6 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Risk of UTIs

(This is a sponsored post)

We’re all familiar with the havoc that menopause can wreak on our bodies, right? The night sweats, the hot flashes, the mood swings, the forgetfulness, the urinary tract infections…

Wait, what?

That’s right: Although there is a common misconception that urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are a young, sexually active woman’s problem, URISTAT®, maker of UTI pain relief tablets, wants to correct that myth and to raise awareness about the link between menopause and UTIs.

The sad truth is that as your estrogen levels decrease through perimenopause and menopause, your urinary tract becomes increasingly susceptible to infection, putting menopausal and premenopausal women at an especially high risk for developing UTIs. As if you needed another reason to hate “the change…”

And although UTIs are rarely discussed in connection with menopause, 53% of women over the age of 55 say they have experienced recurring UTIs, which means they’ve had three or more of these painful infections in the span of one year. If you’ve ever experienced a UTI (as most of us have), you know how miserable that sounds.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to completely prevent UTIs, but as you enter perimenopause, there are a few simple changes you can make that will drastically reduce your risk:

1. Stay hydrated! Water is your best friend when it comes to keeping your body running smoothly by naturally, periodically flushing the bacteria out of your urinary tract. You can also try adding a glass of cranberry juice to your diet; some scientists believe its antioxidants help keep infection-causing E. coli bacteria from sticking to your urinary tract walls.

2. Wipe from front to back. While it’s a myth that UTIs are caused by poor hygiene alone, obviously anything that you can do to limit contact with bacteria is helpful!

3. Avoid scented tampons and soaps. The chemicals that form these fragrances can act as irritants, or can even go as far as to throw your pH levels out of whack and make it easier for bacteria to enter your urinary tract. 

4. Urinate after sex. Sex introduces a whole host of new bacteria into the region around your urinary tract, but using the restroom shortly afterwards can help flush some of those germs out.

5. Wear cotton underwear. Sure, your cutest pairs of underwear are most likely made of satin or lace, but those fabrics can cause irritation, whereas cotton lets your skin breathe.

6. If you need to go, go! “Holding it” isn’t just uncomfortable for the time being; it can also lead to UTIs later on. So if possible, use the restroom as soon as you feel the urge.

If you do start experiencing the painful, burning urination that is often indicative of a UTI, you can immediately pick up an over-the-counter URISTAT® Relief Pak from your local pharmacy. The Pak contains a test strip so that you make sure that your pain is UTI-related. It also contains URISTAT® Pain Relief Tablets, which will act quickly to temporarily relieve the pain, burning, and frequency of urination until you’re able to see your doctor.

Of course, only doctor-prescribed antibiotics can clear up a UTI, and these infections do run the risk of spreading to the kidneys, so you should make an appointment as quickly as possible. However, in the meantime, these URISTAT® over-the-counter pain relief tablets are a must-have, as antibiotics alone can take up to 48 hours to completely relieve your symptoms. Ouch.

For more information on the link between UTIs and menopause, and for a $1 off coupon for URISTAT® products, you can visit their website.