FALSE: Using products to clean the vaginal area does not help prevent a UTI, and could throw off the pH and bacterial balances. You do not need to wash, douche or use cleansing wipes in the vagina.
Wipe front to back. Always wipe from the front to the back after using the bathroom. Do not try to reach from behind because germs from the rectum can be transferred to the hand and tissue. After bowel movements, clean the area around the anus gently, wiping from front to back.
Easy ways to avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI) include simple changes like drinking more water, wiping from front to back, and peeing right after sex. People who have frequent UTIs can take antibiotics after sex to prevent a UTI. Dietary supplements like cranberry products or probiotics may help prevent UTIs.
There are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting a UTI: Drink plenty of water and other liquids to help flush out bacteria. Urinate frequently, or about every two to three hours.
Take Showers Instead of Baths
Bacteria grow more quickly in warm and hot water. Our doctors may recommend avoiding hot tubs and taking showers instead of baths. The soap in bubble baths can irritate the urinary tract and should be avoided.
Wiping back to front is associated with a greater risk of developing urinary tract infection than wiping front to back.
If you do not clean the vagina after urination, there is a risk of getting an infection. Actually, even after urinating, some drops stay in the pubes, which later fall into the underwear. Due to this the underwear smells and bacteria start to grow. Due to this, there is a risk of urinary tract infection ie UTI.
Sometimes, it may even result in either inflammation or infection. And you should only use unscented wipes to clean the vagina after urinating. The scented wipes can increase the chances of irritation and inflammation of the skin of vulva and vagina.
Lesson number one: "Always wipe from front to back," says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., an ob-gyn and author of V is for Vagina. "Wiping from back to front can bring bacteria from the rectum toward the urethra and increase your chances of a urinary tract infection," she explains.
The best position is to sit on the toilet edge, legs separated but supported and leaning forward slightly, which helps open and relax the pelvic floor. This posture helps ensure the proper emptying of the bladder and reduce the chances of UTIs. Take showers and avoid prolonged baths.
Along with an antibiotic, what you drink and eat during a UTI can help you get better faster. DO drink a lot of water, even if you're not thirsty. This will help flush out the bacteria. DON'T drink coffee, alcohol or caffeine until the infection is gone.
Try not to hold in urine
Urinating often when you have a UTI can reduce the risk of a worsening infection. This happens because urination puts pressure on the bacteria. The longer you hold urine, the higher the risk for bacteria to build up in your system.
Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 liters) of water every day to flush the infection out of the urinary system. The best way to get the infection out of the system is by drinking liquids until the urine is clear and the stream is forceful.
Try sleeping in a position that helps to relax the pelvic muscles. Lying on your side and pulling your legs up into a fetal position, or spreading your legs apart if you sleep on your back, should be more comfortable. Put a hot water bottle on your abdomen or between your legs for 30 minutes before bed.
Additionally, a number of common foods and drinks — artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, acidic fruits, citrus, or caffeinated drinks — can irritate your bladder, and may worsen UTI symptoms — so you should steer clear of them if you have signs of a bladder infection.
If you think you have a UTI, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your OBGYN or primary care physician. Many women will try to self-treat it, or worse, just hope it goes away on its own.
“It's estimated 50 percent of UTIs can be treated by drinking a significant amount of fluid alone," says Felecia Fick, a Mayo Clinic urogynecology physician assistant who was not involved in the study. "The extra you're drinking is flushing out the bacteria that are present in the urinary tract."
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.
In short, yes! If it helps you feel more clean and fresh, that is certainly okay. There are also wipes made for women, sometimes referred to as feminine hygiene wipes but there's nothing wrong with using baby wipes. If they are safe and gentle enough for a baby, they should be fine for a teenager or woman.
She goes on to explain,"when you are wiping more than two or three times, that is called faecal smearing.. "So it is essentially when too much faecal matter stays at the entrance of the anus even after you have finished your poo."