I have been having problems with UTI's and or urethral irritations etc...on and off for a couple of years but lately the problems have been increasing.
They always seem to occur mid cycle, as my period is ending and before I ovulate. I was finishing up my period right before my family was going on vacation. I was afraid that I was going to have problems while I was away and low and behold a couple of days into my vacation and I had UTI symptoms. Mostly dry sandpapery feeling with some burning when urinating. I also continued to feel like I had to urinate when I didn't need to. It was a really dry and rough sensation that was very uncomfortable. It ruined my day at the amusement park. I had to go back to the room early. My doc called in a prescription for an antibiotic just in case it was a UTI but he and I aren't sure it is a UTI. I bleed very easily when I have irritation due to taking coumadin (a blood thinner/anticoagulant). I almost always have some blood in my urine when these so called UTI's occur. When I take a home UTI test most of the time it says I have WBCs in my urine which could indicate an infection but my nitrites are usually always negative. My doc and I think that maybe since I am having the blood in the urine that the blood is giving it a positive WBC infection when it really isn't. It's hard to tell if I really have an infection or not unless I have a culture done. Some cultures I have had in the past have been both positive and negative when I have had these symptoms. They couldn't do one this time because I was out of town. I have had all the urological tests to rule out any serious problems. Everything seems to be fine. I have seen my gyn regarding this and he feels this may all be related to my perimenopause. I am just getting really tired of having these UTIs or UTI like symptoms. They are now starting to interfere with me doing things. I really don't want to have to take or use any type of estrogen cream unless I have to. I have had open heart surgery in the past and now have a mechanical aortic valve. I have to be very careful about any meds that could possibly cause blood clots that could be thrown from the valve. Is there anything like a lubricant that could possibly help that may not interfere with my meds or my valve? My gyn is contacting my heart surgeon to find out more about the valve that I have and if I would be able to use certain meds or estrogen creams etc.....The idea of using estrogen scares me some. I'm just not sure what to try.
I have been drinking more water but not as often as i should. Usually only when I start getting the uro symptoms. I tend to drink quite a bit of soda and coffee. I have started taking cranberry tablets but I have only been taking one a day and the bottle says to take three a day. I have to be careful with the cranberry because there is something in the cranberry that interacts with the coumadin I take. That is why my doc started me on one cranberry pill a day instead of three. I just need to try to do something to help these symptoms. It is driving me crazy. I start counting the days to when I will probably get the symptoms and I dread those days. Any suggestions or opinions would be appreciated. I just don't know what more to do.

Thanks and Take Care!
Creed3

Creed3,

I too have suffered from recurring UTIs--and they were getting more and more frequent. It is caused by vaginal dryness. When we don't have enough estrogen, the pH in our urogenital system changes (can't remember if it's lower or higher). However, it changes the environment in our urogential tract so that it becomes more prone to bacterial growth. This causes germs that are normally present to proliferate--and we get a UTI.

Some people have luck with vaginal lubricants correcting the problem--but I swear by vaginal estriol cream. This seems to be the only menopausal symptom I've successfully rid myself of. It really seems to have taken care of my UTIs and has also stopped stress incontinence (losing urine when you sneeze, laugh or cough, etc.) When creams are used vaginally--they aren't supposed to get into our system and only work locally where they are put--so you may be able to use it with the coumadin. I am sure your doctor will be able to tell you.

Estriol is the weakest estrogen and I've been told that a progestegin or progesterone is not needed when the estriol is used vaginally. There are other creams that I have had no experience with such as, premarin cream, estradiol cream, estrace, etc.

I wish you the best. I know frequent UTIs can be very upsetting, disruptive and do nothing for your self esteem--plus they feel like heck.

Miss Tibbs

Thanks Miss Tibbs for the reply.
It seems that everyday there seems to be a change in my peri symptoms. The UTI symptoms are t he ones that bother me the most. I finished taking my antibiotic from when I was on vacation. The really intense symptoms have finished and the bleeding stopped but I still seem to have a slight dry feeling in and around the urethra and vaginal area. One thing that I have noticed is that the itching I used to have at the upper thigh area near the vulva area has decreased quite a bit. I had that symptom for a couple years and now it just seems to have almost stopped. Now the dryness seems to be getting worse.
I am waiting to have my first skipped period and that hasn't happened yet. My periods right now are just all over the place. I never know when I am going to get it. It may be as soon as 18 days or as long as 33 days and anywhere in between. If I were to miss a month I kind of feel like at least I would be entering a different phase and getting closer to menopause.
Thanks again for the information. I will be talking with my gyn soon. I think I may try a lubricant from the store until I talk to my gyn. See if that helps any.

