UTIs - The Mind-Body Connection and How to Prevent Them

Did you know?

The mind-body connection to urinary tract infections (UTIs) is feeling pissed off.

According to Dr. Christine Northrup, a board-certified OB/GYN physician and acclaimed author - women often find that UTIs are accompanied by anger. She suggests that the next time you feel pain or burning when urinating, an urge to urinate often, pressure in your lower abdomen, or you notice that your urine smells funky and looks cloudy – pause and ask yourself, what is upsetting you?

Perhaps your cells are trying to tell you something?

But it’s not just emotional…

Angry or not, the stinging and pain of a UTI is for real. The bladder is one of the most common sites of infection in humans, and UTIs are one of the primary reasons for clinical use of antibiotics, accounting for 9% of all antibiotic use.

UTIs also often recur; About 25% of women afflicted with acute UTI experience a recurrence within six months, and an estimated 1% of women (70 million worldwide) suffer more than six recurrent UTIs each year!

What causes UTIs?

UTIs are caused when bacteria, or occasionally fungi, gets into your urinary tract. Once there, they multiply and cause inflammation (swelling) and pain. 

Sex can cause UTIs because it can cause trauma to the urethra which makes the bacteria in the area become pathogens. Sexual activity can also move the germs that cause UTIs to the urethra from other areas of the body, such as the vagina or anus.

What steps help prevent UTIs?

There are times that you may need an antibiotic. However, prevention is key:

• Take a probiotic to alkalinize your system
• Pee when you need to – especially before and after sex
• Stay hydrated
• Always wipe from front to back
• Avoid douching and the use of feminine hygiene sprays 

And, if you are feeling upset about something, find the courage to address it – even if it’s uncomfortable.