Don’t Let Frequent UTIs Ruin Your Valentine’s Day

Frequent UTIs aren’t just uncomfortable. They’re also inconvenient, embarrassing, and frustrating, especially when you’re trying to plan a romantic Valentine’s Day. You don’t have to let UTIs interfere. Learn why they happen and what to do here.

Although the summertime is the most common time for urinary tract infections (UTIs), Valentine’s Day may feel like the worst possible time for them to happen. At Urology Specialists of Cypress, empathetic board-certified urologist Dr. James Stocks is a UTI specialist who truly understands the complex nature of frequent UTIs.

Because frequent UTIs require a unique approach, it’s important to understand exactly what they are and what you can do to prevent a UTI from ruining your Valentine’s Day.

Understanding recurrent UTIs

Did you know that around 60% of women and 10% of men have a UTI at least once? For many women (and all men with UTIs), the situation is worse than a one-time infection, though.

A recurrent UTI happens when the infection clears but returns later. Usually, doctors diagnose recurrent UTIs when patients have two (or more) UTIs in a six-month period, or more than three UTIs over a one-year period.

Some UTIs are both recurrent and complicated. Examples of factors that make a UTI complicated in women include kidney stones, diabetes, or a current pregnancy.

All UTIs in men are complicated. The reason comes down to anatomy. The male urethra (the tube that urine travels through to leave the body) is quite long. This means bacteria must travel quite a distance to invade the male urinary tract, so anatomy offers natural protection for men.

Women have a much shorter urethra, which means that bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract through sexual intercourse or wiping back-to-front.

Whether you’re male or female, recurrent UTIs (particularly if they’re complicated) signal that you need a specialized treatment approach if you want to make the most of your Valentine’s Day celebrations.

How to stop frequent UTIs before Valentine’s day

Frequent UTIs require a targeted approach that treats the root cause of the recurrence. Dr. Stocks gathers crucial information from lab tests, a complete medical history, and a one-on-one consultation.

He pinpoints the controllable factors involved in your frequent UTIs and recommends a treatment approach that focuses on stopping them. For example, you may need different antibiotics than the ones used for one-time UTIs. Dr. Stocks may prescribe a specific antibiotic based on a urine culture (a more complex urinalysis) to target the exact bacteria involved.

Some people with recurrent UTIs need to take a low dose of antibiotics daily, and others may need to take a single dose of antibiotics after sex. In addition, Dr. Stocks may recommend lifestyle changes and supplements that can support your medical treatment.

If you’re dealing with UTIs that just won’t quit, reaching out to Urology Specialists of Cypress now is the best way to preserve your Valentine’s Day plans and put the pain behind you long term.

Call us at 281‑304‑2521 to book your consultation in our Cypress office with Dr. Stocks. We welcome patients at our Katy, Tomball, and Jersey Village, Texas, offices.