Problem: Article: According to the Institute of Medicine, men should drink 13 8-ounce glasses (3 liters) of water a day and women should drink nine glasses (2.1 liters). Water helps flush toxins out of your body and can reduce your risk of kidney or bladder infection. Drinking plenty of water also prevents constipation. This is important because constipation can cause your bowels to press down on your bladder, irritating your bladder and causing discomfort. Since our bodies are mostly water, drinking water can keep you healthy, maintain body temperature, act as a shock absorber for your nervous system, and lubricate your organs. If you exercise intensely, sweat profusely, are ill, pregnant or breast-feeding, your fluid intake may differ. For example, pregnant women are recommended to drink 10 8-oz glasses (2.4 liters) of water a day and those who are breast-feeding 13 glasses (3 liters) a day. Carbonated drinks and caffeinated beverages like coffee or soft drinks can all aggravate your bladder. You should also avoid drinks that have artificial sweeteners like aspartame or saccharine. Limit the amount of alcoholic beverages and acidic juices (like citrus or tomato juice) you drink since this can also irritate your bladder. Citrus and tomato are also foods you should limit since your body breaks these down into acid. Excess acid can irritate your bladder. Coffee and alcohol are both diuretic and bladder irritants. If you can't live without coffee, try to limit yourself to one cup. Women should have more more than one serving of alcohol daily and men should have no more than two servings. Spicy foods like curries or hot peppers can make bladder problems worse, probably because spicy components are excreted in you urine, irritating the bladder. Pay attention when you eat these foods and avoid them if you notice any bladder problems. You may find that you can eat small amounts of spicy foods. If that's the case, know your limit and avoid eating a larger amount that would trigger problems. Try to eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day to prevent constipation. Constipation can put excess pressure on your bladder and make bladder problems worse. Good sources of fiber include beans and other legumes, raspberries, pears (with the skin), apples (with the skin), split peas, artichokes, and green beans. You can also take senna or psyllium which are fiber supplements that act as gentle laxatives. A natural treatment for constipation is to include prunes in your diet. Consider how much meat and gluten you eat during the week and try to significantly reduce that amount. Meat is an acidic food that can irritate your bladder. This is because meat contains purines which your body breaks down into acid. Reducing the amount of gluten can help to reduce bladder irritation and decrease urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence in some people. Excess of uric acid in the system can lead to gout, kidney stones and other gastrointestinal disturbances, like gas. You might also notice that you need to urinate more often and with more urgency. Some medications can aggravate the bladder. If you have been prescribed any of these medications, ask your physician if another medication can be used as a substitute: Diuretics (water pills) Antihypertensives (blood pressure pills) Calcium channel blockers Antidepressants Sedatives Tranquilizers Muscle relaxants Sleeping pills Cough and cold preparations
Summary: Drink lots of water. Avoid beverages that irritate the bladder. Watch out for spicy foods. Eat fiber to avoid constipation. Reduce the amount of meat and gluten you eat. Talk with your doctor about your medications.

Problem: Article: Answer thoroughly and honestly. Your doctor needs to have as much information as possible in order to effectively treat any existing problems, and work with you to prevent future complications. Some medical offices will have you answer questions about your medical history by filling out forms, while others may do this in person. Be prepared to discuss your sexual history. Your doctor will need to know if you are sexually active. He or she may ask about breast, abdominal, vaginal, or sexual problems, that you don't think are normal. That includes being taken advantage of sexually, or sexual abuse. Your doctor will also ask about your current and past use of contraceptives. Be able to tell the nurse or doctor the first date of your most recent period, and the age when you had your first period. They may also ask the age that your breasts began to develop. They will ask if your periods are on a regular cycle, such as every 28 days, how long they usually last, and if you have any problems, like bad cramps, while you have your period. They will ask if you have episodes of spotting, or bleeding, between your periods. They will likely ask how heavy you bleed during your periods. You can usually answer this by telling them how many pads or tampons you need to use, especially for the first 48 hours of your cycle. This may include unusual vaginal discharge, bad odor, itching in your vaginal area, unusual pain or discomfort in your abdomen or vaginal area, pain during sex, and any changes, pain, or problems with your breasts. Your doctor has the option to order STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing for you if either you or your doctor has a concern. A urine test can be done for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea, and a blood test for HIV, herpes, and/or syphilis. There is no harm in undergoing STI testing if you have any concern at all, as there are effective treatments available if you do have an infection, and treating it sooner rather than later can help to avoid long-term complications. For instance, treating chlamydia and/or gonorrhea from the outset prevents the long-term development of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which is when the infection has been around for a while and can lead to other complications like fertility issues down the road or the development of chronic pelvic pain. Your health care provider can test for trichomonas, gonorrhea, and chlamydia using a urine sample. Urine or lab work will be done to confirm the pregnancy. If your pregnancy is confirmed, your appointment will include additional steps and your doctor will help to arrange for your obstetrical care all the way through delivery.
Summary:
Expect questions about your general medical history. Anticipate questions about your period. Provide information about any problems you are having. Tell the doctor if you think you are pregnant.