Prevention of UTIs

To prevent UTIs, teach women how to keep germs in their stools away from the urethra by wiping from front to back after urinating or passing stools (see Figure 18.6). If they wipe from the anus towards the urethra, they can carry germs into the genital area, where they could get into the urethra. Remind women and their partners to wash their hands and genitals before sex. Women should also urinate right after having sex. Using a condom also helps to prevent the spread of a UTI from a man to a woman.

In Section 18.3.3 (below) you will learn about giving antibiotics to women who have a history of frequent bladder infections to prevent the infection from coming back during pregnancy.