How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in the Wilderness

1). Drink tons of water. Urine should be clear and copious, not yellow-colored.
2). Urinate frequently and unabashedly - your companions can wait for you while you duck off the trail or squat in the snow.
3). Do not hold urine in the bladder - studies have shown "holding it" to be a primary cause of UTIs.
4). Clean the vaginal area daily using soap and water.
5). Eat a diet plentiful in dried fruits, grains and nuts.
6). Take two or three cranberry supplements daily to help prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
7). Take 500 mg of vitamin C daily.
8). Urinate immediately before and immediately after intercourse, and make certain you are well-lubricated during intercourse.
9). Treat immediately if you suspect a urinary tract infection. (See "How to Treat Urinary Tract Infections in the Wilderness.")