By the way, doctor: Is it okay to take antibiotics indefinitely to prevent urinary tract infections?
Women are more vulnerable to UTIs than men are because a woman's urethra is close to the vagina and anus and shorter than a man's, allowing bacteria easier access to the bladder. Women are especially likely to experience recurrent UTIs — that is, three or more in one year. Antibiotics are highly effective in preventing these recurrences. Depending on the clinician's assessment, a woman may take the antibiotics daily, after intercourse (if that seems to be the source of her infections), or for a day or two when symptoms first appear.
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