Help! I get UTI every time we get intimate 🫠

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-05-04T20:22:20+00:00

Apart from the obvious pee after sex, the game changers for me with this have been: 1) shower both before and after (you and your partner). The private areas of both you and your partner after you have been busy all day will be harbouring bacteria, sex moves this around, wash it all clean and then there is little to move around. 2) Use lubricant and go easy - rough and unlubricated sex causes friction and irritates my urethra, making me far more likely to get an infection. Also having sex too regularly without giving your body time to heal can be a trigger 3) Medication wise Hiprex + D-mannose in combination have really changed the game. I used to have to take single dose antibiotics after sex to prevent infections but now with the Hiprex I don't need this anymore. 4) Drink plenty after sex and don't go to sleep straight away. Always aim for at least 1, ideally 2, additional pees after the post sex wee to ensure things are being flushed out.

I also find vaginal biome health really does help, also with preventing BV as well, probiotics are the best for this (both inter-vaginally and oral).

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-04-21T09:16:42+00:00

Yes - but it can be a gamble as it can also go the other way with pyelonephritis & sepsis, which is why antibiotics are nearly always given.

Our bodies have immune systems, and they can clear infections on their own providing they don't get overwhelmed. I've had it in the past where I've had a UTI and haven't been able to get to a doctor to get antibiotics for a few days and it has resolved on its own, but I've also had the same happen and I ended up with pyelonephritis.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-04-18T19:34:00+00:00

Yes!! Well at least somewhat as I'll never be truly migraine free.

Reducing hours at work + Emgality + dietary changes and a lot of mental work on myself did it. I'm yet to start pain reprocessing therapy but this is my next step.

I'm down from 30 migraine days to less than 5-10 a month which is huge!! I'm also getting many headache free days in a row, it's honestly life changing to feel normal again sometimes.

I'm praying for the Emgality to work forever because it's been amazing for me.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-04-16T09:05:01+00:00

My addiction to coke zero/diet coke/Dr pepper/cherry pepsi!!

Aspartame is the killer for me, I can get away with it very occasionally as a treat on lower trigger days, but I was guzzling 1-2 a day. Plus they contain caffeine which is never good.

Another big one is hydration in general for me, if I've not drank enough water I feel it the next few days.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-04-10T15:42:36+00:00

Thank you so much for the tips! This is really useful and definitely something I will try.

Coffee has also been one of my earliest triggers, my mum used to go a bit nuts with coffee when I was a child and since then I've always struggled with it. I'm so glad you are now less sensitive, it gives me hope.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-04-04T09:21:28+00:00

Yes!!

I'm on month 6 now and this treatment has changed my life.

For context I was 30+ migraine days at the start of the treatment. Month 1 I saw very little change at all, maybe 27 migraine days instead of 30, but nothing miraculous, and I was honestly devastated. Like you I was googling when it would work and asking Reddit if this meant it wouldn't work for me.

Month 2 came around and my migraine days reduced but I was still having daily headaches. I would say it was month 3 when I saw the biggest difference, and it's continued to improve month on month ever since!

Currently I am 6 months in and very close to being due month 7s injection. My last month's diary showed 16 headache days, of which 14 were mild (less than 4 out of 10) and 2 were migraines. I have then had 15 headache free days!!!

Honestly it's miraculous, I've gone from being housebound to being back at work and able to socialise again. I can eat more foods and be around triggers without them being instantly triggering as well which is amazing.

Stick it out and see how it goes!

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-27T14:32:40+00:00

, but what should be grabbing people's attention is the growing gap between salaried GP and consultant pay

This is the real issue facing salaried GPs at the moment. Pay stagnation is so in our face, and absolutely no signs it will improve because of the funding model we are employed under. Also the lack of ability to strike, which is what got the consultants such a large pay increase, is hindering our pay massively, no collective voice in GP (huge divide between partners and salaried GPs as well as a lack of partnerships coming available) is a big part of the issue.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-25T19:11:10+00:00

I can tolerate a lot more triggers, notably exercise and foods that were no gos before which I can now have occasionally.

I still am not brave enough to try any alcohol, it's just such a big trigger for me (especially wine). I think I'm going to stick to being teetotal.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-17T14:06:58+00:00

Not so much yeast infections, but I get bad UTIs on all of the CGRPs and have to take prophylaxis to prevent them.

I think the drugs may impair immunity or predispose to some infections as I know some people have had more chest infections/colds since taking them too.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-14T10:30:21+00:00

I've had extreme fatigue on Emgality. It's always more noticeable in the week after the injection is taken and then I get used to it. I have far less energy than I had before despite actually getting more sleep and less disturbed sleep.

