I keep getting urinary tract infections after I have sex with my boyfriend. I’ve tried drinking a lot of liquids but that doesn’t help. Is there anything I can do to stop the pain?

iStock_000032157758CroppedUrinary tract infections (UTI’s) are more common in girls who are sexually active. That’s because the urethra (the tube where the urine comes out of) is very close to the anus (where bowel movements come out of) and bacteria can find their way to the bladder very easily.  Girls who have had UTIs before can usually recognize the symptoms of frequent urination, pain especially at the end of peeing, often accompanied by blood in the urine.  To try to lessen your chance of UTIs, you may find helpful drinking lots of fluids, peeing at least every two hours and after sex, and talking with your health care provider about cranberry juice or tablets, and whether you should take antibiotics, either to prevent infections or as soon as you get symptoms.

Make sure your symptoms are from a UTI and that you have seen your health care provider. Burning, frequent urination, and pain in the lower belly area, can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Chlamydia.  If you are sexually active, you should use condoms 100% of the time to lessen your risk.