Avoid sexual activity that puts pressure on the bladder or urethra. Clean your and your partner's hands and genitals before sex and wash after contact with the anal area before touching the vagina or urethra. It's a good idea to empty your bladder before and after sex. If you tend to get cystitis after sex despite precautions, ask your health practitioner for preventative tablets, which have been shown to be effective in preventing infections and is usually not associated with the same negative effects as prolonged courses of antibiotics. If you use maxi-pads during your period, change pads frequently and wash your genitals twice a day during menstruation.
Some women find tampons or sponges put pressure in the urethra.
Cut down in caffeine and alcohol, which irritate the bladder Some women find that regular use of unsweetened cranberry juice, cranberry concentrate supplements or vitamin C helps prevent urinary tract problems. Whole grains, meat, nuts, and many fruits also help to acidify the urine. Avoid strong spices. Diets high in refined sugars and starches may predispose some women to UTIs. Drinking teas made of uva ursi, horsetail, or shavegrass, barberry, echinacia, cornsilk, cleavers, lemon balm, or goldenseal may be beneficial to the bladder.