Quite frankly, you usually know you have a UTI because you can’t stop urinating. Trips to the bathroom become overwhelming and painful. Plus, urine may appear dark or cloudy and smell funny. You might even experience pelvic pain -- which is definitely not fun.
Unfortunately, urinary tract infections are quite common. According to MedicineNet, UTIs are the reason for more than 7 million hospital and doctor visits yearly. And they affect more adults than children.
Women Have Elevated Risks of UTI
They’re more common in women than men. Experts say that 60 percent of women will get a UTI at some point in life. And many women get them many times. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many reasons why women are more susceptible. For starters, the female anatomy increases the risk of UTI. Women have shorter urethras than men, so bacteria doesn’t have as far to travel to invade the bladder.
Further, sex makes women prone to urinary tract infections. That’s because sex can introduce new bacteria into the body -- or transfer bacteria from the anus. Birth control also can play a part. Research shows that women who use diaphragms potentially could have a higher risk of UTI, and spermicide can increase this risk.
Menopause can play a part in the risk of UTI. Estrogen loss associated with menopause can change the urinary tract, which in turn can increase the risk of UTI.
Pregnancy also increases the risk because the uterus sits on top of the bladder. As it grows and changes, pressure is put on the urinary tract, potentially blocking urine drainage. And that can cause infection.
Does Cranberry Juice Really Help?
This brings us to the question of the day: Can cranberry juice really treat a UTI? Or is this just a myth?
The answer isn’t as simple as it would seem. In fact, it appears that the answer depends on who you ask. Research on this concept yields mixed results, and some research may be flawed.
The concept that cranberry juice can treat and prevent urinary tract infections comes from the fact that certain substances found in cranberries can be beneficial. Unfortunately, this concept may not translate to actual treatment. This is why the Cleveland Clinic ranks cranberry juice as a top UTI treatment myth.
“There is an active ingredient in cranberries that can prevent adherence of bacteria to the bladder wall, particularly E. coli,” urologist Courtenay Moore, M.D., tells the Cleveland Clinic. “But most of the studies have shown that juice and supplements don’t have enough of this active ingredient, A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), to prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.”
Many studies back this up. For example, one review sought to analyze data related to numerous studies and thousands of participants. It found that cranberry products didn’t reduce the occurrence of symptomatic urinary tract infections overall.
But researching this concept can lead a reader to recover opposite conclusions. For example, another study found that cranberry juice may prevent UTIs in sexually active women. Conclusions in that study found that it may reduce the severity of a UTI by 50 percent. That said, trials are said to suffer from limitations, which may compromise conclusions.
Sugar, Sugar…
There’s another problem with using cranberry juice as a method to prevent and treat urinary tract infections. That problem is that regular cranberry juice can be loaded with sugar. The USDA says that a cup of cranberry juice can contain 31 grams of sugar. That’s a lot of sugar when you consider the fact that the American Heart Association (AHA) says that a woman should consume only 25 grams of sugar a day. In other words, just one cup of cranberry juice can contain more than the recommended daily limit. This elevated amount of sugar can increase the chance of infection in general because sugar feeds on bacteria. If you happen to be diabetic, you’re already prone to infection. Plus, sugar and obesity have been found to be linked, and sugar can even increase the risk of heart disease.
The best method of treatment for urinary tract infections appears to be time-tested antibiotics because antibiotics actually kill the bacteria. That said, some antibiotics used can have an adverse effect when mixed with alcohol, making them a bit of a hindrance if you’re a social drinker. This might make cranberry juice look more appealing -- until you’re going to the bathroom so much that missing out on a little social drinking may not seem like such a big deal.
Another method of UTI treatment comes in the way of simple prevention. After all, there’s nothing better than not getting a UTI in the first place.
Prevent UTIs Before They Start
Here are a few ways to prevent UTIs before they start. Drink a lot of water to flush bacteria out of the system. If you don’t like simple water, consider adding lemon or lime for taste. Most non-sugary fluids can do the trick, too.
Further, takes steps to prevent urinary tract infections resulting from sexual activity. (Yes, sex and UTI can go hand in hand.) Always urinate before and after sex. Sex introduces bacteria into the body. It can even transfer bacteria from the anus to the vagina, which can cause a UTI.
After using the toilet, wipe back to front to avoid transferring bacteria from the anus to vagina. Though this sounds odd, it’s a medical fact that wiping incorrectly can increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.
Also, beware of diaphragms -- this method of birth control can increase the risk of UTI. And don’t use feminine deodorant sprays. Sure, these products seem amazing, but our bodies are fine just the way they are.
Finally, beware of hygiene. Wash often and try not to wash your backside first. Refrain from using antibacterial soap – it can kill good bacteria that vaginas need.