I keep getting what I believe are urinary tract infections over and over again. I always believed women got these infections because they weren't clean, but I'm a very clean person. And my boyfriend is also careful with his personal hygiene. Is it something I'm doing? What can I do to avoid this? It's not only painful but it's starting to get embarrassing.

If you have a painful, burning sensation when you urinate or if you have noticed blood in the urine, you may have a urinary tract infection or UTI. Some urinary tract infections have no symptoms so it's a good idea to see your doctor regularly. The urine test is simple and painless and can help your doctor in making a diagnosis. Your doctor will then probably prescribe an antibiotic.

One of the simplest things you can do to avoid urinary tract infection is to urinate after sex. It flushes bacteria out. But there is a difference between good bacteria and bad bacteria. Women who use diaphragms have to be especially careful because spermicide in the jelly used with the diaphragm can kill bacteria in the vagina that are actually good to have there and can create a nesting area for bad bacteria. If the woman drinks a glass of water before making love and urinates afterward, she can flush the bad bacteria out of the vagina and eliminate a lot of potential problems.

Women experience more urinary tract infections than men because the urethra in women is shorter, and bacteria from the anus can be pushed up into the vagina during sex.