Which of the following is appropriate advice for a female patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections?

• A. Drink a glass of orange juice daily
• B. Daily use of feminine hygiene sprays
• C. Void before and following intercourse
• D. Use of a diaphragm and spermicide for birth control

Answer: (C)

The key idea is reducing bacterial introduction and clearing the bladder around sexual activity. Voiding before and after intercourse helps minimize the amount of bacteria that can be pushed into the urethra during sex and also flushes out organisms that may have entered, lowering the risk of a recurrent infection. Voiding before sex can reduce urinary stasis and the bacterial load, while voiding afterward helps wash away anything that got in during intercourse. The other suggestions don’t have proven protective value and can even raise risk: daily orange juice isn’t a proven preventive measure for UTIs; feminine hygiene sprays can irritate the genital mucosa and disrupt normal flora; and using a diaphragm with spermicide is linked to higher UTI risk due to mucosal irritation and disruption of protective vaginal bacteria.