Steps
Watch What You Eat and Drink
Aim to:
- Stay hydrated. Â Drink at least 3 bottles of water per day.
- Limit the amount of sugar you eat.
- Minimize caffeine and alcohol.
Form Good Habits
Protect your urinary tract:
- Urinate frequently. Â Do not hold it if you have to go!
- Avoid irritating vaginal products, including harsh soaps, douching, vaginal perfumes or "hygiene" sprays, bubble baths, etc.
- If you're sexually active, always urinate after sexual intercourse.
- Wipe from front to back when you go to the bathroom. Â The scientific evidence to support this is limited, but it's unlikely to cause harm.
Consider Supplements
Try any or all of the following to reduce how often you get UTIs:
- Cranberry/d-mannose combination twice per day â The amount per pill can vary, but aim for around 1000 mg of d-mannose per dose.
- Probiotics daily â Take at least 1 billion CFU (Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Lactobacillus fermentum) or eat lacto-fermented foods (pickles, yogurt, kimchi).
- Vitamin C â Take 250 to 500 mg twice per day.
When to Reach Out
Let us know right away if you get symptoms of a UTI so we can treat you.
If you still get frequent UTIs despite the above recommendations, reach out. Â We can discuss other options, such as preventive antibiotics or, if you're postmenopausal, vaginal estrogen.
You can decrease how often you get UTIs by making simple changes to your habits or supplements.
