Do Diaphragms Cause Urinary Tract Infections?
Do Diaphragms Cause Urinary Tract Infections?
In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics, including some of the most common beliefs about medicine. In our September 2011 issue, we asked Jane Miller, MD, an associate professor of urology at Washington University's School of Medicine, about the link between diaphragms and painful bladder infections.
Q: My friend says I'm getting urinary tract infections because I use a diaphragm. Is she right?
The Truth About Urine
Urine isn't something most people talk about. We barely give it more than a passing glance as it swirls out of sight down the toilet bowl. Yet changes in the urine -- its color, odor, and consistency -- can provide important clues about the status of your body. Your urine can reveal what you've been eating, how much you've been drinking, and what diseases you have."Urine and urinalysis have, for hundreds of years, been one of the ways physicians have looked at health," says Tomas Griebling, MD,...
Read the The Truth About Urine article > >
A: It's TRUE. Diaphragm use can contribute to urinary tract infections.
The reason is that urinary tract infections (common symptoms include burning pain and a constant need to pee), get triggered by bacteria, most often E. coli, which lives in the colon and rectum. And diaphragms are used with spermicides, "which can kill off the protective bacteria in the vagina, as well as change the pH balance of the vagina," Miller says. "This can increase growth of the kinds of bacteria that cause UTIs and bring it closer to the urethra and ultimately the bladder."
If you have recurring infections, you may be better off using alternative birth control methods, such as an IUD or the Pill. General tips for avoiding bladder infections include: Drinking plenty of water, peeing when you need to (instead of "holding" it), and wiping from front to back after urinating and bowel movements.
Q: My friend says I'm getting urinary tract infections because I use a diaphragm. Is she right?
Recommended Related to Urinary Incontinence/OAB
The Truth About Urine
Urine isn't something most people talk about. We barely give it more than a passing glance as it swirls out of sight down the toilet bowl. Yet changes in the urine -- its color, odor, and consistency -- can provide important clues about the status of your body. Your urine can reveal what you've been eating, how much you've been drinking, and what diseases you have."Urine and urinalysis have, for hundreds of years, been one of the ways physicians have looked at health," says Tomas Griebling, MD,...
Read the The Truth About Urine article > >
A: It's TRUE. Diaphragm use can contribute to urinary tract infections.
The reason is that urinary tract infections (common symptoms include burning pain and a constant need to pee), get triggered by bacteria, most often E. coli, which lives in the colon and rectum. And diaphragms are used with spermicides, "which can kill off the protective bacteria in the vagina, as well as change the pH balance of the vagina," Miller says. "This can increase growth of the kinds of bacteria that cause UTIs and bring it closer to the urethra and ultimately the bladder."
If you have recurring infections, you may be better off using alternative birth control methods, such as an IUD or the Pill. General tips for avoiding bladder infections include: Drinking plenty of water, peeing when you need to (instead of "holding" it), and wiping from front to back after urinating and bowel movements.