If sex is making it worse, then the best thing for you to do is wash afterwards. Get up and pee and then wash with a gentle soap and water. And make sure his hands are clean beforehand and that everything else is clean too! It ruins the romance a little, but so does a UTI! Also, I don't know if you are using condoms or not, but you might be sensitive to them or to any lubrication on them if you do use them.

We do wash after. Perhaps we should wash before too. We don't use condoms or any lubrication at all. Thanks for the input.

Always drink a glass of water prior and make sure you pee after.
Make sure you rinse well after washing. Drink a lot of water every day. Also, have the Dr do a culture and sensitivity test to make sure you have the right antibiotic.
I am also plagued by these. I find these tips help but they are not a cure all.
Mary Ann

They actually don't find blood in my urine until I am peeing blood. Then they say there are just small traces of it and it's inconclusive. I always feel it though. I also have pain in my lower back. They say it's too low to be my kidneys. I will check out that Bio-K. I will try the water trick. I am just frustrated. Thank you all for your advice.

One more thing....My boyfriend is VERY well endowed. Huh? Interesting theory.

I didn't think about it until Dian said it, but I have IC related to ovulation and it causes fissures sometimes that feel like a UTI. I usually use some sort of numbing cream or yeast infection cream just on the outside and that helps too. There is usually a small amount of blood along with them. And sex makes them worse and more noticeable. I have to be extra careful about washing when I get those.

I really fear interstitial cystitis. I know that When I drink stuff with caffeine in it, my bladder hurts. Had a bunch of bladder ulcers biopsied and cauterized a fer years ago.
I have a UTI now but have a little blood in my urine all the time.
Just got back from the gyno. Now I have a persistant vaginitis I have blamed on all the antibiotics for the UTIs. Seems I have drug resistant yeast infection. So, now, new meds.
I think a persistant vaginitis has contributed to my UTIs.
Look for other symptoms going along with your bladder infections.
Good luck.
Mary Ann

Mary Ann, I had that same problem about 6 years ago. It was hell. Good luck with that problem. I think it's funny all my doctors say my women problems has nothing to do with my disease. My mother has lupus and my grandmother had MCTD(she just passed away due to infection) and they both have had all the same problems. It seems we all have a lot in common. I am trying to combat symptoms with herbal medicine and diet. For that yeast, try a product called can-sol. I have been on it for 2 years and haven't had one yeast infection.

Best thread EVER. I always thought I was alone in my chronic lady part drama. Between the UTIs, yeast infections, bacterial vaginitis, and sporadic periods, my shop is only open for business like one day a week!! I kinda figured that my MCTD/RA or the arsenal of drugs I take are at least somewhat responsible for the problems... I dont care if every gyno in the world says its normal, taking antibiotic metrogel for four months straight, is not normal!

That's why I love asking people on here if they have the same problems I do. I always suspect there is a link between auto immune and all of the chronic yeast, uti's and BV infections I have been getting through my life. Plus, I get my period every 3 weeks. I feel your pain on closed for business. I just had to go back to my doctor again and she cultured my urine. She was like yup you have an infection. You don't say. I couldn't tell since I was peeing blood. Then she was only going to give me a three day scrip for cipro. I asked for 5 since it's been since Sept I have had this on-going problem. She finally agreed. Good luck with all of your problems :)

last year I did the best thing ever. Since my hubby and I decided that we were done having kids, I had mytubes tied. But, while the doc was doing that she also did an ablation, which burns away your endometrial lining. That means, no more periods for me. I still ovulate, but I can't get pregnant. It has been wonderful, I have only had one extremely light period since then. If you are done having kids and are having constant problems, this may be an option. They even have a new ablation procedure that can be done in the office. It's definitely worth asking about the next time you see your gyno!
-kate

Thanks, I got my tubes tied too, so I should be good to go! I was going to only have that, but then when she mentioned the ablation and that it would give me one less thing to deal with, I was all for it. There is the possibility that I could get my periods back, but so far so good.
-Kate

Oh, I forgot to add that I can't take birth control. I was on nuvaring for about five years and it started giving my horrible leg pains, so I had to go off of it. Then before I got my tubes tied, I tried three different kinds of regular pills and they all made me sick and really dizzy. I gave up on them!

Never could take them either. I did take a low dose pill when I was going through menipause. Constant periods and the pills helped. But when I was younger they would cause all manner of problems!
Mary Ann