Even though many of us may not feel comfortable talking about it, sex is a big part of most of our lives. And, with a problem like IC, the problem quickly becomes not being able to have it!

This is such a complicated issue because it has many components to it. First of all urinary tract infections and vaginal infections can come from:

A--Urinary tract infections and vaginal infections can come from poor hygeine or fecal matter getting into that local area.

B--Urinary tract infections and vaginal infections can come from your own body chemistry becoming imbalanced and then turn into an infection from only that plus a trigger like intercourse, food, or medicine.

C--Urinary tract infections can also come from the area becoming effected by sexual fluids that are carrying certain pathogens. Seminal fluid, for example contains many types of micro oragnaisms just as vaginal fluid does, but, if it is imbalanced, and especially if the partner is not well balanced, then infection or inlfammation can follow.

Many times when delving into the past health histories of those with IC, there have been many bladder infections (although not always). When this happens one needs to carefully examine if the origin of these infections came from the person's chemistry herself or from the chemistry of her sexual partner. When these infections are treated inccorrectly, it can take things to another level. For example, if the origin is coming from the sexual partner and antibiotics are used over and over and over-never adressing the solution, the antibiotics become more and more of a distructive force in the body and can be a majot contributing factor to IC.

If the origin is owing to the chemistry to the person and antibiotics are used repeatedly, this will only exacerbate the imbalance and lead to more and more infections. This becomes very problematic when antibiotics are prescribed every time a woman hass intercourse to prevent an infection. I have seen many cases where this can go on for years.

Once a person starts to delve into addressing the underlying problem instead of the fact that they are having infections, the root can be properly addressed and corrected for. Often people are under the impression that they will never be able to have sex again without getting an infection. It is fairly incredulous how this situation can change completely once the problem is actually adressed and treated properly. Sex can once more become not only painless, but, pleasurable.

If infections have been occuring over a very long period of time, it will take a long time for the inflammation to reduce, but it can happen. And, as the inflammation goes down and the infections reduce over time, and the imblance causing the problem in the first place is corrected, things will become more and more normal. It can happen!

Dr.M