1. You have bad hygiene if you have a UTI.
A not so surprising fact: overcleaning or excessive use of vaginal products can be problematic. These products kill the good bacteria that helps prevent your vagina from getting an infection. If a UTI is a recurring problem for you, it isn't because of the way you maintain your vagina. As a precaution, avoid wiping from back to front because this transfers bacteria from your rectum to your vagina.
2. You can only get a UTI after sex.
Yes, the likelihood of you getting UTIs after sex is high, especially because bacteria is pushed into the urethra, but no, you can get a UTI from other things too. You can get a UTI from holding your pee in for too long and when you're dehydrated. People with diabetes and autoimmune diseases are also more susceptible to getting UTIs.
3. A UTI is the same thing as a STI.
Unlike an STI, a UTI cannot be transmitted, so that's one less thing you have to worry about.
4. Men cannot get UTIs.
Thanks to their anatomy, bacteria has to do a lot to get to the urine of men, but this does not mean that they can never get UTIs. It could happen, just not as often as it happens to us. (Hassle!)
5. You can cure a UTI with cranberry juice.
Cranberry juice as an automatic cure for UTI is not something that's medically proven. Some doctors acknowledge that it could help prevent a UTI, but not cure it.
Source: SELF.
This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
