MYTH 1: ‘Only girls get UTIs, not guys’
Wrong. While Better Health Victoria reports that one in two women can expect to be diagnosed with a UTI at least once in their lifetime, one in 20 men will, too.
UTIs occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract, usually through the tube where urine passes through from the bladder to the outside of the body (the urethra). So, this means that girls and guys can get a UTI, it’s just that, statistically, women are more prone to UTIs.
One of the reasons for this is because a woman’s urethra is just four centimeters long, meaning that bacteria only have a short distance to travel from the outside to the bladder. Thanks, body.
MYTH 2: ‘My tampon caused me to get a UTI!’
Tampons can get a bad rap for causing UTIs.
“Some women think tampons make them more prone to developing UTIs since tampons are placed inside the body, while other feminine hygiene products are kept outside of the body,” according to an article by the University of Pennsylvania Penn Medicine unit.
But if anything it may be the other way around. The article further claims that apparently “tampons can keep the area dryer, leaving less of a chance for bacteria to flourish and cutting down on the risk of infection”. Checks out.
MYTH 3: ‘My friend told me that cranberry juice can cure a UTI’
Drinking cranberry juice has long been hailed as a preventive measure in keeping UTIs at bay. However, that’s not strictly true according to an article by Stanford University that says cranberry products do not significantly prevent or treat UTIs.
In fact, cranberries contain a substance that may inhibit bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, which in turn may help reduce the occurrence of UTIs—but not cure them.
So, if you do get a UTI, what can actually alleviate the symptoms?
Try Ural Effervescent Powder. It’s a urinary alkaliniser, which means it works by reducing the acidity of your urine. This lessens the painful, stinging sensation that occurs when passing urine, so you can get on with life. If you find yourself getting UTIs a lot, try taking a daily supplement like Ural High Strength Cranberry 60,000mg. This concentrated one-a-day capsule may reduce the risk and frequency of medically diagnosed cystitis and helps support a healthy urinary tract.
As with all things medical, if you think you have a UTI, it is important to seek the advice of your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
This article is sponsored content.
Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
