Do Probiotics Help A Uti

Does Taking An Antibiotic After Sex Prevent Utis

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, having sex three or more times a week increases your risk for recurrent UTIs. Your risk is also increased if you use a diaphragm or spermicide products, regardless of the frequency of sexual activity. If you experience recurrent UTIs, changing your method of contraception should be the first thing you consider.

If you continue to suffer from UTIs and they are getting in the way of living a normal life, taking a preventive antibiotic could be an option. Taking regular antibiotics is not a risk-free treatment though, so have a conversation with your provider about whether this is right for you. Taking an antibiotic before or after sex can prevent recurrent UTIs especially if UTIs repeatedly show up 24 hours after intercourse.

During sex, bacteria can get into the urinary tract and cause infections. Antibiotics work by fighting these bacteria. E. coli is the most common bacteria that causes UTIs. Common antibiotics used to treat UTIs are nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole .

A clinical trial showed that only 2 out of 16 women who took TMP/SMX right after sex had recurrent UTIs compared to 9 out of 11 women who had a sugar pill. The results were the same regardless of how often the women had sex.

Can Vaginal Estrogen Products Prevent Utis

For women near menopause or who have gone through menopause and get 3 or more UTIs per year, vaginal estrogen may be helpful, according to the American Urological Association . Vaginal estrogen comes as a ring , an insert , or a cream . It is both safe and effective for women in this population who are looking to prevent recurrent UTIs.

That said, in a head-to-head trial of vaginal estrogen inserts compared to a daily preventive antibiotic, vaginal estrogen was not as effective as daily antibiotics. More on this below.

Estrogen works by making the vagina more acidic and increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the vagina. This makes it hard for E. coli to live and hide in there, which prevents them from showing up in the urinary tract later.

Some of the more commonly reported side effects of vaginal estrogen include breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, and vaginal discomfort like itching, burning, and irritation.

If you are being treated for breast cancer or have had breast cancer, vaginal estrogen is considered safe, but you should speak with your oncologist before starting any estrogen-based products.

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Understanding Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections describe a bacterial infection of your urinary system, including your urethra and bladder. Your bladder is the organ responsible for collecting and storing urine, while the urethra is the tube that transports urine from the bladder out your body.

UTIs are usually categorized in two forms: cystitis and urethritis. Cystitis is an infection of the bladder, while urethritis is an infection of the urethra. If left untreated, the bacteria can potentially spread up from your bladder into your kidneys, leading to a more serious kidney infection.

UTIs can come with a variety of symptoms, most commonly an urgent and frequent need to urinate. This may also be accompanied by:

• Burning, pain, or general discomfort when you pee
• Bloody urine
• Cramps, pressure, and soreness in your back, sides, or lower abdomen 2

While UTIs may go away on their own, they can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics along with over-the-counter medication to manage any pain or discomfort.3

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Which Type Of Lactobacillus Helps Against Urinary Tract Infections

While you might think that probiotics should contain the more common types of lactobacillus, that isnt true. Each type of lactobacillus does different things. L. rhamnosus is the most studied type of lactobacillus and may help with recurrent urinary tract infections. This bacteria can help prevent biofilms- something bad bacteria create that makes it harder to treat the infection. L rhamnosus can also help break down biofilms and is naturally resistant to many antibiotics . When taken as a pill, the lactobacilli get to the vagina . When put in the vagina, the lactobacilli stay in the vagina for about 3 weeks . But most of this data is from a lab and not from human studies which leaves lots of questions. While the existing data looks promising, we need more data to know:

What Is The Urinary Microbiome

Scientists believed for many years that the urinary tract was sterile, until very recently. Thanks to advanced technologies in metagenomics, research has shown that certain microbes do exist in the urinary tract, albeit at low numbers. The most common genera present are Lactobacillus , Gardnerella, Cornyebacterium, Streptococcus, Actinomyces and Staphylococcus8-10. This differs to the microbiomes found in the gut, mouth and skin, and, like most of these human microbiomes, the urinary microbiome is unique to each individual.

Despite this, there are some similarities between the urinary and vaginal microbiome. Both regions are dominant in lactobacilli and some of the genera present are similar. However, it is not clear how these microbiomes interact with one another.

Generally, no definitive healthy urinary microbiome has been defined, however some suggestions have been posited. A study in 2013 looked at how the urinary microbiome can differ between individuals of different age and genders11. The researchers proposed that actually a core microbiome can be observed, but may differ slightly depending on age. A core profile was seen across all women, but additional types of bacteria were seen within the different age groups , especially in the eldest age group.

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Reduce Recurrent Uti Risks With Probiotics

• Disease

Many of you know about urinary tract infections , common health problems caused by bacterial infections in the urinary system .

The treatment most doctors recommend for treating a UTI a common issue for kids, women and older adults is a commonly prescribed antibiotic, like amoxicillin or ciprofloxacin.

