preventing Bladder Infections

[ChickWithBrains]

My two cents:

Cranberries are yummy and if you like them and they help you, great! Most research has shown that European species have more anti-effective properties than american ones, and the key seems to be more in the increased fluid intake than the cranberries themselves. Stay well hydrated and flush out that bladder frequently!

Urethritis is the real discomfort you feel. Whether it's a bacterial infection, chemical irritaiton (if you use ButtPaste or another anti-chafing cream, or if your diet is heavy in caffeine or spicy foods), or direct friction, it can hurt like heck. Sounds like yours was from the bacteria. Research has NOT borne out that exterior clothing impacts UTIs (but it really does for yeast infections). That being said, using proper riding shorts with a chamois with antibacterial properties can't hurt and certainly might help. The padding from the chamois may also help prevent direct trauma to the spot that hurts (and may be allowing normal local bugs in where they shouldn't be). Using a seat with good anatomy for your body may also help.

You may fall into the category of women who simply develop UTIs after specific activities. The classic one is women who get them after having sex. Prophylaxis in the form of one antibiotic pill after sex has worked wonders for many of these women. If you develop this sort of problem after every ride and have a well documented track record, finding a doc willing to help you out with a per-instance prescription for Septra may be what you need (should other more conservative measures fail).

I hope you find a good solution and keep riding!

--Lisa (who, despite actually being an MD, doesn't intend for this post to constitute direct medical advice -- because you're not my patient, I'm not your doc, but I'd like to help out other biking women as much as this media allows! )

[Duck on Wheels]

...You may fall into the category of women who simply develop UTIs after specific activities. The classic one is women who get them after having sex. Prophylaxis in the form of one antibiotic pill after sex has worked wonders for many of these women. If you develop this sort of problem after every ride and have a well documented track record, finding a doc willing to help you out with a per-instance prescription for Septra may be what you need (should other more conservative measures fail).

I hope you find a good solution and keep riding!

Ah yes, that would be my category. The best profylaxis in my case proved to be taking a quick pee after intercourse. So much simpler than antibiotics, and so much less risk of developing antibiotic-resistent bacteria.

That cause taken care of, my more recent UTIs have all been post-surgical (due to catheter). And every GD time the staff won't believe me that I know the symptoms, so I have to wait three days while they first requisition a test, then do a culture, then another day for me to remind them that I'm allergic to sulfa and penicillin so they get my prescription changed, then finally I can get some relief. Sigh. Maybe that's why I'm resisting having further surgery.

Luckily, I don't seem to get UTIs from cycling. I do sometimes have some irritation in the area, but the symptoms are not quite the same. Burning sensation, yes, but strong urge to pee right after doing so, no. If you're having both those symptoms, I sympathize. Lots of fluids should help some. Acidic fluids (like lemonade, oj, tea, cranberry juice) should help a bit more. And, as Lisa says, try to find an M.D. you can see every time and build a mutually trusting relationship with about this. Once the doctor knows you know the symptoms, and knows what your UTIs tend to respond to, maybe you can get set up with some meds you can start on your own when a UTI strikes.