Urinary tract infection (might be TMI)

Alright, sort of embarrassing for me to say, but I think I have a UTI. This isn't the first time (I thnk it's the 3rd) and I think that intercourse brings these infections on. It is miserable. This morning urnination was so painful it made me tear up.

However, my main concern is telling my mom. We aren't very close and don't have good communication. It is well known that sex is a likely cause for UTIs so I feel weird telling her. I got 2 with my previous boyfriend, then we broke up and the UTIs stopped. Now I have a new boyfriend and they're back again! I think my mom will put 2 and 2 together. I last had sex on Friday and started experienceing symptoms the next day. It is now Wednesday and it's getting worse.

My plan was to wait to tell my mom about it so the cause might be less obvious. I don't know how much longer I can go though. Does anyone have any advice? Maybe on how to make it less awkward? Or even cure a UTI by yourself? Maybe there are some moms out there with some feedback on how they would respond to this situation?

Is there a teen health centre in your area, you could go to? If not then you need to tell your mom no matter what, because this can lead to a kidney infection if you don't treat it. They aren't always caused by having sex. Until you go, drink plenty of cranberrry juice(pure) this helps the urine remain acidic so bacteria doesn't grow - also take a vitamin C supplement. To minimize this from happening again - before you have sex - both of you should be very clean. Make sure his private parts don't touch your rear area, then touch your private parts. I heard that wearing thongs can cause infections also, because bacteria can migrate down the string to the vaginal area. Even taking a bath can cause E coli bacteria to enter the female area. Of course wiping should always be from front to back. Please don't wait since they can be very painful and it can travel to your kidneys. I hope you feel better

actually young women are very susceptable (sp?) to UTIs and yeast infections with or without sex. I remember between the ages of 16-20 I got several UTIs and 1 yeast infection and my doc never mentioned anything about it being caused from sex. Sometimes if you aren't hydrated enough the bacteria can just build up, it can be from almost anything. In fact my doc told me that women in their early 20s can get UTIs and yeast infections for absolutely no reason.

I wouldnt worry about it. I agree that if there is a place that is cheap and you can go without your mom, try it if you don't feel comfortable. But I'm sure she has been there and might surprise you and be more understanding than you expect.

Please don't let it go very long. If you don't clear it up in the early stages it can spread all the way up and into your kidneys and cause some serious damage. Not to mention it feels like you're peeing RAZOR BLADES!!! lol. Good luck.

I would go ahead and tell your mom as UTI's are caused by many different reasons, sex is just one of them... and that is why young boys and two years old girls get UTI's as well... and they are not having sex.

A simply practice may help lesson your risk at getting another UTI (after your present UTI is properly dealt with) and it is easy - just make sure you go potty before and after sex, by releasing your urine you are flushing away foreign matter, some that comes from having sex... and remember what is safe to be in his body may cause physical issues in your body, a good argument for always using a condom during sex.

Drinking Cranapple or Crangrape juice helps to deplete the body of the bacteria that causes UTI's... the over growth of bacteria attaches to the cranberry thus allowing the body to expel it during urination - this is an old Native Indian cure for female issues.

[quote=Rhapsody;1215480]I would go ahead and tell you mom as UTI's are caused by many different reasons, sex is just one of them... and that is why young boys and two years old girls get UTI's as well... and they are not having sex.

A simply practice may help lesson your risk at getting another UTI (after your present UTI is properly dealt with) and it is easy - just make sure you go potty before and after sex, by releasing your urine you are flushing away the foreign matter, some that comes from having sex.

Excellent point I forgot to mention Rhapsody about urinating before and after sex. Also washing after is a good idea.

Cranberry juice of any combo is great natural medicine for the system in many ways. Flushes out the kidneys...keeps system running smoothly. I love that stuff....(gotta be crangrape tho. Straight cranberry is too bitter....lol).

Baths can cause UTI's, too. If you take baths, make certain that the tub is well cleaned before your bath. Imagine the bacteria which accumulates from the usage before you. Ewww. I'm a stickler when it comes to hygiene cleanliness. And it's well worth the effort of preparing a squeaky clean tub prior to EVERY use, (even if you are the only one using the tub...always have it clean before each use). I made it a habit to clean the tub before AND right after each use. I've had my share of UTI's, NOT fun.

Hope all works out for you.

Shangrala

Yeah - bubble baths are are big NO NO for little boys and girls... many get UTI's from this practice alone.
Better to give them a straight warm water bath to play in.

I used to get them too...ouch! So much so that I always had UTI med handy.