Azo Complete Feminine Balance

AZOs probiotic is designed to offer balance in a womans life. From stress to periods, hygiene, and sex, there are all kinds of things that throw off the vaginas pH level. Where this probiotic shines is that it contains Intelliflora, which is particularly formulated to improve vaginal health.

Intelliflora is the only clinically proven probiotic to carry a blend of four beneficial bacteria commonly found in healthy women. Whats more is that its safe to take for pregnant women.

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Myth: Utis Can Be Treated By Cranberry Juice Or Probiotics

Fact: Its conventional wisdom that cranberry juice can help stop or even prevent a UTI. There is a scientific basis for it, given some of the properties of the drink. Cranberry juice has proanthocyanidin, a chemical that inhibits bacteria from sticking to the bladder. But studies show there is no evidence that it can stop or prevent urinary tract infections, and any evidence of probiotics helping to protect from UTIs are minor at best. If you think you may have a UTI, its important you see your doctor and follow a treatment plan, which may include taking a course of antibiotics.

Other Ways To Help Manage A Uti:

• Drinking plenty of water may help to dilute your urine and help flush out bacteria that causes UTIs.
• Avoid coffee, alcohol and soft drinks that contain citrus juices and caffeine. They can irritate your bladder and aggravate your need to urinate. No thanks.
• Place a heating pad over your abdomen to help ease pressure and discomfort.
• Once your UTI is treated, maintain a healthy urinary tract with AZO Cranberry®, in the form of your choice: caplets, softgels or gummies.*

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What Factors Affect The Urinary Microbiome

As mentioned above, a number of different things can influence our urinary microbiomes. These include:

• Gender
• Vaginal health19

There could also be many more. Research is still in its early days. It is likely that factors which affect vaginal health could also influence urinary health . This is supported by a study in 2009, in which the researchers showed that women with bacterial vaginosis had an increased risk of developing a UTI19. This could explain why menopausal women are at a higher risk of UTIs. As oestrogen levels drop, numbers of lactobacilli in the vaginal tract drop too, thus increasing the likelihood of BV.

It is not surprising that antibiotics impact the urinary microbiome, as antibiotics are damaging on commensal organisms in the gut and vaginal tract. They are not very selective, and as such often kill and inhibit bacteria they are not directly targeting. When this happens, it can lead to bacterial imbalances . It also provides opportunities for potentially harmful bacteria to flourish and can make the individual vulnerable to infection.

Probiotics Appear Effective In Curbing Uti Recurrence

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Probiotics proved more effective than a placebo at reducing the risk for UTI recurrence in children with a normal urinary tract after their first episode of febrile UTI, according to results of a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

In this study, we compared the effect of probiotic and placebo prophylaxis in young children with uncomplicated UTI and found that probiotics, with a higher rate of composite cure observed after 18 months of therapy, were superior to placebo,Simin Sadeghi-bojd, MD, PhD, and colleagues wrote. The lower incidence of UTI recurrence in the probiotic group suggests that greater UTI-free survival with probiotics provides additional clinical benefit for children with a normal urinary tract.

Sadeghi-bojd and colleagues randomly assigned 181 children, aged 4 months to 5 years, with a normal urinary tract following recovery from their first febrile UTI to receive either a probiotic mixture or placebo. UTI-free survival at 18 months was the primary endpoint, with median time to first UTI as the secondary endpoint.

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Probiotics For Preventing Urinary Tract Infections In People With Bladder Dysfunction After A Nervous System Injury

What is the issue?

Bladder function can be altered after an injury to the nervous system and most often happens in conditions like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or stroke. This type of bladder dysfunction is termed neuropathic bladder. The bladder dysfunction in people with a nervous system injury increases their risk of frequent bladder infections. Currently, there is no effective way to prevent bladder infections in these people. Longterm use of antibiotics is not encouraged as it results in reduced effectiveness of that antibiotic. Probiotics are bacteria that can have a beneficial effect on the body. Some evidence already exists to suggest that probiotics can prevent bladder infections in postmenopausal women.

What did we do?

This review investigates the evidence for the effectiveness of probiotics on the prevention of bladder infections in people with bladder dysfunction after a nervous system injury.

What did we find?

We did not identify any studies investigating whether other probiotics and other administration routes is effective in preventing urinary tract infections in people with bladder dysfunction.

It is uncertain if probiotics prevent urine infections in people with bladder dysfunction after a nervous system injury. Further robustly designed studies are necessary.

Urinary Tract Infections: Statistics

We are seeing the incidence rates of UTIs increase annually. A global study in 2013 found over 92 million people suffered with UTIs worldwide1. Furthermore, the study found a 16% rise in UTI numbers from 1990 to 2013. In the UK, UTIs in the primary care system have increased 102% from 2001 to 20112, and in 2011, the Health Protection Agency estimated 14% of all antibiotics prescribed were for UTIs. This costs the NHS at least £124 million a year3, 4.

