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Lifestyle Changes to Manage a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

If you have a UTI, you can help yourself get better by:

  • Drinking plenty of water—Aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. This will help flush the bacteria and antibiotics out of the urinary tract.
  • Going to the bathroom when you need to—If you feel the urge to pass urine, do so as soon as you can. Holding back may cause bacteria to grow.
  • Passing urine and drinking a full glass of water after having sex.
  • Washing your genitals daily.
  • Wiping from front to back after a bowel movement (women).
  • Not using douches and feminine sprays (women).
REFERENCES:

Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs). Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/urinary-tract-infections-utis/bacterial-urinary-tract-infections-utis. Updated June 2018. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Eating, diet, & nutrition. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/eating-diet-nutrition. Updated March 2017. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Jepson RG, Craig JC. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(1):CD001321.

Treatment. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/treatment. Updated March 2017. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) (pyelonephritis and cystitis). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116894/Uncomplicated-urinary-tract-infection-UTI-pyelonephritis-and-cystitis. Updated June 4, 2018. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Urinary tract infections in adults. Urology Care Foundation website. Available at: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD