You can reduce your risk of getting urinary tract infections by drinking plenty of water every day. You put yourself at a 50% higher chance of developing a UTI if you drink less than 1.5 liters of water a day, according toGoHealth Urgent Care. Your physical activity, your environment, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and other health factors all affect how much water you need each day. However, in general, women need about 2.7 liters and men need about 3.7 liters of fluids per day (theMayo Clinic).
Women might want to urinate prior and/or after having sex. UTIs can occur when bacteria is moved around during sex. You can flush out the bacteria by going to the bathroom before and after you have sex. You should avoid holding your urine. UTIs are more likely to occur if you go longer than 4 hours without peeing. You have a higher chance of bacteria causing an infection in your bladder if you don’t empty your bladder often enough. (via GoHealth Urgent Care).
After urinating, women should wipe from front to back to avoid moving bacteria toward the urethra (viaSelf). It’s also important to avoid scented products — tampons, pads, soaps, or powders. Urogynecologist Dr. Tanaka Dune told Shape that scented products can cause irritation, which increases the risk of developing a UTI. You should also check your birth control. Your risk of infection can be increased by using spermicides or diaphragms. Talk to your doctor about changing methods if you experience recurring UTIs.