When Chronic Bladder Infections Plague Your Sex Life

chronic bladder infection, feature 2, urinary tract infection, UTI - By dryvonne on Monday, November 29, 2010 - 11:17

Nothing can put a damper on a gal’s sex life like the frequent, burning, painful urination, discomfort, and lower abdominal pressure or pain that comes with a bladder infection. Frustrating in cases where this most common infection becomes recurrent, many women will avoid sex, fearful that their next romp will trigger another battle with her bladder.

With the bladder the most common site of infection in females, sexual vaginal penetration is the number one cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), a.k.a. bladder infections. So what are some of the reasons a woman can be afflicted with chronic UTIs?

Early menopause
A drop in her estrogen levels can cause a weakening of the bladder’s elasticity, plus promote more bacterial growth that lends itself to a higher pH of urine (making the environment less acidic).

Age
As people age, they develop more diseases, partly due to increased bodily inflammation and getting less exercise.

Sex with a new partner
First intercourse or suddenly having a lot more intercourse invites new and more bacteria for her body to contend with.

Being sexually active
Friction from intercourse can irritate the urethra, especially given that it gets compressed during intercourse, pushing bacteria into the bladder. Intercourse during menstruation further perpetuates the problem since blood is a medium where bacteria thrive.

How she wipes herself
UTIs are often due to bacteria entering the urinary tract, with the sterile environment disrupted by E. coli from the colon if she’s wiping back to front following a bowel movement.

Other health problems
Having one health problem, like kidney stones or diabetes, can invite another given lowered immunity. Having had a UTI may further increase chance of recurrence if it damaged the internal lining of the bladder.

Products
Using condoms, medications, diaphragms, douches and other feminine products can all lead to irritation. Spermicides can alter a female’s bacterial flora in the vagina, killing off friendly bacteria, enabling harmful to grow.

Naturally, the culprit determines how you’ll want to tackle chronic bladder infections and avoid them. Some ways to win this war, especially when it’s not appropriate to constantly be on antibiotics, include:

• Consuming 100-percent natural cranberry juice twice daily, sweetened with a sweetener like Stevia to avoid excess calories and cellular inflammation, as this helps to acidify her urine, lowering its pH level and preventing the growth of bacteria. (The normal acidity will also help to stop E. coli from setting up shop in the bladder.)
• Taking 500mg of vitamin C three times daily or cranberry supplements (e.g., pills or powders), in place of the cranberry juice.
• Pursuing an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle to promote better vulvar skin flexibility and health, especially post-menopause.
• Engaging in specific sexual positions that help reduce the chance of infection by reducing urethral irritation/friction of the urethral opening.
• Using a barrier method during cunnilingus.
• Practicing safer sex with a new partner.
• Adding water-based lube during sex to minimize friction, or changing lube type.
• Urinating before and after sex, as well as regularly throughout the day.
• Drinking more water to flush out the urethra.
• Avoiding products that can irritate the genitals and increase one’s risk of infection.
• Washing the genitals and hands before and after sex.
• Taking showers instead of baths, as not to sit in water containing bacteria.
• Wiping from front to back in keeping E. coli away from the urinary opening post-bowel movement.
• Boosting your immune system with a healthy diet, full of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants
• Taking any prescribed antibiotics after sex

Even if you’re the queen of bladder infections, feeling on top of every occurrence, be sure to consult your physician when UTIs recur. If left untreated or chronic, your condition could lead to more damage, including kidney infection.

Yet another important reason to consult your doctor is that you may not have a bladder infection, let alone a chronic problem at that. Other issues may be at play, like a sexually transmitted infection or a vaginal infection irritating the urethra. In cases where you do have a recurring infection, a healthcare practitioner will have to determine if it’s due to the same organism being inadequately treated or if you’re fielding one new infection after the next given proper treatment and a cure.

Author: Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD