u/PrestigiousWalk5579

Basically, I had an ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in my bladder from October to February, which was very difficult to get rid of (too many rounds of antibiotics). The problem is that, despite clearing the UTI, I continued to have burning in the vulvar area and pain in the urethra. Several vaginal swabs revealed Group B Streptococcus, and I thought my discomfort was due to that. Even so, after doing my own research (not because any doctor advised me to), I decided to do an urethral swab, and, surprise, the same resistant bacteria that I eliminated from my bladder is still there. In fact, it has developed resistance to oral antibiotics, and now I only have the option of using intramuscular antibiotics. I am extremely scared. It is the first time I have contracted a resistant bacteria, and the first time that the bacteria is hiding in the urethra and not in the bladder. Has anyone experienced something similar? Do you treat it the same way as a normal cystitis in the bladder? I need advice :(

Hello everyone. I'll try to summarize my situation as much as possible since I need advice from some of you who have experienced something similar.

Since October of last year, I've had discomfort in the vulvar area (mostly burning). Since I'm prone to UTIs, I thought these were the first symptoms of one. Well, a week later I contracted a UTI with a resistant bacteria that I couldn't get rid of until February. On my doctor's recommendation, I had a vaginal swab done since I was still experiencing discomfort in the vulvar area despite having eradicated the UTI, and it came back positive for Strep agalactiae. My urogynecologist told me it was best to try treating it with probiotics for three months, since I could live with those symptoms and my lactobacilli were low, so killing the few I had with antibiotics could cause more UTIs.

During the treatment, in March and June, I had two more UTIs. It's now June, and I'm still experiencing the same discomfort (burning in the vaginal area and sharp pains in the urethra). I thought it was because my tissues had suffered a lot after so many UTIs, but a recent vaginal swab came back positive again for Strep agalactiae. The only difference is that now I have more lactobacilli.

So now I'm having doubts. I've finally recovered my good bacteria, but they haven't managed to get rid of the Strep. If I use antibiotics now, I'll kill those lactobacilli and become more susceptible to UTIs, but if I don't treat it, I'll have to continue with these bothersome symptoms. I'm so tired of feeling unwell after eight months. What do you advise? Should I take antibiotics or continue with the probiotics?

That's basically it: how do you manage a romantic relationship with ongoing CUTIs/RUTIs?

Maybe this is a post to vent, but I also want to hear other people's experiences (mainly from women, but men are welcome to comment too. It's always good to know how others deal with this condition).

My recent infections have taken a heavy toll on me mentally. I wouldn't say they've ruined my relationship (27F, 30M), but I think about so many negative things related to it. We've been planning our wedding for a few months now, and although my greatest wish is to marry him and start a family, I can't help but think about the fact that my condition will always be a problem between us, to the point that it's made me think it would be better to separate. I mean, if my infections are always related to intercourse, am I willing to suffer for the rest of my life and keep damaging my body? On the other hand, why should I force someone else to remain celibate if there's a chance he could find a healthy person? And as much as I want to have a fulfilling sex life with him, it seems impossible (I mean, I have my needs too, and denying that would be stupid, but often the fear of another infection its bigger than them). I've talked to him several times about separating, that I can't go on living like this (8 infections in one year. 2026 started with three in six months). He always tells me it's a too drastic decision because it would condemn me to live alone forever, and that separating two people who love each other because of a health issue is unfair. He always encourages me, saying we'll find a solution, but I just feel like I'm wasting a lot of money on doctors and I'm almost back where I started. Any mention he makes of sex while I'm recovering automatically makes me feel uncomfortable, because I have no answer about "when I'll be ready again", especially knowing that I'll probably only have a two-month break before it happens again. Honestly, this is sickening, and I feel betrayed by my body.
Besides, they've never told me, but I'm sure this is the reason my parents separated. It seems I've inherited this awful trait from my mother, and I'm terrified that a future daughter of mine might inherit it too.

I (27F) have always had recurrent infections after intercourse, averaging between 4 and 6 per year. One of the last ones, which started in October, was really bad. It wasn't until February that I finally got rid of the Klebsiella pneumoniae. I imagine the huge amount of antibiotics I took weakened my immune system, and I contracted another Enterobacter infection in March, although that one was easier to clear. That same month, I discovered I have BV caused by Strep B, which I've been treating with probiotics ever since (because of my recurrent infections, my urogynologist thought it was better to combat the Strep B with lactobacilli).

My current symptoms: Although my tests are negative, I've continued to have mild discomfort these past two months when I go to the bathroom. The act of urinating itself isn't painful, but the sensation afterward can be described as a pricking/swelling in the urethra and a burning sensation in the vulvar area that usually disappears after 30 minutes (it's worse in the morning when the urine is concentrated). I was hoping to get better because I know that after severe cystitis, the body takes a while to recover, and I assumed I had urethritis. But honestly, I can't take it anymore, especially since the symptoms have been lasting longer these last few days, and I haven't been able to concentrate at work. On Monday, I want to have a urine culture (even though I don't feel any pressure or pain in my bladder) and then a vaginal swab. What do you think is happening to me? It's been too many months of not feeling healthy :(

What I did: After that Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, I had more tests done to see if there was anything wrong with my body. Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma tests were negative. My vitamin D and iron levels were very low, so I'm taking supplements to raise them. I also had very little lactobacilli, so I'm taking probiotics. I thought that with these things, I could break down this cycle of infections, but I feel like nothing I'm doing is working, and I'm starting to lose hope.

