10 ways to beat the burn of a UTI

1. DRINK JUICE

Cranberry extract in juice or pills can help. Just be careful, as some drinks are loaded with sugar and don’t contain much extract.

2. GO TO THE LOO

Empty your bladder regularly. Some people wait too long because they’re busy, Dr. Curtis Nickel says, which can allow bacteria to build up.

3. TAKE A SHOWER

Avoid bubble baths and feminine hygiene products like douches; shower instead to reduce risk of bacteria buildup.

4. SKIP SPERMICIDES

Spermicides (and condoms containing them) can kill the good bacteria in your body.

5. HAVE MORE H2O

Drinking water flushes bacteria from your bladder.

6. DON’T LINGER

Pee after sex to flush bacteria from your system.

7. DRY DIFFERENTLY

Remember to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading pesky E. coli bacteria to your urinary tract.

8. CHOOSE COTTON UNDIES

“If you tend to wear tight jeans and synthetic panties, we say switch to cotton and looser clothing for a while,” Nickel says. It helps keep the region clean and airy.

9. LOWER THE DOSE

If the initial round of antibiotics doesn’t work, ask for a lower daily dose to take for a longer period of time, or to take after sex.

10. EAT YOGURT

Once you’ve taken antibiotics, repopulate good bacteria by eating yogurt that contains lactobacilli, says Nickel.

Read more: How to break the bladder infection cycle >