if you are having recurrence. Visit Urologist nearby and follow his instructions.

Preventive Measures:

• Drink lot of water / hydrate yourself adequately
• Eat healthy
• Avoid constipation
• Avoid using public toilets
• Maintain hygiene specially after sexual intercourse
• Prophylactic antibiotics (Only after Physician consulation)