Co-Authored by Uqora
Did you know urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect half of all women? While many people associate UTIs being caused by sex there is actually a multitude of ways UTIs can occur for someone including age, hormones, and even — exercise.
A UTI happens when bacteria travel up the urethra into the urinary tract and eventually into the bladder wall causing an infection. Women are 30x more likely to get a UTI than men simply due to anatomy — the length of a woman's urethra is much shorter than a man’s, meaning bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder.
If you’re prone to UTIs or simply want to be more proactive with your urinary health while working out, we recommend the following tips:
Change out of sweaty workout clothes as soon as possible: as mentioned above, UTIs happen by bacteria having time to travel up into the urinary tract. So, while it’s tempting to stay in our leggings all day even after a sweat sesh, that is a breeding ground for potential bacteria. It’s best to change out of tight and damp clothes as soon as possible.
Avoid thong-cut underwear: due to the cut, all it has to do is move an inch or two and any bacteria you may have back there is now right next to the vagina and urethra. Especially during physical activities, this style tends to shift. If you choose to wear thongs, opt for cotton ones and avoid wearing them during your workout. Cotton wicks moisture away from the skin and when your genital area is kept dry, bacteria is less likely to grow.
Stay hydrated and go when you gotta go: The act of urination is our first and best defense of flushing bacteria out of our urinary tract. So be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water (try to avoid sugary energy drinks or sodas) and urinate when you need to. Even the act of “holding it” gives bacteria more time to make their way up, so it’s important to go whenever you feel the need to!
While these tips are useful for anyone, it’s especially important for anyone that is prone to UTIs.
For anyone who is struggling with urinary health solutions, meet Uqora. Uqora specializes in UTI relief and proactive urinary tract health supplements. Plus they offer UTI education resources from doctors and experts in their UTI Learning Center.
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