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Probiotics For Uti How Probiotic Supplements Can Help

Urinary tract infections afflict a large number of women and men around the globe, but probiotics for urinary tract infections are starting to help victims worldwide.

Probiotic supplements have been linked to everything from improved digestive health to enhanced immune functions and studies have found that there is a correlation between loss of the normal genital microbiota and an increased incidence of UTIs. This is where probiotic supplements could prove to be beneficial.

Here is everything you need to know about how probiotic supplements can help with UTIs and why they are a good preventative measure.

Myths And Facts About Male Utis

A urinary tract infection is an infection of any part of your urinary system and while they are more common in women, it is a myth that theyre the only ones that get them. 12% of men get UTIs, and the consequences of the condition can be mild or severe. This is just one of many misconceptions about UTIs that people have, so lets explore what ideas people have about this infection, and what is true.

For men dealing with UTIs in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Greater South Florida areas, Drs. Craig Herman, Steven Kester, and the Urology Center of Florida are there with 25 years of experience and state of the art facilities and treatments.

Here are some of the myths about male UTIs:

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Can Diet Lower Your Uti Risk

There are certain foods and supplements that can lower the risk of developing a UTI, help fight an acute infection, and help manage a recurrent UTI. These are:

Cranberries Cranberries help prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract and with that reduce the risk of UTIs. You can add cranberries to your diet, drink unsweetened cranberry juice and/or take a cranberry extract supplement.

Blueberries Blueberries also help protect against bad bacteria settling in the lining of the urinary tract. Since blueberries are such a versatile and popular berry, it is very easy to add this superfood to your meals .

Cinnamon With its antibacterial properties, cinnamon can be used to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the symptom severity of an acute UTI.

Vitamin C Vitamin C helps keep the urine acidic, making the conditions less hospitable for bad bacteria to survive. It is recommended to take between 500 and 1,000 mg of Vitamin C via a high quality supplement. You can also add Vitamin-C-rich foods to your nutrition .

Relationship Between Antibiotics And Probiotics

Lactobacilli can prevent the adherence, growth and colonization of uropathogenic bacteria. It has been shown that healthy microbial populations of Lactobacillus species have a strong inhibitory effect on E. coli Infections treated using antibiotics reduce drug abuse, leading to drug resistance and render the natural barrier of the urinary system vulnerable to infections.

Stewardson et al. compared ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin treatments in their study and found that the ciprofloxacin group had a significant effect on intestinal microbiome which mostly contain healthy Lactobacillus spp. In the group of nitrofurantoin, microbiota structure demonstrated relatively lower degree of variations.

Modena et al. investigated the effect of prophylactic antibiotic use on UM. UMs of prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment, and healthy control group were compared and it was shown that the the number of pathogenic species in the antibiotic group significantly increased while microbial diversities decreased relative to the healthy control group These findings support the necessity of demonstrating sensitivity in selecting optimal prophylactic regimens and suggest that probiotic prophylaxis can be considered more effectively.

When considered as a part of multiple treatment, antibiotics and probiotic treatment should last 24 hours to prevent damage to viable microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract.

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Composition Of The Vaginal Microflora

Since the vaginal microflora appears to be so critical to health and disease, what is its composition? In cases of recurrent UTI the dominant organisms are the uropathogens, generally Escherichia coli in recurrent bacterial vaginosis these are anaerobic Gram negative rods, generally Gardnerella vaginalis in recurrent yeast vaginitis these are mostly Candida albicans. It was long presumed that Lactobacillus acidophilus was the dominant member of a healthy vaginal microflora, but this is not the case. Studies using culture followed by molecular typing show Lactobacillus crispatus to be the most commonly isolated organism, however the culture step has since been found to have limitations as not all organisms are easy to culture. Using only polymerase chain reaction and DNA analysis it has recently been shown that Lactobacillus iners is the most common organism, at least in one mainly white population .

Figure 3

The most commonly isolated lactobacilli recovered from vaginal samples and determined directly by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

What Do We Know About Uti Home Remedies

Unfortunately, there is a very real lack of studies around natural remedies for urinary tract infections.

Even those remedies that everyone has heard of struggle to be backed by credible evidence.

We just dont know how most natural UTI remedies work or if they really work at all.

If youve ever wondered why doctors dont often recommend natural remedies. This is the answer

Without solid evidence, they cant. Natural remedies are not included in evidence based treatment guidelines, because there isnt enough evidence yet. So doctors not only dont know if natural UTI remedies work, they also have no guidance on how you should take them.

Its really important to note here

Just because we dont know IF many UTI home remedies work, it doesnt mean they dont work.

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