Some personal care products, such as scented toilet paper, spermicides, douches, and deodorant sprays and powder, can irritate the urethra or lead to UTIs in some women.
Myth: Hygiene habits and clothing fit contribute to UTIs
But UTIs are not caused by how you wipe in the bathroom, by tampon use or by failing to empty your bladder after sexual intercourse. They're also not caused by wearing tight clothes.
There are several ways that bacteria can enter the urethra, the most common being from wiping back to front in the bathroom. However, UTIs can also emerge from severe dehydration, after sex, or from simply holding it too long. Other culprits can be toilet paper and other household products.
Risk factors for UTIs
Poor hygiene and wiping 'back to front' (rather than front to back) after going to the toilet can enable bacteria from the bowel and vagina to enter the urethral opening to the bladder more easily.
It's important that you wipe front to back, as wiping the opposite way — back to front — can spread bacteria. “Every time one wipes after urination, the bacteria from the gut can get transferred to the vagina or the urethra if wiping from back to front,” said Dr.
Not wiping properly can raise your risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and spread bacteria that can make others sick. Improper wiping can also cause anal discomfort and itching.
Sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma) cause symptoms also common in UTIs, such as painful urination and discharge. Vaginitis, caused by bacteria or yeast, can result in a burning sensation when urinating and similar discomfort that may mimic a UTI.
Bladder infections are a type of UTI, but not all urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A UTI is defined as an infection in one or more places in the urinary tract—the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection is a UTI that's only located in the bladder.
If your urine culture shows you don't have a UTI, you'll need further testing to find out the cause of your symptoms.” In rare cases, a person with symptoms similar to a UTI, but with repeated negative cultures (meaning they don't show a bacterial infection) may in fact have bladder cancer.
Take showers instead to help you relax and keep UTIs away — especially if you're a woman with a higher risk of UTIs. If your shower has a hand attachment, keep it pointed down rather than up when washing your genitals to prevent bacteria from going the wrong way.
Certain toilet papers may also contain aloe or lotion, alcohol, phosphate, chlorine, peroxides, perfumes, dyes and anti-bacterial properties. All of these additives can cause an allergic reaction resulting in skin irritation, including itching of your anus and/or vulva.
Pain in or around your vagina can have many possible causes. Infection, injury, health conditions, menopause, childbirth, pelvic floor problems, and allergies can all make the vulva or vagina sore. Most of the time, vaginal pain will go away on its own or with self-care.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
The irritation can cause pain in your lower abdomen or pelvic area and even lower back, and will usually make you feel like urinating more often. Burning or pain when urinating is the most common symptom. You may even feel a strong urge or need to urinate but only get a few drops.
If you suffer from high stress levels or anxiety, you might also develop a urinary tract infection. Can stress cause a UTI? Not directly. However, stress can increase your cortisol levels, which can affect your immune system and make you more prone to infections.
Vaginal burning may have many different causes, including irritation, yeast infection, and chlamydia. Certain things can irritate the skin of the vagina when they come into direct contact with it. This is known as contact dermatitis. Irritants that can cause contact dermatitis include soaps, fabrics, and perfumes.
✓ Always wipe from front to back
This is by far the most important and undeniably true approach to wiping after peeing. Doing so avoids the risk of urinary tract infections caused by bringing in bacteria from the rear.
There's no hard and fast rule to how many times you should wipe, as every bowel movement is different. The best rule of thumb is to continue to use additional sheets of toilet paper until you feel clean. A quick glance at the paper can also help tell you if your bottom is clean or not (it's okay. We all look.)