Utis After Sex When It Really Kicked In
Years later all was forgotten, including my shift working boyfriend, and I found myself in another relationship with a man who could literally go for hours.
Were brought up to believe this is the ultimate quality in a lover but apparently excessive friction coupled with a short and narrow urethra does not equate to the best sex of your life to the contrary this was arguably the worst year of my life.
I began to realise that every time I had sex, I would get another UTI. UTIs after sex had officially become my modus operandi and post coital intimacy had been replaced by me sitting on a toilet trying to force a decent stream of urine from my body.
I couldnt help but wonder why it was happening in this relationship and not others? Id been in long term relationships and had never had this ongoing problem.
Was my boyfriend carrying bacteria that was reinfecting me each time we had sex? Was something happening in my own body that was causing some kind of imbalance in my urinary tract?
What Is The Prognosis For A Person With A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections typically respond very well to treatment. A UTI can be uncomfortable before you start treatment, but once your healthcare provider identifies the type of bacteria and prescribes the right antibiotic medication, your symptoms should improve quickly. Its important to keep taking your medication for the entire amount of time your healthcare provider prescribed. If you have frequent UTIs or if your symptoms arent improving, your provider may test to see if its an antibiotic-resistant infection. These are more complicated infections to treat and may require intravenous antibiotics or alternative treatments.
You’ve Got Cramps But No Pms
Abdominal cramping and pain are other symptoms of a UTI. However, a lot of women mistake them for PMS cramps, low-back issues, or even muscle soreness from overdoing deadlifts at the gym, Ross says.
Dont fall for it! This is one symptom you should definitely pay attention to, especially if the pain increases over time, is sharp and localized to your lower back, or is accompanied by a fever, she says. This may indicate that the infection has moved up into your kidneys, a potentially serious complication that can land you in the hospital.
You might describe this type of pain might be described as “pressure down there,” Conway notes. Like Ross, Conway says it’s important to seek treatment immediately if this type of pain migrates to your back or you spike a fever.
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What Investigations May Be Advised
The investigations you may need usually depend on many different factors, such as if you have other symptoms, if you have any other illnesses or conditions and your age.
It is likely that you will need to provide a sample of urine which will be sent to the local laboratory to be tested for infection. You may have blood tests and X-rays or scans.
A cystoscopy may be performed to assess your bladder. Having a cystoscopy entails a doctor or nurse looking into your bladder with a special thin telescope called a cystoscope. The cystoscope is passed into your bladder via your outlet for your urine . A cystoscopy which is done just to look into your bladder is usually carried out under local anaesthetic.
More details about the different tests can be found in the separate individual condition leaflets, mentioned above.
Impact Of Urine Infections On Periods
The common symptoms of urinary tract infection are burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, pain in the lowerabdomen, cloudy urine, sudden urge to urinate, loss of bladder control , strong urine odor, and vaginal irritation. If you have any ofthese symptoms, immediately visit a doctor. Your doctor will prescribe youantibiotics to treat the infection. It is also advised to drink lots of wateras it helps to clean the bladder.
Impact of urine infections on periods
- UTIs can be uncomfortable and painful, but a UTI cannot directly affect your period. So UTIs dont make your periods late. However, stress can affect your menstrual cycle and can stress you out. Stress caused by the infection can indirectly affect your cycle resulting in late or missed periods.
- Some women prefer having sex during periods to avoid getting pregnant. Sex is a common cause of UTI which makes women having sex during periods more prone to UTIs.
Some standard measures that you can take to avoid UTIs are
- always wipe from front to back after urinating and bowel movement,
- pee after intercourse,
- wash the genitals after sex to clear out bacteria,
- avoid holding urine for long periods of time,
- drink lots of water,
- keep the genitals clean and dry,
- during periods change your sanitary napkin or tampon frequently and
- Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice also helps prevent UTIs.
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Get The Right Kind Of Feminine Care Product
It can be tempting to purchase feminine care products that have nice scents and soft textures. However, these can increase the risk of infection. Products with synthetic chemicals like scents can be irritating to your urinary system and leave it more prone to infection. Always look for cotton, chemical-free, and breathable pads and tampon products.
How Standard Uti Testing Failed Me
I started researching and bringing information to my doctor about other organisms I wanted to test my urine for. He was happy to comply. He didnt know what else to do to help me. Significantly though, he did believe that I had an infection.
Still the results were unhelpful. Specific organisms were not found. But other signs of infection were.
I was completely uninformed about testing, and why it wasnt helping me figure this out.
