Patient's question:
What should I do if I have a urinary tract infection?Doctor's answer:
Pay attention to personal hygiene Pay attention to personal hygiene to prevent bacterial invasion and infection. Wear cotton underwear and pants to stay dry, avoid tight, non-breathable pants, and change underwear frequently. Do not use public baths or tubs for bathing, do not sit on unsterilized toilets, and do not share towels with others.Drink more water The longer urine stays in the bladder, the more bacteria accumulate—E. coli doubles every 20 minutes. The more bacteria, the more uncomfortable you feel. Therefore, the best way to relieve urinary pain is to drink more fluids to flush out these inflammatory bacteria. If the urine is clear, it means you are drinking enough water. If the urine is colored, it means you are not drinking enough water.
Avoid rough movements Before sexual activity, clean your body, especially the husband who must be gentle and avoid rough movements that may hurt the wife.
Urinate before and after sex This helps flush bacteria out of the vagina—otherwise, bacteria may be transferred to the bladder during sex. Men should also urinate after sex, as the penis can push bacteria from the female urethral opening into the bladder, so urination effectively "washes" the bladder.
Wipe from front to back after defecation This can prevent infection. Wiping incorrectly is one of the most common causes of infection and can also lead to recurrence. Of course, you want to wipe bacteria outward, not inward toward the vagina and urethral opening.
Take a hot bath This can help reduce pain, and hot baths are generally beneficial for inflamed areas.
Use sanitary pads Why are women more prone to infections? This may be related to sexual activity, insertion of diaphragms, and insertion of tampons, which involve contact with the vagina and may increase the risk of infection. It is recommended that women with chronic infections during their periods use sanitary pads instead of tampons.
Avoid excessive cleaning Sitting in baths too often is also not good. Long-term flushing may introduce bacteria into the vagina while washing away normal, beneficial bacteria, allowing infectious E. coli to take over. Additionally, it may cause discomfort in the urethra, similar to a urinary tract infection. Irritating disinfectant soaps can also lead to the same result—altering the vaginal flora and making you more susceptible to infection.