A smart doctor advised me to urinate and wash afterward, and I haven't had a single UTI since. Also, drinking a lot of liquid helps too - I like drinking cranberry juice mixed with club soda or water. Hope this helps!

Agree, agree, agree, agree to infinity.

Another thing that causes UTI is wiping back to front. You should wipe front to back. Your mom won't know the cause isn't that or bubblebaths or bad luck.

Telling your mom you are having sex is your decision or not. I never told my mom. I have no idea what she thinks. My son and I communicate openly though so he told me. Then he said he thought he was going to have to call 911 to come get me. I didn't even freak out big though just a tiny freak out LOL.

I REALLY hate sharing this information, but the Azo you buy OTC is the same as the Rx stuff you get from the Dr. This will make the UTI more bearable, but will NOT NOT NOT stop the infection. I was sometimes able to flush my system (drinking large quantities of water and cranberry juice) before it becomes a full blown infection.

HOWEVER!!!!!
If a UTI is not properly taken care of it can spread to your kidney's. These are VERY fragile organs and will not tolerate much abuse, one nasty infection can ruin them forever. DO NOT MESS WITH YOUR KIDNEYS!

As previously stated there are a million ways to get a UTI. I've been getting them for over 20 years now and for the first time ever a doctor told me that sex could be a contributing factor.

Yoda - that's funny that you say that about your mom. My sister got prego when she was 17 bc my mom thought buying her bc was 'condoning' premarital sex and refused to buy it so I was told that they would take me to the doc so the same thing didn't happen again. Then when I asked I was told I was too young. So I went myself, made the appt., got my bc and paid for it myself thinking that way my mom would never know. Well then she got the statement from the ins company saying they had paid for my visit and got mad at me! I was like really....I took the initiative to be responsible and paid for it myself and you're getting mad?! Mothers are crazy sometimes lol

The only thing that I can add is make sure your partner is clean. The one thing people can forget is cleanleness is different for each person. when I had a bad run of uti's me and my partner bathed together. We both enjoyed it and we could just enjoy each other. For all we known it could have been a cleaning agent he used at work. it does not take much to cause hovick on the human body.

How does sex cause a UTI? Unless you're going uh from the back to the front and getting nasty bacteria in the other hole..other than that I don't get it.

Men and women all have bacteria in that area and each person's bacteria is different. So it's pretty normal to have some kind of infection after switching sexual partners or having sex. It's just your body getting used to a "foreign object" haha. And typically that involves an infection of some kind. I haven't gotten a UTI in probably about 4 years but now I'm starting to get more yeast infections. It's like you switch out one for the other ha

How does sex cause a UTI? Unless you're going uh from the back to the front and getting nasty bacteria in the other hole..other than that I don't get it.

Sex can cause UTIs because during sexual intercourse the vagina is...uh..well...filled by...you know...and that puts pressure on the urethra, which can result in your retaining urine in your bladder. It's like a long paper straw that gets flattened again and again and again.

When this happens you don't completely empty your bladder as well as you once did; bacteria grow in the retained urine so the longer the urine remains in your bladder, the more the bacterial growth. And then...WHAM...a UTI and you're doubled over trying to pee.

So...after intercourse you should always drinks lots of water and force as much urine elimination as possible. Cranberry juice has never helped me but it is acidic and has been proven to help others. I have had UTIs for 30+ years, especially if my husband winked at me two nights in a row!

If you are in pain you might try Cystex. It's OTC and, like Azo Gantrisn, does help the pain when eliminating. Plus it has some anti-bacterial. (I'm not sure...I don't have a package in front of me. It's been so long since I've had sex, I don't need it anymore... The medication, not sex.... Oh, never mind!)

Men and women all have bacteria in that area and each person's bacteria is different. So it's pretty normal to have some kind of infection after switching sexual partners or having sex. It's just your body getting used to a "foreign object" haha.

No, it is not normal to have any kind of infection after having sex. Men rarely have UTIs because their urethras are enclosed within the penis. A woman's urethra is not protected, however. That is how/why fecal matter, bubblebaths, etc., can cause a UTI.

If you are desperate and can't get to the doctor's, most meds that help sinus infections/upper respiratory infections will also help UTIs...BUT that doesn't mean that you should NOT seek medical help!

People here are correct when they say that UTIs become a problem when they are not treated by a professional because the bacteria remains in your urinary tract system...and it can make it all the way up to your kidneys.

~ Melanie

I didn't mean to get an infection every time you have sex. My doctor told me the last time I got a yeast infection that it was most likely from switching sex partners.