Why do I keep getting UTIs?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Recurring UTIs - 2 or more in 6 months or 3 in a year - usually have a structural or hormonal driver, not a hygiene failure. The common culprits: a short urethra near gut bacteria, sex pushing bacteria upward, spermicides disrupting protective vaginal flora, menopause thinning urinary tissue, and incomplete bladder emptying from stones or an enlarged prostate. Sometimes a resistant strain was never fully cleared. Fixes that actually help: enough water, not holding urine, peeing after sex, dropping spermicide, vaginal estrogen after menopause, and for some people a daily low-dose or post-sex antibiotic. A workup with urine culture - and sometimes imaging - is worth it. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you document your pattern before that visit.
What to do
- Track your pattern: dates, triggers, and whether antibiotics fully cleared each episode.
- Ask for a urine culture: it identifies the exact bacteria and which drugs still work.
- Fix the drivers: hydrate, pee after sex, drop spermicides, ask about vaginal estrogen post-menopause.
- Ask about prevention strategies: daily low-dose or post-sex antibiotics are standard options for frequent recurrences.
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