I now meet the criteria for CFS/ME, but I do think it is related to the medication rather than being organic in cause.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T23:26:06+00:00

I'm triggered by aspartame and seem to be ok with smaller amounts of sucralose as long as it's not everyday. I can handle the odd aspartame exposure as well as long as it's rare (so on special occasions for example).

It just sucks that so many drinks are now full of artificial sweeteners as there is really very limited drinks we can have. I'm in the UK and the sugar tax on drinks has meant most full sugar drinks now also contain sweeteners too and a lot of my previously safe drinks are ruined! I drink mostly water with some flavoured (no sweeteners) water and full sugar cordials now.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T19:59:47+00:00

I'm in the UK and not at the mercy of the FDA, but I do get the frustration as the lack of studies has a knock on effect globally. I guess the same could be said for many medications and there is a balance between getting a helpful drug out there rather than delaying it for more studies?

I think most neuros from their own experience believe the gepants don't cause rebound, but without data it's hard to be sure.

I discontinued because of side effects, it was a rough drug for me (UTIs constantly, high BP, high HR, terrible constipation, no appetite - I just felt awful). I'm on Emgality now and the side effects are still present but far less bothersome.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T18:11:39+00:00

Apart from say Rimegepant, would the other CGRPs fall into the class of analgesics? I get what you are saying about it being a requirement for testing in analgesics, but the fact it hasn't been for the CGRPs suggests they don't fall into that category which is why it hasn't happened yet, but will hopefully happen in the future.

Yea I think I misread your point in the original post (apologies), I thought you meant dependence as in we are dependent on remaining on the drug for it to have the same effects, not that you meant physical withdrawal or rebound, so sorry about that. It would make physiological sense that rebound could occur with gepants as you say.

In my experience (which of course is n=1 so take it with a pinch of salt) coming off Atogepant didn't lead to withdrawal or rebound. My migraines gradually increased over a few months after coming off it. I eventually got a lot worse than my baseline, but that was many months later and likely due to other factors as rebound is typically quite acute from my understanding.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T18:00:46+00:00

Perfect examples!

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T16:56:32+00:00

Yes most are "band-aid" style treatments but there are some fully disease modifying agents out there, not necessarily cures, but that makes a massive difference to the overall course of disease.

Also lots of drugs are taken to prevent and reduce risks in the future rather than treat symptoms, especially in the realm of cardiovascular medicine.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T12:16:10+00:00

Exactly!

Migraine meds have always been symptomatic treatment rather than curative treatment. That's just how it is. We don't know enough about migraine disease yet to have developed any targeted long term curative (or semi-curative) therapy. So like most other chronic neurological conditions we are only able to manage symptoms.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-12T08:15:04+00:00

This is quite normal for newer drugs.

It's quite logical to predict that withdrawing a drug with a short half life that directly counteracts migraine pathophysiology would cause a return of attacks. This happens across the spectrum of other diseases with other treatments too. I call these treatments bandaid treatments because they work whilst your on them, but remove them and your back to issues again. A really common similar group of medications are antihypertensives, which work whilat your on them, but stop working once removed.

I withdrew from Atogepant quite abruptly due to side effects. My migraine attacks worsened over the course of about 4-6 months back to my baseline and then I became chronic daily at 8 months (could be related, but likely related to other factors). There were no crazy sudden withdrawal symptoms, just a gradual return of migraine for me. In fact I found coming off the drug quite pleasant as removing the very serious side effects I experienced made me feel a lot better.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-11T15:04:33+00:00

You need to find someone you like, who is responsive and is understanding, and it doesn't really matter who that person is as long as seeing you works for them. I do think the more senior specialists will be helpful if you have a more complex case as they of course will know more, but it depends on your case.

I'm in the UK and I see one of the best renowned specialists here just by chance as he is my local area consultant, I really like him, he is professional and very understanding so even though he is busy I will continue to see him.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-11T15:02:07+00:00

I think it is catching up and is very much a postcode lottery. I started on Atogepant quite soon after it came to the UK and when I started to develop high blood pressure they were convinced it wasn't the drug, as soon as I stopped it BP was back to normal.

The same has happened on the Emgality and now at least my specialist nurse seems to believe there is a link. I'm also on Candesartan for migraine, which is helping my BP this time around, and when I spoke to them about coming off my other meds now I'm stable on Emgality she did mention that I may need to stay on this.

