Can condoms be a causal factor for UTI鈥檚?? I can't stand to have anymore!?

I鈥檝e had blood test for everything and it鈥檚 all returned normal. I鈥檝e been sexually active with my boyfriend for 3 months and in this time I鈥檝e had about 5 UTI鈥檚!! We鈥檙e not that rough, we use condoms with a non-spermicidal lubricant on, so it鈥檚 not the spermacide, I pee before and after sex and drink loads of water. My nurse gave me loads of lube, I鈥檓 not that dry during sex though.

If we鈥檙e both tested and clean for STI鈥檚/HIV do you think not using a condom may help (after my antibiotics)?? If I get another one I鈥檓 gonna have to come off the pill (long-story and have this big investigation :S) so do you think I should try without condoms??

p.s. i allready know about cranburry juice

I feel like condoms are drying me out?!

Its not the condoms. Its the birth control. I had the same problems. No doctor will tell you its the birthcontrol because they seem clueless about it. I've been to the emergency room twice with uti's and had several uti's in between. I was on birth control for 3 months and then it started happening. I also was on the patch, the shot, and two different kinds of the pill. ALL of them gave me UTI's. I would get off of it. It sounds like you're having a reaction to having your hormones adjusted.

FYI: Our hormones control everything from bacteria levels to our ability to fight infections. If you mess with your natural balance of hormones you start playing russian roulette with your body.

Btw, if you dont have a allergic reaction to touching latex: then your not allergic to it. Only 1% out of 1 million people have an allergy to latex.

Stop having sex, it's so simple, girl!
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perhaps it is a sensitivity to the latex in the condoms. Try getting condoms made of a different material such as sheep skin or vinyl or nitrile. Don't risk your safety or getting pregnant.

Well if you are going to have sex, and don't want baby there are other forms of BC other then condems there are female condems then there is contracetive film spermicide sponges. There is a lot more options then condems and it's always good to have a backup sorce if you are on the pill

some people have an allergic reaction to latex , I don't advise not using a condom .

Make sure that you aren't sexually active just before during or just after your period. you are more suceptible to uti's at that time.

I think it is the BC. When I was on the ring I was always getting them thinking they were from the boyfriend, but they were not they were from the BC. It was very drying. I dont think it is the condoms so dont stop with them just try a different kind of BC.

Sarah

Hey girl! I had a huge problem with UTIs also and so has my mom. Have you ever thought about something other than condoms? I used to wear thongs and G-strings like there was no tomorrow and I learned that they can be bad and cause UTIs. The reason is because the fabric is rubbing against your bottom and comes in CLOSE contact with your urethra (tube where your pee comes out). A woman's urethra is only like 1/2-2 inches long and bacteria can be easily pushed up into there. So when your thoung rubs against your privates, the bacteria on it can travel up into your bladder and cause an infection. I used to get them several times a year and so does my mom. I have been reading that they are doing studies now because they think that there may be more to UTIs than doctors thought and that it might be partially a genetic thing. Meaning- certain people and their children (women mostly) are more PRONE to have UTIs compared to other people. Anyway..
So what I usually do to prevent them is:
1. Pee before AND after sex within 30 minutes. Any longer, and the bacteria can have already reached the bladder.
2. I ALWAYS clean up after sex in the bathtub.
3. If I have a bowel movement during the day, I always clean with more than toilet paper. I usually clean up in the bathtub, or if I can't get to a bathtub, I use baby wipes.
4. I don't wear thongs and G-strings as much as I used to.
5. I don't hold my pee as much anymore. If I have to go, I will make every effort to go. Holding it increases your chances of getting an infection.
6. I always keep cranberry juice in my cupboard for emergencies-just in case I do get a UTI. I can drink for some relief that until I can get to a doctor.

I don't think condoms have anything to do with it. Maybe the sex is like exercise so it might make you flush out more fluid than you would if you were more inclined to just rest and relax. Drinking lots of fluids is OK, I guess, but I don't recommend that as a solution to a UTI. In fact, I think it may be why your problem is recurring. You seem to drink too much and it just flushed in one end and out the other. That is your problem.
When I started to come down with a UTI earlier this year, I called a health food store and I asked the manager what I could do. He told me to get some fiber in my diet. I had one serving of bran cereal and I ate it and my problem was solved. The fiber absorbed my fluids and got me to stop running to the toilet with every little drop of water. After that I was fine. I never saw a doctor and I bought no medication.
You can get a salad and that would work just as well. Get a nice green salad. You've got to be constipated after flushing out so much fluid and you're B vitamins have got to be depleted to the point of a severe imbalance. You're digestion should be off, so take your time and eat it slow.
Once you stop constantly peeing, you should start going back to normal, but it won't happen over night. Give it a couple of days. If at any time you start to pee too much, get another salad. A week from now, if you start to pee too much, take it as a sign you are imbalanced again, and get a salad or you'll have UTI symptoms again.
I don't think you ever need a doctor and I don't think you have to go off the pill. Please don't have sex without protecting yourself, ever, unless you want to take an unnecessary risk of pregnancy. The pill doesn't have anything to do with just getting your digestion in balance and having enough fiber in your diet. It shouldn't take anything more than that.
I hope this helps you.