Estimates suggest that about 50% of women suffer from urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their life. And at least half of them have recurrent UTIs. As the name might suggest, a person suffers from UTI when there is an infection in any part of the urinary tract. It is primarily caused by bacteria that enter the urinary system. Hence, the use of antibiotics is the chief mode of treatment for this infection. Although it is effective, the treatment isn’t devoid of downsides. Firstly, the use of antibiotics can give rise to antibiotic resistance, which is a major problem worldwide. Also, these drugs kill both good and bad bacteria. To prevent these drawbacks, a recent study has concluded that antiseptics are just as effective as antibiotics in preventing recurrent UTIs in women.
About The Study
The study involved 240 adult women. Although anyone can suffer from UTI, it is more common in women compared to men. It is because women have a shorter urethra than men. Hence, bacteria can enter the urinary tract more easily.
- The participants were randomly given either an antibiotic or methenamine Hippurate, which is an antiseptic drug.
- The study was conducted over 18 months, and the participants followed up every three months.
The findings were published in the British Medical Journal.
Also read: Know About The Difference Between UTIs & STIs From An Expert
Study Findings
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The researchers found that methenamine Hippurate was effective in preventing recurrent UTIs in women. They defined recurrent UTIs as at least two UTI episodes in the past six months or three within the past year.
- The participants who took an antibiotic had 0.89 incidents of recurrent UTIs. Comparatively, those on the antiseptic treatment had 1.38 incidents of recurrent UTIs.
- Although antibiotics are more effective, the use of antiseptics can make up for the drawbacks associated with the use of antibiotics, such as antibiotic resistance and the destruction of good bacteria.
Also read: 6 Effective Ayurvedic Remedies To Cure Urine Infections At Home
Other Ways To Prevent Recurrent UTIs
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The study showed that antiseptic can be considered as a mode of treatment to prevent recurrent UTI. However, if you want to avoid taking drugs, there are some home remedies to prevent UTIs that you can try:
- Drink Plenty Of Fluids: When you drink enough water and other fluids, you pee more. This way, you flush the bacteria out of your body.
- Do Not Hold Pee: Holding the urine can give rise to infection. Hence, it must be avoided to prevent UTIs.
- Cranberry Juice: Some believe that unsweetened cranberry juice can help in preventing UTIs.
- Vitamin C: It is another way you can prevent UTIs. As per a leading health website, vitamin C increases the acidity of urine. It, in turn, gets effective in destroying the infection-causing bacteria.
- Hygiene: Last but not the least, ensuring proper hygiene is crucial in warding off any kind of infection. Hence, do not hold your urine. Peeing after sexual intercourse is seen as crucial in preventing UTIs. Also, if you wipe yourself after peeing, do it from front to back and not the other way round. Try these things to prevent UTIs from recurring.
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