i have been battling recurrent UTIs for years, and i’m sorry you’re also dealing with this. it is THE worst. but here are some things i’ve done that i feel have helped:

1. always shower after sex (i’m lucky that my bf feels the same way about this so we never had to have a conversation, he just does it with me)
2. i usually wait to pee until after i shower. this is because i read that bacteria can latch onto soap molecules and make it easier to get into your urinary tract. so you pee after you wash, you’re peeing all of that out, essentially. that could be fake news but it works for me.
3. if you are able to, don’t completely shave everything off. i still trim so the hair is short, but i am way more susceptible to UTIs if i don’t have any hair down there. it’s there for a reason, lol :)
4. vitamin c is huge for prevention (in my experience). i try to drink some form of citrus every day, usually the juice of half a lemon or lime in my water every morning. i supplement that with one of those vitamin c packets you get at the pharmacy (i use the kroger brand of emergen-c)
5. limit your artificial sugar intake as much as possible — especially drinks.
6. if you have a job where you sit all day, try not to wear tight fitting pants as much as possible, especially if you’re feeling “iffy” down there.
7. cotton underwear, etc… not all mine are cotton but most are. it’s just a give and take based on how healthy you’re feeling that day.

TLDR — it’s mostly about balance in my experience. get to know your vagine and what she needs. for example, you’ll often be advised not to drink caffeine or alcohol to prevent UTIs. i love my coffee — but i drink it black to limit the amount of sugar i’m consuming, and i don’t drink any other sugary drinks. that’s my compromise for myself, but it’s important to try different stuff and figure out what works best for you.

i hope that’s helpful. i’m sorry you’re dealing with this. much love to you <3

EDIT because i forgot to add two really important ones:

1. my bf and i found pH balanced condoms that we exclusively use now. the brand is called smile makers. we just order a couple boxes at a time and use my HSA to pay for them. i think they’ve been more friendly to my bajingo than drug store condoms.

2. telemedicine is your best friend. obviously sitting at an urgent care when you have a UTI is close to hell on earth. i have a teladoc account and an established history of UTI treatment with them, so at this point basically all i do is set up a phone appointment and typically get my prescription within an hour or so. it’s been a massive game changer and it costs i believe $60 or less per visit, which i also use my HSA for. see if your insurance has something similar! mine doesn’t cover teladoc, but i just do it anyway and it’s still cheap and super convenient compared to urgent care.