Recurring UTIs

Q:

Nearly every woman I know swears by cranberry pills or cranberry juice to nip their UTIs in the bud, but they never work for me. Is there anything else I can try?

A:

It’s frustrating when something that works for others doesn’t work for you, but there’s another remedy many of my patients have used successfully to treat urinary tract infections: the herb uva ursi. It contains arbutin, a plant compound that, in a German study, stopped the growth of 70 different urinary bacteria (including the E. coli responsible for more than 85% of UTIs). I typically advise taking 500 mg. three times daily (try: Solaray Uva

Ursi 500 mg., Vitacost.com). But uva ursi must be taken at the first signs of urinary urgency or mild burning. Plus, it works best in an alkaline environment, so while taking uva ursi, avoid vitamin C supplements and cranberry juice, both of which acidify your urine.

Finally, uva ursi is meant for shortterm use, so if symptoms don’t abate after two to three days, I recommend making an appointment with your doctor—you may need antibiotics to eradicate your infection. While tampons made of materials like organic cotton, bamboo and hemp are sold as eco-friendly, cost-effective options, I don’t recommend them. Their safety hasn’t been studied and there’s no surefire way to disinfect them. In fact, many manufacturers of these products advise washing them in cold water, but that won’t kill bacteria, and it may increase the risk of vaginal infection. Plus, due to their absorbent nature, even if they’re washed in mild soap or detergent and rinsed thoroughly, they may retain chemicals that can irritate vaginal tissues.

But if menstrual cups aren’t for you, consider reusable cloth menstrual pads (like Lunapads, Amazon.com). They can be machine-washed and dried, which kills bacteria. And since they’re worn externally, they won’t introduce irritants to the vaginal canal.

I love the idea

of reusable period products, but I don’t like menstrual cups. Are washable tampons worth

a try?