VertexSquared Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 So my girlfriend recently acquired a UTI and I feel as if I am the cause of it, but I can't figure out how. We're both relatively clean (I shower 1-2 times per day) and we have sex maybe 2-3 times per week (whenever we're able to meet up) -- we typically use hands/mouths and have intercourse. What is the most probable cause?
Lakeside_runner Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Do you think she cheated on you? Well, UTI is not an STD... there are many ways of contracting an UTI.
Crazy Magnet Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Having a UTI has nothing to do with cheating. It occurs when bacteria are able to travel up the urethra. It's easier for women to get them because our urethra is much shorter than a man's. They just happen. Some women are more prone to them than others. I know when I was younger (college age) I got like one a year but then I haven't had another one since then, so like 8 years. One of my married friends got one last year and she still has about 1 every 2 or 3 years. Lots of factors can contribute to a UTI. Her urethra just came across the wrong bacteria at the wrong time. Make sure she urinates after sex each time to flush out any bacteria that may have started going the wrong direction. That should help. Antibiotics will clear everything up and both of you will be fine. UTIs aren't something that is passed back and forth.
flc Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 If you find it happening often then make sure you clean your hands prior to fondling her. As said some women are more prone to it and will have a greater chance of getting infections from foreplay.
Star Gazer Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 UTIs rarely have anything to do with how clean either of you are. A UTI is caused by any bacteria traveling up her urethra. This can be from sex, from her own sweat, even from her own underwear. This is gross, but basically, a woman's anus is fairly close to her urethra, such that sex can basically push bacteria from that region towards the urethra... then it just climbs up there, and a UTI begins. To avoid getting them, she should pee immediately after sex and regularly take cranberry supplements.
Krytie TV Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Not to freak you out, but an initial herpes outbreak can sometimes be mistaken for a UTI
Els Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Pee and wash up immediately after sex. Don't do any anal dipping before vaginal. Cranberries... wipe from back to front, etc etc... Is this her first UTI?
Star Gazer Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Not to freak you out, but an initial herpes outbreak can sometimes be mistaken for a UTI It does? Does herpes make you feel like you have to pee all the time?
Trimmer Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Not to freak you out, but an initial herpes outbreak can sometimes be mistaken for a UTI Mistaken as in, misdiagnosed by medical professionals, or mistaken as in, some of the objective symptoms overlap?
Crazy Magnet Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Mistaken as in, misdiagnosed by medical professionals, or mistaken as in, some of the objective symptoms overlap? I can't imagine a UTI being difficult to diagnose. It's a pretty straight forward thing, you pee in a cup. Perhaps the burning with urination is what they mean?
Els Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 There is no way in hell a medical professional will be mistaking a UTI for herpes. Anyone who can't tell the difference deserves their license revoked. Seriously. So I hope he meant that some symptoms overlap. Which they do, if the herpes lesions occur inside the urethra. Regardless, the OP's gf certainly should get a medical checkup... she did, right?
Ruby Slippers Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 To avoid getting them, she should pee immediately after sex and regularly take cranberry supplements. Just what I was going to say. Peeing after sex is the most important thing. Cranberry supplements (or straight juice, but it's very tart) help prevent them.
BubbleFreak Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Make sure your gf does all those things the above posters have already said to prevent UTI. If not it can get serious enough to land her in hospital, I know from experience. Again, things she should do are: pee after sex, drink cranberry juice or take cranberry pills every day, wipe front to back, drink lots of water. You should make sure your hands and nails are clean before you touch her down there too.
prettybaby Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 Oh man, I've had my fair share of UTIs. I'm really sorry your girlfriend is dealing with this. Make sure she gets a full course of antibiotics. Just to make sure it heals well, try to avoid intercourse while she's on antibiotics. Just to give things down there a rest. I've had way too many UTIs over the past year, and I seem to have finally figured out a routine that works (at least so far) *knock on wood* I take daily: - vitamin C - folic acid - 1 cranberry pill - 1 teaspoon of D-mannose And I'm also on a non-stop preventive treatment recommended by my dr. It works like a urinary antiseptic, which basically keeps my urine bacteria free. It's not an antibiotic, so it's safe to use daily all year round, even while pregnant. I can't believe it took him one year to finally suggest this. Ugh Anyway, also make sure she does what other posters said: pee and clean up before & after sex. And last but not least (sorry if this is tmi), but I seem to be more prone to UTIs when I'm super wet during intercourse. I'm not sure if too much lubrication could increase the risk, but it seems to be the case for me.
bac Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 The cause of UTIs can be different. She should take antibiotics and it should help. The bacteria of UTI most often come from anus (from rectum), less common from vagina's STDs, very possible from the lubes and creams which natural/organic and do not have strong antiseptic inside. Do not damage the urethra while you do oral/manual activities with her genitalia or she might damage it if she masturbates.
