Do You Get Chronic UTIs? We Can Help!

There’s no doubt about it: The urge to urinate frequently, the pain and burning that comes when you try to go, seeing blood in your urine — the symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) are never fun! And for some women, UTIs aren’t a one-time occurrence, but a chronic hindrance. 

The experienced providers at Urgent Care of Ada, understand the discomfort UTIs cause — especially when they come back again and again. We’re committed to helping patients in the Ada, Oklahoma, area live life UTI-free. Learn more.

Why do I get chronic UTIs?

Over 90% of UTIs are caused by a bacteria called E. coli. This bacteria is helpful when it stays in your intestines, where it naturally occurs. But if E. coli enters your urinary system, it can cause a UTI. 

When you have two or more medically diagnosed UTIs within six months, you are experiencing chronic UTIs. Though people develop chronic UTIs for a variety of reasons, certain risk factors increase your chances, including:

• Having an enlarged prostate (in men)
• Being a woman (because of the shorter distance between the urethra and rectum)
• Using certain forms of birth control (e.g., diaphragms and spermicides)
• Taking certain oral antibiotics

Women who use vaginal douches or scented feminine products and washes also have a higher chance of getting recurring UTIs. 

How can we help with chronic UTIs?

Most of the time, UTIs are easily treated with oral antibiotics, usually taken for three to seven days. For some women, however, taking a short course of antibiotics isn’t enough to keep UTIs from reappearing. 

When UTIs are a chronic problem, it’s important to discuss them with your provider at Urgent Care of Ada to learn more about preventing their occurrence. Your team member may recommend a long-term (6-24 months), low-dose antibiotic to help break the UTI cycle or the use of a single-dose antibiotic taken after intercourse to help stop UTIs brought about by sexual contact. 

For women in menopause, your provider may recommend vaginal estrogen therapy to help remedy imbalances in vaginal bacteria that can occur after menopause. These naturally occurring bacteria provide protection against UTIs, and vaginal estrogen creams or rings can help restore the balance. 

If you suffer from chronic UTIs, it’s also important to make certain lifestyle changes. Here are several steps you can take to ease the pain of a UTI and reduce your risk of getting another infection in the future: 

• Urinate frequently instead of holding it as postponing urination increases your risk of getting a UTI.
• Increase your water intake to help flush out unwanted bacteria from your urinary system.
• Try cranberry juice or cranberry capsules, which contain a natural compound that some studies show keeps unfriendly bacteria from the urinary tract.
• Urinate soon after sex to help avoid spreading E. coli. 
• Change your hygiene routine by taking showers instead of baths, wiping front to back after using the toilet, discontinuing scented feminine hygiene products, and washing your genitals and anus with soap and warm water every day.

If you struggle with chronic UTIs, we can help! Contact the providers at Urgent Care of Ada today by calling 580-215-6975, or schedule an appointment online now.