TTC and Recurrent UTI

[Luckyelephant1]

Hi guys

Brand new to this forum. I've been TTC for 4 months and have suffered recurrent UTI's for about 8 or so years now (on average 4-5 occurrences a year). Have had a few ultrasounds in the past which were normal and keep getting told the usual advice and given antibiotics. Now since TTC I've had 4 UTI's in as many months and they are horrendous. I'm doing everything I should i.e. Cotton underwear, drinking gallons of water, wiping front to back etc. Peeing after sex I always did straight away before TTC but now I do it within half an hour as I try to lay there for a bit to give the sperm a chance lol.

Anyone got any tips? I don't want to permanently be on antibiotics and I'm also scared that the UTI's could somehow be affecting my fertility or that the amount I've had in the past has somehow damaged me. It's also already getting to the point where I dread ovulation time because I know shortly afterwards I will suffer the next UTI. I don't want to dread what should be a good time!

@Luckyelephant1 I had recurrent UTIs as a teen and in my early 20s. Have you tried the cranberry tablets? You take them every day. I never got round to trying them, but know a few people that did and swear by them x

D mannose. It’s a game changer

Have you been on a longer dose of antibiotics for this? I was on a 6 month course and had a cystoscopy and my recurrent utis stopped after having had them monthly for 4 years 🤷‍♀️

The only thing that works for me is pee before sex AND after sex (don't get me started re how much I usually need to drink after sex).

I would put a bet on that you have tilted cervix. I've only found out I got it recently at a private scan, NHS never mentioned anything (and I had 3 pregnancies, miscarried all, so plenty of scans). Ask about this at your next scan. I've done tons of research since and it is a potential contributing factor to recurring UTIs.

Also UTIs in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage so you are right to address this before you get pregnant. In terms of fertility, as you'll know very well by now, you can't have sex with UTI so naturally your chances of conceiving are lower. But I don't think a UTI damages fertility as such.

@PurplePansy05

The only thing that works for me is pee before sex AND after sex (don't get me started re how much I usually need to drink after sex).

I would put a bet on that you have tilted cervix. I've only found out I got it recently at a private scan, NHS never mentioned anything (and I had 3 pregnancies, miscarried all, so plenty of scans). Ask about this at your next scan. I've done tons of research since and it is a potential contributing factor to recurring UTIs.

Thank you, never heard of tilted cervix but a quick search online shows I have a lot of the symptoms of this!

I tried D-mannose ages ago but I'll be honest didn't really take it religiously as my GP at the time said he'd never heard of it and kind of scoffed at me so will try it again as I've heard a few people now saying they swear by it.

Been put on amoxicillin last week instead of the normal UTI antibiotics as I was in the 2WW but my period came on Saturday . Seems to be clearing the UTI pretty fast so fingers crossed I can keep it away this time!

My GP said Nitrofurantoin is safe in pregnancy and I was on a 3-day course twice and a 7-day course once, all three occasions in the TWW. But if it doesn't work for you anymore then you may need to try a different antibiotic. My family in Europe take furaginum-based meds and they are fab (I used them when I was younger) but they don't seem to be well known in the UK and not sure about using them when TTC. Work excellent with UTIs though.

OP, I'd also say some sex positions are more likely to result in a UTI if you indeed have tilted cervix. Have a look online. Some are less likely (purely based on your anatomy) and are also more likely to get you pregnant, e.g. doggy style (which is counter-intuitive when TTC but true for many women with tilted cervix).