Ways To Prevent Infections

Posted by Joanna Karpasea-Jones Apr 19, 2009

Up to 15% of male infertility cases being caused by genito-urinary infections, was news to me, but when I thought about it, it made sense. If bacteria is infecting your reproductive tract, why should that not cause problems?

Here are some tips to help you prevent infection related infertility:

To Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections

• If you are entering into a new relationship, make sure you get tested for STI's first and ask your new partner to do the same. Some infections have no symptoms, so it's important to do this.
• Use a condom, unless you are trying for a baby.
• If you suspect a sexually transmitted infection, see your doctor. You might need antibiotics to prevent damage to your fertility.

To Prevent Urinary Infections

• Drink plenty of water to help flush out any infection.
• Drink cranberry juice which has been shown to help UTI's.
• Drink pro-biotic drinks which contain friendly bacteria that will eat up any bad bacteria.
• Empty your bladder before and after sex.
• See a doctor if your symptoms do not resolve.

To Prevent Vaginal Infections

• When going to the toilet, always wipe from front to back.
• When you have a bath, but a couple of drops of tea tree oil in it. This is anti-bacterial and anti-viral and can stop a vaginal infection.
• Tea tree is also available as a cream that you can put on any external, sore areas to clear up the infection and relieve the symptoms. You can buy it as a pessary, too.
• Use a cotton bud to put natural yoghurt on the affected area, as this contains friendly bacteria which will eat up the bad bacteria. Pro-biotic drinks do the same.
• Drink plenty of water so it doesn't sting when you urinate.
• Don't put soap on your vagina - the vagina is an internal organ and the vulva is the opening to the vagina. You wouldn't put a bar of soap in your mouth to clean the skin there. This is the same principle. Soap can irritate and even disrupt the natural bacteria of the vagina, which has been known to cause bacterial vaginosis.
• See a doctor if your symptoms do not resolve.