Urinary tract Infections

[taramac]

My sister just called to say she has a horrendous uti - kidney damage etc and cant seem to find any information as to what causes these -other than too much sex!

Just wondered if anyone knew of any good health websites etc that could be of use.

Thanks

[noddyholder]

too much sex doesn't harm your kidneys I don't think!

[noddyholder]

If she has kidney damage she should be getting treatment Is she on antibiotics it is importaant not to leave it too long .A bladder infection like cystitis can become more serious if it is left to travel up to the kidneys

[taramac]

It was left too long I think and the antibiotices they gave her did nothing which they didnt realise until they had her tests back and upped her to major horse tablets!

Think she is going to be ok - just weepy and concerned that it doesnt happen again.

[Marina]

The best book on the subject of cystitis is Angela Kilmartin's Understanding Cystitis, taramac. As Noddy says, too much sex doesn't cause a UTI, bacteria travelling up the urethra into the bladder does. That can happen for many different reasons.
Sorry she is feeling so rubbish, but she should make a complete recovery. Maybe for a few weeks after she might want to skip strong black coffee and take a cranberry supplement or drink some of the juice daily? Cranberries contain a natural antibacterial compound that apparently discourages bacteria from being able to get up the urethra into the bladder in the first place.
If ever I have a UTI needing antibiotics, I do tend to take Cranberry Forte and probiotics for a fortnight after.

[lalaa]

She needs to be referred to a urologist if this is a recurring thing. I was after loads and loads of them. Eventually, the cycle was broken by using some different anti-biotics and now I have a stash of anti-bs and I take one after intercourse (and it says so on the pharmacy label !