Bladder Health

Prevention and Treatment

• You should drink plenty of water every day.
• Some health care providers suggest drinking cranberry juice, which in large amounts inhibits the growth of some bacteria by adding acid to the urine. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements have the same effect.
• Urinate when you feel the need; don’t resist the urge to urinate.
• Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anal area from entering the vagina or urethra.
• Take showers instead of tub baths.
• Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse.
• Always empty your bladder before and after sexual activity.
• Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays, scented douches, perfumed bath products, or scented toilet tissue or sanitary products. All of these products may irritate the urethra or the sensitive skin around it.

If you think that an infection has occurred, contact your clinician, who will test a urine sample for pus and bacteria. UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics. Although your health care provider may begin treatment before the bacterial cultures are back from the lab, the cultures will confirm the diagnosis and may cause a change in the antibiotic chosen.

Occasionally when a treatment fails to clear up an infection, the health care provider may order a test that makes an image of the urinary tract to identify whether there are structural change contributing to the infection or impeding treatment.