General Tips Cystitis
- Drink plenty of water at least a pint approximately 1.5 liters per day, however drinking an excessive amount of fluids should also be avoided, otherwise the antimicrobial peptides present in the urine become overly diluted.
- Try to avoid food and drink that gives you allergies.
- Avoid tight fitting clothes: trousers/jeans, leotards, corsets, swimsuits, body stockings. Wear cotton underwear.
- Try not to ‘hold on’, empty your bladder as much as you can.
- Avoid too much sex (use lubrication only if required) and after having sex, empty bladder as soon as possible.
- Avoid diaphragms and/or any items which will enter the vagina.
- Avoid flavoured condoms, use normal plain condoms.
- If one has infection avoid sexual intercourse until infection has cleared up
- Cut down on alcohol consumption
- Eat less spicy food
- Cut down strong tea and coffee (it can irritate the bladder and cause dehydration).
- Try to avoid continuously sitting down or standing up or excessively stretching.
- Use a hot water bottle if in pain.
- Increase intake of cranberry juice (containing proanthocyanidins levels of 36 to 72 mg) (not to take – if taking warfarin medication) or barley water, berry containing juices.
- Consider D-Mannose and/or methenamine hippurate for long-term management of recurrent UTIs.
- Consider taking probiotics, this help with a health digestive and vaginal flora.
- Avoid medicated washes, soaps, deodorants, douches, perfumes and bubble baths.
- Use fragrance and perfume free products.
- Take all hygiene measures i.e wash your genitals before and after sexual intercourse and fore play and wash your anus each day.
- Be aware that tampons can cause cystitis (applies to females only).
- Wipe from front to back (applies to females only).
- Always pull your foreskin back (if possible) and wash (applies to males only).
- For post – menopausal women: Discuss the local application of hormonal medication with your Medical Doctor or Healthcare prescriber.
Natural treatments and tips (DR Axe)
