Sex and repeated bladder infections?

[jennyver]

Help! I'm about at the point where I no longer want my husband to touch me...

I don't have bladder problems on a regular basis, but it seems that any time we have "active" sex -- longer, more involved, vigorous, using different positions, whatever -- I end up a couple days later with another UTI. He travels frequently for work, so we aren't together all that often and it's easy to see the causal relationship between the two. I regularly empty my bladder before and after, and we both clean ourselves before now, too. (Makes for great spontaneity! )

I've had 5-6 UTI's now in the past year. My PCP is not interested in simply prescribing a prophylactic antibiotic, and has suggested that I see a urologist to find out if I'm not emptying my bladder completely. If I truly thought that was the answer, I would go in a heartbeat, but I can't understand why, if that's the issue, I don't get infections at other times. I can directly trace *every* UTI I've gotten in the last couple of years to a love-making session.

I know I should talk to my neuro (who's more familiar with MS issues) but he's an older man and a new-to-me doctor. I'm simply uncomfortable bringing this up to him so far.

Can anyone else relate? Would you go to the urologist? I don't know what to do, but I know I don't want to continue like this!

[SNOOPY]

My PCP is not interested in simply prescribing a prophylactic antibiotic, and has suggested that I see a urologist to find out if I'm not emptying my bladder completely.

Hello jennyver,

It's not uncommon to have sex cause UTIs. It's also not uncommon for a PCP to prescribe a prophylactic antibiotic for this reason.

Do you have a GYN you could discuss this with? S/he maybe willing to prescribe a prophylactic antibiotic or maybe it's time to find a PCP who is more understanding and informed.

This is not an issue specifically related to MS, it can happen to any woman who is sexually active.

[Redwings]

Hi jennyver:
Google "honeymoon cystitis" and see if it sounds familiar.

As SNOOPY said, UTIs aren't an MS or neurological problem (even when occurring in a a person with MS), so your neuro isn't the appropriate specialist to consult about them. If you don't have a GYN you can discuss this with, it might be worth taking the referral to see the urologist. Not because your UTIs necessarily mean that your bladder isn't emptying properly, but because a urologist is an appropriate specialist to consult about UTIs and the urologist will investigate the possible causes and treatments for yours.

[Kimba22]

Jennyver,

Agree totally with Snoopy and Redwings. My mom was told to stop having sex so often by her family dr. 40 + years ago (an old geezer who looked like Colonel Sanders of KFC ) because she got so many UTIs.

Assuming your PCP doesn't want the responsibility of rxing prophylactic antibiotics, and would prefer you were under the care of a specialist, the urologist. Drs. are more reluctant and careful rxing antibiotics for good reason, since bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. It might be a good idea to rule out any possible causes, anyway, although I understand none of us like adding more drs. to our care. Talking to your gynocologist about it is also a good idea.

Best wishes,

[Cartoonist2]

I had the same problem. I was advised not to have sex when I suspected a UTI. When I didn't notice, had sex and woke up with a UTI, my hub had to take meds too.

Because I can't stand antibiotics well, they cause me massive yeast infections, my doc prescribed bladder disinfectants for me. They worked too, but not always.

Being desperate, I tried cranberry. Since I tried that, I haven't had a UTI in 2 years.

[Kimba22]

Try a cranberry supplement, found with the vitamins, not the juice. The supplement is more potent, and you will avoid all the excess, empty calories.

Never heard of a bladder "disinfectant" before, Cartoonist2. Learn something new every day . Glad the cranberry has worked for you. Bet your DH is as well . Someone I know with cerebal palsy said cranberry helped her stop getting UTIs, too.

[Jules A]

You might know this but it is important to wash before, after and make yourself urinate after to hopefully flush any germs back out.

[newme]

Many years ago, actually right after my honeymoon, I had multiple bladder infections. After about two months of antibiotics and still no end, I went to a urologist.

He did a cystoscopy and said that I wasn't emptying completely and I had really small "tubes". He stretched things out and told me to go at the first urgency (along with the standard - stay clean, wear cotton, urinate before and after).

It sounds like you are doing the standard. I find that a teaspoon on baking soda in a cup of warm water in the morning helps. And the cranberry helps.

Sorry you are experiencing such frustration.

[Cartoonist2]

Indeed, it helps to wash before and urinate upfront. What also helps is to wash all undies on hot temp. I always did that anyway, but I also was advised to do so by a urinary specialist.