How often should I take nitrofurantoin?

What are the directions from the Dr? It is usually given either once or twice a day to prevent infection. I get UTI's VERY easily. I have 3-4 really bad ones every year. One thing I've learned is that you ALWAYS need to empty your bladder (pee) after every time you have intercourse or engage in oral sex. If I dont get up and pee after sex I will, no doubt about it, wake up with a UTI the next day. It helps to drink a glass of water before you have sex so you can be sure to go afterwards. Sex tends to drive bacteria from around the genital area up into the urethra so when you urinate it helps to clear that bacteria out before it can set up shop in the bladder causing an infection. It also helps to be sure to take a shower before sexual activity but that is not always possible when it is spontanious. But if you know for sure you are going to have sex, it is good to shower. You can even use the shower as part of foreplay, if you are creative.

Expand this post...

If you cant shower, at least clean off the genital and anal area with a cloth and soap and water.Oral sex can also introduce a lot of bacteria from the mouth into the urethra but urinating after should help clear it. Also, (I know this is TMI) dont allow vaginal penetration after rectal penetration-that is just asking for a UTI! Many lubricants can irritate the urinary opening (the urethra) so it is better not to use them. I also have noticed I have to be careful about what soaps I use down there. Baby Magic is nice and mild and doesnt irritate. For some people, tub baths can cause UTI's so it is said to avoid tub baths and take showers instead. Always try to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids will go a long way to help keep you from having UTI's. The longer urine sits around in the bladder, the more likely it is you will contract a UTI because it gives bacteria time to grow and multiply. Taking 1000 mg a Vitamin C helps too. It keeps the urine too acidic and reduces bacteria growth. It also helps the bladder wall be too "slippery" so that bacteria cannot adhere. People will say to drink cranberry juice but it doesnt help because most prepared juices have added sugar which negates anything that the cranberry will do for you. If drinking cranberry juice helps anything, it is just that it helps with hydration so any juice will work, as far as that goes. That is a big myth about cranberry juice. Cranberry pills, however, do work-they work the same way Vitamin C works. I prefer to employ these methods rather than use an antibiotic on a daily basis. Using an antibiotic that often can cause bacteria to become resistant leading to all kinds of other problems. If all these tips fail you might consider antibiotics but I think they will make a great deal of difference for you. Hope this helps! UTI's are exremely uncomfortable and I've learned to do all these things to avoid one. If I am very vigilante I can avoid them pretty well.