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Complementary Therapy Strategies: Myths, Facts, and Lifestyle

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Urinary Tract Infection

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Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to consider widely held popular beliefs surrounding UTIs and to see whether they stand up when scrutinized by medical research.

A great deal has been written on the subject of cranberry juice and its role in the treatment and prevention of UTIs. Cranberry juice can help prevent recurrent UTIs in women, but there is no evidence that it is effective in treating UTIs. Cranberry products work by inhibiting pathogenic adherence to the uroepithelium and probably not through acidification of the urine as was previously thought. Uva ursi (bearberry) can be used to treat UTIs affecting the lower tract, but should not be used for long-term prophylaxis as prolonged exposure to metabolites may be carcinogenic.

There is some weak evidence to suggest that probiotics and some vitamins (e.g., vitamin C) can help prevent UTIs. In addition to this, there is an association between frequency of sexual intercourse and UTIs, but not between number of partners and UTIs. Bubble bath probably does not increase the risk of UTIs, whereas condom use and contraceptive diaphragm use are associated with higher rates of UTI, although this should not discourage the use of safe sex.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgery, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Henry A. Lee BSc, MBBCh, MRCS (Eng) & Dominic King BSc, MBChB, MEd, MRCS

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  1. Henry A. Lee BSc, MBBCh, MRCS (Eng)
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  2. Dominic King BSc, MBChB, MEd, MRCS
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Correspondence to Henry A. Lee BSc, MBBCh, MRCS (Eng) .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, United Kingdom

    Abhay Rané

  2. Department of Urology, Imperial College Health Care NHS Trust St Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Ranan Dasgupta

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Lee, H.A., King, D. (2013). Complementary Therapy Strategies: Myths, Facts, and Lifestyle. In: Rané, A., Dasgupta, R. (eds) Urinary Tract Infection. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4709-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4709-1_7

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