Krytie TV Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 Mistaken as in, misdiagnosed by medical professionals, or mistaken as in, some of the objective symptoms overlap? Yes and yes.
Author VertexSquared Posted May 21, 2010 Author Posted May 21, 2010 She feels a bit better today... she's been pounding down water and cranberries like there's no tomorrow. I am like 70% sure she probably got it from me, and so I feel guilty. I usually shower when we get back to my apartment, and then we wind up having sex later, but there's a chance we did it once without me washing my hands properly. She orgasms when I use my hands, and so there's a high chance I introduced germs in there somehow.
Author VertexSquared Posted May 21, 2010 Author Posted May 21, 2010 I honestly feel really badly about all this... she was really embarrassed to tell me that she had the UTI and that night, we obviously didn't have sex, but we made out and she eventually went down on me (and swallowed, even) and I think it was probably one of the best orgasms I've ever had. Of course, that makes me feel all the more guilty because I wasn't really able to reciprocate. I really want to make it up to her because she was not only willing to do something I loved despite her pain, but she had to go home early from work yesterday. I was considering cooking her dinner or something... what would you guys suggest?
sweetjasmine Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 She feels a bit better today... she's been pounding down water and cranberries like there's no tomorrow. Did she go see a doctor? My doctor told me that cranberry juice will relieve your symptoms, but it won't actually cure a UTI, and if it goes untreated, there's a chance the infection could spread to the kidneys.
Author VertexSquared Posted May 21, 2010 Author Posted May 21, 2010 Did she go see a doctor? My doctor told me that cranberry juice will relieve your symptoms, but it won't actually cure a UTI, and if it goes untreated, there's a chance the infection could spread to the kidneys. I do not believe so -- she said she's had them before in the past. I know nothing about UTI's so I'm not sure what most women are "supposed" to do.
sweetjasmine Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I do not believe so -- she said she's had them before in the past. I know nothing about UTI's so I'm not sure what most women are "supposed" to do. They can clear up on their own, but IMO it's best to see a doctor each time, especially if you have recurrent UTIs. I've only ever had one, but it's not something I'd play around with since having a UTI treated is peanuts compared to developing a kidney infection. In my case, the cranberry juice made all of my symptoms go away, but they suddenly came back in full force right on the day I had to go in for a urine sample. The infection was bad enough that they ended up giving me a 10 day course of antibiotics.
prettybaby Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 Seriously? She needs to see a doctor. One of the possible reasons why she's had them before and they're coming back could be because they haven't been properly treated in the past. Bacteria can linger for months. Then you have sex, and new bacteria gets pushed into an already weakened area, and there goes a new UTI. I've had UTIs before and I will never understand how women can just try to wait it out with that kind of pain. I can assure you it's very painful. If she takes antibiotics, most symptoms will be cleared up within 24h, and then she'll just have to finish the treatment without hurting in the mean time. Women shouldn't be ashamed to say when they have a urinary tract infection. It's not a dirty disease. It happens. Bacteria gets pushed in, even when you're both extremely hygienic. Anyway, since you want to do something nice: staying at home is best since she probably has to pee frequently (especially if she's drinking a ton of water), so cooking dinner for her and then watching a movie in a comfy sofa sounds like the perfect plan. She should avoid alcohol and caffeine for now, as they are bladder irritants.
LucreziaBorgia Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I've had a UTI spread up to my kidneys and trust me - she DOES NOT want that. She needs to get to a doctor - even if it is a 'doc in the box' - to get some antibiotics.
bac Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 I do not believe so -- she said she's had them before in the past. I know nothing about UTI's so I'm not sure what most women are "supposed" to do. it is important to take antibiotics for 5 days.
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