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Hindsight Tip #2:
Ive since learned that standard UTI testing is very inaccurate. Many studies have proven that standard urine culturing techniques fail to identify infection in at least 50% of cases.
If you have received inconclusive or negative test results despite your symptoms, or if your treatment does not seem to work as it should, inaccurate testing could be the issue.
I encourage you to learn more about this issue, so you can take control of the situation and seek better care.
There are 7 main reasons your UTI test results could be wrong, and Ive laid all these out for you , along with what you can do about it.
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A Doctor That Helped Me Turn Things Around
Not only did my new doctor believe yeast may have been at the heart of these symptoms, she also suspected it was causing my urinary symptoms. Testing confirmed that Candida was an issue in both my gut and vaginal microbiomes.
She managed to convince me, by sharing her own experiences, to go off the pill. This was terrifying to me at the time. I imagined the heavy periods returning, and all that came with that, including the possibility of babies.
But I was done making excuses for myself. I was ready to take control of my health.
The decision to stop taking medications seemed counterintuitive, but I was ready to try a different approach.
I neednt have worried. The process of changing my diet, and the other measures Ive mentioned below, resulted in a super regular and almost symptom-free menstrual cycle.
UPDATE: Although I felt the need to stop using antibiotics when I was recovering, Im not against using antibiotics and I have seen through our community that antibiotics can indeed be the right solution for many.
Recurrent Uti And Constant Yeast Infections
Frequent antibiotic use came with other side effects. The most obvious was yeast infections. Although this was a less painful experience than the UTIs, it was an even more constant companion.
Each time I took antibiotics, I would need to use over the counter antifungals. These would relieve the symptoms just long enough for the next UTI to take hold. This of course meant more antibiotics, then more antifungals.
Then more antibiotics, then more antifungals You get the picture.
It felt as though I was never not taking something. I felt completely out of control of the state of my body. I had no confidence in its ability to find a better balance.
The antibiotics and antifungals had destroyed any semblance of a healthy microbiome in all areas, including my digestive tract.
Eventually the effectiveness of the antibiotics and antifungals lessened, and I would have just a few hours respite before the UTI and yeast infections would return.
My UTI symptoms became constant at this point. I virtually had not a single moment where I wasnt aware of discomfort in my urinary tract. And discomfort is mostly putting it lightly.
I began to notice a link between digestive symptoms, yeast related symptoms and the frequency of UTI flare ups. There was hardly a moment that I felt symptom free. Id had enough, and I decided to take what felt like drastic action.
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The Link Between Utis And Sex: Causes And How To Prevent Them
One common way women get urinary tract infections is by having sex. But that doesn’t mean you have to banish sex from your life to prevent painful infections.
Mosuno/Stocksy
Pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections arent the only consequences of having sex. For some women, a urinary tract infection can also be a result.
Blame it on anatomy, which makes a UTI more likely for women than for men, says Sujata Yavagal, MD, a urogynecologist at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami.
Still, it isnt inevitable that having sex will cause a UTI. Taking proper precautions can minimize your odds.
RELATED: 8 Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
The Urinary Microbiome And Menstruation
Another biological change during menstruation has only recently been identified: the urinary microbiome. The urinary microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microbes living in the urinary tract. While it has been established that the vaginal microbiome undergoes change during the menstrual cycle, the urinary microbiome does as well, which likely plays an important role in UTI risk.
In March 2020, researchers at Loyola University Chicago, UC San Diego, and UCLA demonstrated the variability of the urinary microbiome following both menstruation and vaginal intercourse . The researchers used RNA sequencing and enhanced quantitative urine culture to identify the organisms in the urinary tract and their relative abundance. While measurable changes to the urinary microbiome were found in all subjects, the changes were individualized and unique to each person.
The researchers did find higher than normal levels of common skin bacteria in the urinary microbiome during menstruation. One possible explanation is the use of feminine hygiene products during menstruation that could introduce these bacteria into the area from the surrounding skin.
Many women report UTIs following their period. Here are a few potential suggestions for reducing UTI risk in this window.
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Can You Get A Uti By Having Sex While On Your Period
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Fever Over 101 Degrees
A fever of over 101 degrees is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. If your fever lasts more than a few days, see your doctor to evaluate your symptoms. A high fever does not always indicate PID. However, if your fever is accompanied by pelvic pain or vaginal discharge, it is a strong indication that you are experiencing the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Please note that any fever that lasts longer than two days requires immediate attention from a medical professional.
