Welcome to our 'weekly waffle', which is gathering a bit of a ‘straight talking’ reputation. We make no apologies for this - as last week’s edition explained, shame and silence on discussing medical matters actively prevent your GP from helping you. We’re role modelling here!
And so we dive unabashed in to this week’s ‘burning’ issue- urinary tract infections (UTIs). Guaranteed to 'disrupt the flow' of any fun weekend, UTIs are mainly (although not exclusively) a female scourge... But gentlemen, it takes two to tango, so you have every interest in being fully briefed. Thank you to Dr Tanya, GP with special interest in women's health, for this week's top tips on avoiding the UTI burn this bank holiday weekend!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! A basic one, but worth repeating- your urine should be a pale golden colour- plain water should be your ‘go to’ (NB alcoholic drinks actually dehydrate you- so remember to compensate)
Ditch the sugary drinks and foods- for all sorts of reasons- but in this context because the sugar can encourage undesirable bacteria
Wipe from front to back only
Softly softly with the washing- ladies, when it comes to day to day maintenance, plain water really should be sufficient. If you feel that you need something more, a conversation with a doctor might be in order to check for any underlying infection. If you simply prefer to soap, choose something super mild and fragrance free for this delicate and sensitive area.
Answer the urge! Stop holding in your pee in general, and take time to empty your bladder fully when you pee
Pee ASAP after sex (to be clear, we’re talking within minutes…)
Use lubricants during sex - friction is never a good thing in relationships, after all!
Let things breathe! If you suspect any issues, tight synthetic underwear and hosiery should go straight to the back of the drawer
If you succumb despite all your best preventative efforts, please don’t hesitate to seek medical guidance and particularly if you notice any blood in your pee or develop a fever. Treatment usually involves a short course of antibiotics - and sending a sample off to the laboratory to ensure that the infection is susceptible to the selected antibiotic. If left untreated UTIs can become a more serious kidney infection and be more resistant to treatment. Whilst your immune system and antibiotics are managing the underlying infection, you can get symptomatic relief with over the counter pain killers (e.g. paracetamol) and salts such as cymalon which neutralise the burn temporarily.
If you find yourself a frequent sufferer it is well worth booking yourself in with a GP for further investigations and preventative advice