Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an uncomfortable fact of life for many people. Six out of 10 women in the U.S. will have a UTI, and one in four of those will have a recurrence. Men experience UTIs much less often. Under age 50, only 5-8 out of 10,000 men experience a UTI each year.
UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics, but many patients today prefer a more natural treatment option, and doctors are concerned about antibiotic resistance. Patients and medical professionals have noted friendly probiotic bacteria, which have shown potential benefits for maintaining urinary health.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are the friendly bacteria, yeasts, and viruses that naturally live in our bodies. Scientists believe they aid with digestion, boost immune health, positively impact nearly every body system, and help control pathogenic bacterial growth.
Researchers have performed multiple studies on probiotics’ impact on the gut, brain, skin, heart, mood, and just about every other body system with positive results. However, scientists recommend more research to identify which probiotic strains are most effective for different conditions. But what about probiotics for urinary health? Are there benefits of taking probiotics for bladder health? Let’s explore.
Understanding the Urinary Tract
Your urinary system comprises your bladder, urethra, ureters (tubes connecting your kidneys and bladder), and kidneys. When unfriendly bacteria grow somewhere in your urinary system, most often your bladder, you begin to feel the pain, burning, and urgency characteristic of UTIs.
Women have more UTIs than men simply because of their physiology which increases the potential for fecal bacteria to enter the urethra and grow. Most UTIs are not dangerous, just uncomfortable, but if the infection spreads to the kidneys or ureters, it can become more serious. The most common causes of UTIs include diabetes, sexual activity, catheter use, menopause, diaphragms and spermicides, and pregnancy.
UTI Treatment Methods
As mentioned above, UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics, but when a quarter of the women with a UTI have a recurrence, are antibiotics effective in the long run? Antibiotics doctors commonly use for UTI treatment include Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Sulfamethoxazone/trimethoprim.
Probiotics and UTI Prevention
Do probiotics help with urinary tract health. Some studies have shown that probiotics could protect against UTIs, but others have been inconclusive, leading scientists to recommend more robust studies to determine if probiotics help with UTI.
Probiotics work slowly in the body to reestablish beneficial bacteria, which, over time, replace the pathogenic bacteria and build the immune system. Constantly using antibiotics kills not only the unfriendly bacteria but also the beneficial bacteria.
Adding probiotics to your diet through foods or supplements, even while taking antibiotics, begins to reestablish the friendly bacteria. These microorganisms benefit not only the digestive tract but many different systems in the body, including the immune system. Strengthening the immune system by rebuilding the microbiome is a powerful way to improve overall health.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most studied bacterial strains and the most frequently used in foods and supplements. You can introduce these bacteria into your diet by eating yogurt, tofu, miso, kimchi, and cultured buttermilk. If you do not care for the taste of fermented foods, want to know the exact live cultures you’re getting, or prefer convenience, a quality probiotic supplement may be your best bet for consistent use. Can Probiotics Cause Gas and Bloating?
Probiotics while taking UTI Treatments
You might ask, “Can I take probiotics with antibiotics for UTI?” Today, when doctors prescribe antibiotics, they often also recommend concurrent probiotic use. The friendly bacteria have protective effects on the immune system and gut, and when antibiotic use depletes them, the body can be vulnerable to other infections, including UTIs. It is essential to continue probiotic use after antibiotics to reestablish the beneficial bacteria in the body.
FAQs
Can lack of probiotics affect urinary tract health?
If the friendly bacteria in the body are destroyed by a poor diet, antibiotics, medications, stress, or other means, the body may be more susceptible to infection overall.
Can cranberries stop UTIs?
In a study with 1,498 participants, cranberry reduced the risk of UTI by 26%.
What is the fastest way a UTI can go away?
UTIs are conventionally treated with antibiotics, which are still the recommended treatment in the medical community. As mentioned earlier, many doctors recommend probiotics along with antibiotics to reestablish the intestinal microbiome.
A Few Final Thoughts
Recent studies have repeatedly shown that probiotics positively affect the human body, improving overall health and boosting the immune system. As a result, the medical community considers probiotic supplements generally safe. However, if you have chronic health conditions or have had a recent surgery or hospitalization, it is best to discuss probiotic use with your doctor.
What is the best probiotic for urinary health? Many probiotic supplements are available today, and it can be challenging to sort through the hype to find the highest-quality, most effective product. Protect yourself with a high-quality probiotic from Dr. Ohhira.
We create our probiotic supplements using current scientific research and ancient Japanese wisdom, culturing the friendly bacteria for three years. Our supplements contain 13 probiotic strains to improve bacterial diversity in the gut, and we use only the purest ingredients, leaving out chemicals, colorants, allergens, preservatives, and flavorings.
Visit our website to learn more about how we create our probiotic supplements and order online. If you have questions, contact us or call 972-255-3918.