Thanks and Take Care!
Creed3

Creed3,

I'm glad the itch went away and sorry to hear about the dryness.

I have remembered a poster I have read on this board before I joined named Tinky something. She has had excellent results in using Calendula oil for her dryness. She always tells people to Google it to find where it is available.

I also read another board in the past few days (wish I could remember where) that had a poster saying that Replens lubricant brand has a gel or cream that can maintain a healthy pH.

Best of luck. I know how depressing recurring UTIs can be. They really did a number on me.

Miss Tibbs

Miss Tibbs,
It is funny you mentioned Replens because I just came home from buying some at the store. I thought I would try it and see if it helps any. I also picked up a moisturizer from KY called Fine Silk or something like that. It is to help with exterior dryness. I don't know if I'll need that or not but thought I would keep it on hand in case the Replens just works on the inside. I think I will do some looking around here to see what others have said about Replens. I will also check into Calendula Oil.

Thanks and Take Care!
Creed3

Creed3, I think it was Hyland's brand calendula cream that Tinkybug was talking about. You might want to message her to find out what she's been using. I do know that she's experienced tremendous relief with this product. I hope your UTI situation gets better soon.

Hi everyone!

I am new to this. I saw archived in 2001-2003 others whom had ongoing bacerial infections. Anyone else in the same boat? I have had an ongoing bacterial infection for 10 months. It started out with heavy Strep B, then e coli, then a UTI, then yeast. I have had maybe a total of 3-4 weeks in that 10 mos with relief. I have seen several gynos, a uro-gyno, have done acupuncture, massage, herbs, etc., etc. Lost of antibiotics in the beginning, which I am now wondering if that is all part of the upset. I have read of others while doing some website searches whom have had this ongoing conditin for 1 1/2 years to 6 years. Dear God! Also, someone mentioned that there were doctors whom were "vulvovaginal infections specialists". Does anyone know of any? I have done internet searches and have also asked my insurance carrier - all to no avail. If anyone else has had this experience, please write to give/receive support and information.

Thank you!!!

Donna R.

[quote name='Creed3' date='Aug 19 2007, 08:09 PM' post='183162']
I have been having problems with UTI's and or urethral irritations etc...on and off for a couple of years but lately the problems have been increasing.
They always seem to occur mid cycle, as my period is ending and before I ovulate.


I always got them after my period and often after sex. Of course i was freaked out by drs telling me it was e-coli related. I had so many tests and so many anti biotics and got so sick of it..... i could go on and on. It's so tedious aye. Runs your life.

At the onset of symptoms try taking bi carb soda (baking soda) tsp in water (yuk) as often as you want to. Apparently it helps those little bugs to let go and be 'p'd' out. It actually does work.

I used to have recurring UTIs. They were becoming more and more frequent and had progressed to urinating blood. They would come on suddenly--I always discovered them first thing in the morning. I read on the internet about how lack of estrogen can cause the pH in the urogenital tract to change and create an environment where bacteria can flourish. At first I went on vaginal estriol cream and that cleared it up. Now I am on estrogen patch and prometrium. I haven't had a UTI since December 2006. I was getting them as often as every 2 months before the vaginal estrogen.

I am post. My last period was in the summer of 2000. My first UTI was in the fall of 2001. I don't know why doctors don't think of this right away--it seems to be common knowledge. I even had one doctor say to me that older women often have frequent UTIs and no one knows why! If you want to know more--you can google the info.

You might want to ask your doctors about this.

Miss Tibbs

Sorry for answering my own post--but wanted to make it clear that estrogen does not clear up UTIs. You have to have an antibiotic to do that. The estrogen brings your pH back to where it used to be so that the bacteria can't easily get going and cause an infection. You also might look in the drug store for something called uristat--it relieves the symptoms--pain and urgency--but does not cure the infection--but will make you more comfortable while you seek help from a doctor. It is available over the counter--and my drug store kept it with the pain relievers.

I hope this info helps you.

Miss Tibbs