10 Tips for UTI Prevention and Relief

I have suffered from UTI's (Urinary Tract Infections) for most of my life. For this reason, I jumped at the chance to work with AZO on this post. They supplied me with several of their products, however, all opinions are my own.

This is definitely a TMI topic, but I also know it's quite common. A lot of women experience frequent UTI's and it can be hell to deal with. My sister and I both were born with “skinny urethras” and let me tell you this is one body part that you don't want to be skinny. This leads to frequent infections and pain. Over the years I have learned the following tips and techniques that happen to work for me.

UTI Prevention

Prevention is key, of course, and here are some of my personal tips:

1.)  Drink a ton of water – Obviously, drinking lots of fluids is key to flushing out toxins and bacteria. It's great for your entire body, and especially for UTI-prone people. I strive for at least a gallon per day. It's easy to do once you get used to it. Get yourself a 32 oz. water bottle and fill it 4 times per day. There's apps for your phone to remind you to drink, if you need that, too.

2.)  Take AZO Cranberry – Cranberry juice is highly recommended for UTI prevention and relief, however, it's not always practical to drink it all the time. You have to make sure you have cranberry juice straight-up — if you drink the cocktail version, you are getting way too much sugar. For me, that's almost counter-productive because the sugar irritates me. Taking a simple pill is the way to go. Two capsules per day gets you super concentrated cranberry powder that helps flush your urinary tract without the calories, sugar, and tart taste.

3.)  Don't wear tight clothing – I find that super tight skinny jeans or other restrictive clothing can cause a problem. When I can, I wear looser fitting clothing and nothing irritating “down there”.

4.)  Showers instead of baths – Laying in a bath can actually be kind of dirty. Whatever bacteria is in your tub has the freedom to creep on up into your body and cause a UTI.

5.)  Talk to your doctor – Obviously, seek medical attention whenever you have an issue. Due to all my issues, I have a urologist. We have worked together to find a solution for me for years. I now take a low-dose antibiotic every single time after intercourse. Without it, I was getting infections after being intimate with my hubby. Again, TMI, but something to think about if you experience this!

UTI Relief

After it's too late for prevention, you just have to get on your meds and ride it out. However, here are some tips to provide some relief:

1.)  Heating pad – I lay on my heating pad whenever I have an infection. Sometimes my bladder feels like it's actually shaking inside of me it gets so bad. The heat seems to relax it.

2.)  Take a bath – Yep, totally contradicting myself from what I said above! After you are on medication, a bath can provide a lot of relief. Just like the heating pad, it can soothe you and help relieve some pain.

3.)  Take AZO Urinary Pain Relief – These pills work wonders for pain relief! They contain ingredients to relieve the pain, burning, and urgency to go. It's not a cure, but it's a great way to treat the symptoms. Just know that you will pee super red-orange, so don't be freaked out!

4.)  Keep up with fluids – I know when I feel sick with a UTI I don't feel like drinking. Make yourself keep drinking even more than you would normally. You have to flush it out.

5.)  Take a home test – AZO also has a home UTI test kit. They are easy to use and give you results in 2 minutes. This might save you a trip to the wrong doctor if you know what you are dealing with. (Like heading to the urologist instead of the gynocologist.)

Those are just a few of my personal tips that I have picked up over the years. For more info on AZO products, check out their site. They have many tips on there, as well. Their site is filled with info regarding vaginal and urinary tract health. Like AZO on Facebook and get yourself a valuable coupon.

Have you ever had a UTI? Have any additional tips to share?