4 effective methods to relieve and prevent a UTI

Half of all women get at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime. Everything from frequent sexual intercourse to declining estrogen levels after age 55 may be factors. We'll go over 4 ways to relieve UTIs and cut your risk for the future.

• At the first sign of a UTI, such as a burning sensation during urination or the need to go more often, head to the doctor. They will probably prescribe an antibiotic. Three days of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole cures 94 percent of UTIs — and is just as effective as five or more days of treatment, say Israeli researchers.
• Longer courses of antibiotics doubled the risk of side effects such as yeast infections.
• Unfortunately, the bacteria that cause UTIs are becoming resistant to these drugs. If you've been treated for a UTI in the past six months, or you live in an area where drug-resistant UTIs are rampant, your doctor may prescribe a different antibiotic that's probably stronger. Some strong antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, are very effective with just a single dose.

• Cranberry juice contains compounds that prevent bacteria from attaching to the wall of the bladder or urethra.
• In one study, women who drank cranberry juice or took cranberry extract tablets daily for 12 months cut their risk of repeat UTIs by 39 percent. Various studies have used 175 to 740 millilitres (6 to 25 ounces) of juice a day, but in one study, people who drank 300 millilitres (10 ounces) of cranberry juice cocktail daily for six months cut their risk of infection in half.
• We recommend unsweetened cranberry juice. If you find it too tart to drink straight, mix it with a seltzer.

• Vitamin C may help by making urine more acidic and less hospitable to bacteria.
• When pregnant women took daily vitamin supplements either with or without 100 milligrams of vitamin C for three months, those in the vitamin C group had half as many UTIs as those in the other group.

• Finnish researchers have reported that women who ate fermented milk products such as yogurt three or more times a week had an 80 percent lower risk of UTIs than those who ate them less than once a week.
• The beneficial bacteria in yogurt with active cultures may prevent the overgrowth of the "bad" bacteria that cause UTIs.
• Not a yogurt fan? Try a probiotic ("good" bacteria) supplement. A Greek review found that the bacterial strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, L. reuteri RC-14, L. casei shirota, and L. crispatus CTV-05 all seem to help.

Scientists still don't fully understand why some women seem especially prone to UTIs and why others get them so rarely. But whatever the reason, these methods will help you manage a UTI if it does occur and help reduce the chance of it happening in the first place.