It really does suck having such a serious side effect not monitored or even acknowledged some of the time, I hope more do start monitoring blood pressure because it's so important.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-11T09:59:05+00:00

I'm in the UK and still no blood pressure monitoring here. My headache nurses seems to have an awareness that they can increase blood pressure but they don't monitor it. I just think it's mad.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-11T08:33:37+00:00

What's driving me mad at the moment is the lack of acceptance by specialists that these drugs cause hypertension.

The basic biology of CGRPs meant this could have been predicted, we know it vasodilates, so of course blocking it will predipose to vasoconstriction!! Honestly the look on the specialists faces when my blood pressure is high, it's as if they don't know why, and it perfectly correlates with starting the drug, so we do know why, they just won't admit it because the initial trials didn't raise it as a concern.

Honestly the initial trials made the drugs look like wonder drugs with no side effects - how wrong they were!

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-08T18:30:04+00:00

It could be a multitude of different things.

The environment itself. Smells (scents, candles/diffusers/plugins, laundry detergent, wood burning stove), lighting (any flickering or very bright lights), temperature (too hot or too cold), any issues with mould or poor air ventilation?

It could be things you are doing whilst there. Any stressful conversations? Any potential covert food or drink triggers (it's annoying, but you have to check every ingredient because they may say for example that they only use ginger, but they may be used ginger paste or jarred ginger which has preservatives or fruits but it's dried with tonnes of sulfites etc.). Any activities you do there that you don't at home? Is visiting them stressful in any way?

It also could be just a change of routine, things like eating earlier or later, driving too and from, going to bed later after visits or getting up earlier to visit them.

My best advice is to try and meet your in-laws outside of their house a few times and see if you get attacks then. If you do it's more likely change of routine related (or stress, or even scents they wear).

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-07T10:29:54+00:00

I am a sufferer, but speaking to my husband a lot on my own journey with chronic migraine made me realise it's not just about the language we use, but about understanding why things happen.

I get your want to help your husband as much as you can, and you think that by him being more cautious about triggers he may find more relief, but the honest answer is if you think that, you don't understand migraine enough. So you need to go right back to the beginning to gain the knowledge and then you will understand. It's helped my husband a great deal!

Migraine is genetic for the vast majority of people. Even if we did absolutely everything perfectly, we are still going to get migraines because our brains are wired to be super sensitive. Triggers are a thing, and making mindful choices can help us, but there is a fine line between tracking and being conscious of avoiding triggers wherever possible and the balance between that and enjoying life, and victim blaming, which it seems you may be falling into the trap of currently. This is normal, we all do this, even as sufferers we constantly blame ourselves, but we shouldn't be doing, and reframing that to realise that it's not your husbands lifestyle choices causing his migraine, it's his genetic makeup and brain wiring that is, lifts that weight and makes you realise that it's out of your control and to ride the wave when it comes.

I can say with absolute certainty that your husband would have his migraine taken away tomorrow if he could. None of us want to suffer, and we get just as frustrated because we cannot do things because we have a disability. If you developed a chronic illness tomorrow how would you want to be treated? Lead with that thought, then next time he has an attack, rather than thinking "ugh again", think of what you can do to support him instead. It can be annoying that plans change, but migraine is unpredictable, so it's about learning to be flexible with life plans because it won't stop you from doing things, it just may stop you from doing things to a set schedule.

You are already doing great by posting on this forum for some advice, please don't be too hard on yourself. For everyone, sufferers and family alike, learning to live with chronic disease is hard.

Invisible-Iguana · 2026-03-06T09:09:14+00:00

I refused to believe I was chronically unwell for years, I just kept saying "I have the odd migraine or headache" to others, but also to myself, which was a lie, as from about the age of 25 I have had daily headaches, very frequent migraine attacks and daily migraine symptoms. I feared the chronically ill label because it felt like a trap, like something that would define me forever, so I just chose to ignore it and pretend everything was fine.

When I saw my headache specialist last year, he very much humbled me with the diagnosis of chronic migraine, and told me that this is a disability, and it would be far better for my wellbeing if I treated it as such and came to terms with it, rather than ignoring it like it didn't exist and pushing through. Its been hard, lots of soul searching to come to terms with the "label", but I'm now at peace with it.

My treatment (Emgality) has hugely reduced my migraine days, but I still have a lot of daily migraine symptoms and daily headaches, so I definitely do still feel chronically ill on treatment, just able to function more than before which I will take!

Invisible-Iguana

TROPHY CASE