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Youve Got A Cold The Flu Or Allergies
You may be tempted to curse your seasonal sneezes, a cold, or the dreaded flu for making your life even more miserable with a UTI, but these ailments arent the cause. The meds you take to manage symptoms could be.
Though theyre the bomb at keeping your runny or stuffy nose in check, antihistamines and decongestants might make you go less by causing urinary retention. And see No. 6 that may lead to a UTI.
Should My Partner Be Tested For Uti
Ive since learned that it is indeed possible for bacteria to be passed back and forth between partners during sex. If you think about it, that makes perfect sense this is exactly how STIs occur, so why not other organisms?
Its entirely possible for males to carry bacteria without experiencing symptoms, so they wouldnt necessarily know they were contributing to your own symptoms. Same sex partners can of course pass organisms back and forth too thats one area that is truly equal.
UTIs after sex prevention tip 2: Consider whether your partner should also be tested.
Strangely, my boyfriends housemate also began to experience recurrent UTIs. That got me thinking about the environment in their share house, or their drinking water or possibly my boyfriends fidelity! It seemed like way too much of a coincidence for this to be happening to both of us at the same time.
Learn more about UTI and sex and getting your partner tested in our expert video series.
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Can A Uti Affect Your Period
According to some estimates, 50-60% of women will develop at least one urinary tract infection within their lifetime, making it one of the most common medical conditions in the country.
A UTI develops when bacteria, usually E. coli, travels from the skin or rectum into your urethra.
Under normal circumstances, your immune system can fend off invaders like this, but when those defenses fail, the bacteria multiply, becoming an infection that adversely impacts one or more parts of your urinary tract.
When left untreated, a UTI can develop into a bladder infection or impact your ureters. In rarer, more severe cases, it can become a kidney infection or travel into your bloodstream.
Because women have urinary tracts separate from their reproductive organs, a urinary tract infection will never adversely affect menstruation or ovulation.
There is a relationship between UTIs and sexual health, but a UTI will never directly cause you to develop irregular periods, experience a late period, or miss a period all together.
UTIs can be dangerous if they are left untreated. If you believe you have a urinary tract infection or have questions about your menstrual cycle, seek medical advice from a gynecologist or another health care provider.
They can take a urine sample, discuss your symptoms, and recommend treatment options that will help address your discomfort and improve your health and wellbeing.
Relief Without A Prescription
An over-the-counter drug called phenazopyridine can help ease your pain, burning, and irritation. It also controls your need to pee frequently and urgently.
But theres a catch. It only works on your symptoms. It doesnt cure your infection. You still need to see your doctor to make sure you get treatment to fight the bacteria thats causing your UTI.
Also, one common side effect: It turns your pee dark red or orange while you take it.
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I Keep Getting A Fever With My Period
Dear Alice,
I know that some women do get fevers as a part of their period, but is it normal to get high fevers? I have never had a problem with my period before, but the last two periods have had me chilled, feverish, and with a temperature of up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, I couldn’t even go to work or anything for like a week. I don’t use tampons, and I’m not sexually active. I am in pretty good shape. Please tell me I won’t have to take a week off of my life every month from now on because of these awful fevers. Is there anything I can do?
Dear Reader,
Feeling hot and bothered during your period is no fun. For some people who menstruate, fevers are an unwelcome but regular monthly occurrence however, it seems like your fevers are a relatively new occurrence. There are several reasons why you may be experiencing a fever during your period â pelvic infections, sexually transmitted infections , stress, or other conditions. Since your fevers are a new development and they seem distressing for you, speaking with a health care provider about your experiences to pinpoint what may be contributing to your âperiod fluâ may be beneficial.
May 14, 2021Originally published
My Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Treatment Regimen
I didnt realize at the time that this was the beginning of my recovery. My regimen took me to a place where I no longer had any symptoms. I was able to stop taking supplements on a daily basis. It wasnt about managing my symptoms anymore, they were just gone.
I was basically back at square one and I wanted a fresh start. I wanted more information everything I could get my hands on. I started with a range of blood tests to check my general health.
I discovered I was quite low in a few essential vitamins and minerals. In speaking with clinicians I have learned this is very common in people who have been fighting long term chronic infection.
First, I began to take a range of supplements targeting my deficiencies. Then I created a regimen of strong herbal antifungals and antibacterials based on the advice of my new doctor.
These were teamed up with oral and vaginal probiotics that contained probiotic strains showing promise for urinary tract and vaginal health.
I had tried all of these separately after reading studies about each of them. But I had never tried them together, or with a plan and a timeframe in mind.
I started my new regimen.
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