Checking my skin

Urinary tract infections are usually associated with women. It is true that women experience these infections with greater frequency than men (they are, in fact, ten times more common in women), and this is because the female urinary tract is shorter than a man's, and this makes it easier for bacteria to travel through the urethra. With women, the rectum is also located in closer proximity to the urethra so there is a greater chance of infection. While UTIs are less common in men, this doesn't mean that men are immune.

If you find that you keep having urinary tract infections and you don't know what to do about this, you should first of all book an appointment at a urology clinic where a urologist will be able to run some urine tests to see if there is any underlying cause for the infection to keep cropping up. In addition to this, there are some things you can do at home to lower your risk of infection.

Drink lots of water every day. Drinking plenty of water each day is a good idea anyway, but if you are someone who experiences regular UTIs, it is even more important. This is simply because water flushes bacteria out of your system. Keep yourself dosed up on litres of water each day, and you won't give bacteria a chance to take hold in your urethra. At the same time, avoid caffeine and alcohol, because these are irritants to the bladder, and they will make it harder for the infection to heal.

Use the bathroom regularly. You might be someone who onl y uses the bathroom when they are absolutely bursting, but actually, for the sake of your urinary tract, it's a much better idea to head to the bathroom whenever you have a slight urge to urinate. This is because if you hold your urine inside, you are also holding bacteria inside, allowing it to grow and make your UTI problem worse. What you really want to do is flush that bacteria right out of your system.

Always have protected sex. When your genitals come into contact with bacteria, this is when you run the risk of contracting a UTI. This is one reason why it's extremely important to always have protected sex. Of course, if you are with a long term partner, this is something that you may be reluctant to do, in which case, it's a very good idea to clean your genitals thoroughly before and after sex to minimise the risk of infection.