Urinary Tract Infection Prevention

Are there specific ways for women to prevent urinary tract infections?

Yes, there are many ways that women can help prevent urinary tract infections from developing. Primarily, after urinating, a woman should only wipe from front to back to prevent any material that might be from the anal area from being drawn into the vaginal area, which may then eventually get into the bladder. Additionally, a woman should urinate before and after sex to keep the bladder as empty as possible, so that bacteria don't have a place to grow. Also, there are benefits to using cotton rather than synthetic underwear. The vaginal environment can be kept in good balance by avoiding bubble baths or mineral oils in the bath water. Finally, avoiding spermicides either in conjunction with condoms, as a foam, or in the form of pellets for prevention of conception as a birth control method, can help woman prevent urinary tract infections. The reason behind that is that the spermicides can break the tissues of the urethra and the vagina, thereby compromising your own body's defence mechanisms against the bacteria.

Are there specific ways for men to prevent urinary tract infections?

In men, preventing urinary tract infections is primarily more important for men who are uncircumsised. The foreskin can allow bacterial growth because it promotes an environment that is warm and moist, and either yeast or bacterial can grow quite easily in that setting. However, that can be lessened or eliminated by good hygiene and routine cleansing. Furthermore, high risk activities such as anal intercourse must be completely avoided to prevent this from occurring.

Are urinary tract infections contagious?

Generally speaking the answer is no; urinary tract infections are not contagious. However, in the instance of sexually transmitted diseases which are primarily urethral infections, those are very easily transmitted. So one must try to differentiate between the two, and typically the symptoms are slightly different. The STD includes having a discharge or a drip from the tip of the penis, or the female urethra, unlike a cystitis or upper urinary tract infection would.