Hi everyone. I was hoping my next post here would be a success story, but unfortunately, after two months without symptoms, I'm experiencing pain again. I've done everything I can to prevent it, especially with probiotics, but at this point, I think my infection is embedded (prob ESBL Kleb P). Since I live in Europe (Italy), I asked about doctors in my area who use this method, but unfortunately, the closest ones are in Germany. The only ones offering online consultations are in the USA. Has anyone had online appointments and had a good experience? Will these doctors be able to help me even if I'm on another continent? I'm worried I won't be able to get the medication because of this.

Over the past few months, I've been working on tackling the root cause of my UTIs. I'm raising my vitamin D levels (which were worryingly low), restoring my lactobacilli, and eliminating a BV. I've never thought of my problem as systemic before, but I think I'm on the right track. This leads me to a few questions: Once I give my body the tools it needs to fight the bacteria, will I be able to stop worrying about taking D-Mannose? Honestly, I have to take other, somewhat expensive supplements daily to manage my PCOS, so it would be a huge help not having to buy D-Mannose anymore, but I'm afraid to stop taking it and have a UTI again. Has anyone had positive experiences with this?

Hey everyone! I hope one of you can help me.

Before sharing my story, I should mention that I've read the Intro Guide and considered every post published here in the last four months, including older posts relevant to my situation. I live in Italy, so some treatments recommended here like Hiprex are beyond my reach.

Like many of you, I (F27) started getting UTIs when I became sexually active at 18 (I've been with the same partner ever since; I've never had sex with anyone else). Before that, I had maybe four uncomplicated cystitis in my entire life, always treated with fosfomycin. Anyway, I know for a fact that my UTIs are sex-related because for much of my relationship (from 2018 to 2023), we lived in different countries and only saw each other about four times a year. And, of course, I got cystitis those four times.

When we started living together, the frequency increased to about 6 or 7 times. Even though the doctors told me it was normal, that's just how female anatomy is, I couldn't just sit idly by and started researching. In the summer of 2024, I tried d-mannose, and that, along with stopping birth control pills, seemed to solve my problem. I went almost a year without infections (8 months) and I was very happy. My anxiety before sex disappeared, and I felt healthy again.

In May 2025, I experienced symptoms again, and a urine test confirmed an infection. It happened again in June and August. I was always prescribed fosfomycin to treat it, and the symptoms seemed to subside. However, it appeared to be less effective each time.

October 2025 arrived, probably the start of the worst period of my life. I began experiencing burning in the inner area of ​​my vagina, along with redness that wouldn't go away. My doctor didn't even want to run any tests and decided to prescribe an antifungal cream to see if it would work. A week later, I returned to his office with symptoms of an infection. This time he prescribed amoxicillin. Two weeks later, the symptoms returned, and I was prescribed amoxicillin again. In November, I felt unwell once more. It was the first time I had a urine culture, and it detected Klebsiella pneumoniae. Again, a week of amoxicillin. Two weeks later, I still had the symptoms, and he prescribed the same medication. Throughout December, the symptoms were sometimes just a minor discomfort and slight burning, but I didn't think it was a bacterial infection. These symptoms worsened at the end of January, and I ended up in ER because I was experiencing lower back pain… And this was the turning point:

1. Another culture again detected Klebsiella pneumoniae in large quantities. Since the recurrence seemed strange to me, I did some research so I could interpret the results myself. Of course, it was an ESBL bacteria resistant to amoxicillin and almost any antibiotic I could take orally. The only options were intramuscular antibiotics or Augmentin. Let’s thank my doctor, who didn't even bother to properly study my results and prescribed the wrong antibiotics.
2. Thanks to this group I learned a lot. Along with Augmentin (10 days), I took lactoferrin and NAC for 1 month and limited my sugar and carbohydrate intake to almost zero.

After the treatment, I was pain-free for two weeks. I couldn't believe it after so many months. But it didn't last long because then, at the beginning of March, another culture detected Citrobacter koseri, which I treated for six days with ciprofloxacin.

The sheer number of antibiotics I took over five months was terrifying, and yet it still didn't seem to be enough. Since the burning sensation in my vulva persisted (although the bladder pain disappeared), my gynecologist recommended a vaginal swab. I had it done at a public hospital, so the information is limited (it doesn't tell me the bacteria rate, which would be quite helpful), but thanks to it, I discovered that my lactobacilli are almost nonexistent and that I tested positive for Streptococcus galactiae. I also tested negative for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma.

I decided I'd had enough antibiotics, so I asked my urogynecologist for an alternative to treat this bacteria. Right now, I'm trying to reduce the bacterial population by introducing vaginal and oral probiotics (mostly L. crispatus, and a few others), and I'm also trying to improve my gut health with E. coli 5C probiotics. The symptoms seem to be gradually subsiding, but it's been so many months that I'm starting to forget what it feels like to have a healthy intimate area.

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So, in summary:

1. My UTIs are always related to sex.
2. I took birth control pills from 2017 to 2024. In 2018, I started having unprotected sex (my partner was tested for STIs and was negative) that caused UTIs. When I stopped taking birth control, we started using latex-free condoms, although they didn't seem to prevent the UTIs.
3. IMPORTANT: I ​​have PCOS, which is why I was taking birth control pills. I decided to stop taking them because I knew they could worsen my UTIs, and that time was the one in which I had the fewest infections (until they returned in May). My periods were very irregular, sometimes lasting between two and three months. Now I'm treating my PCOS with inositol, which is regulating my periods. To be sure, before starting treatment I had a thorough analysis of my hormones, and although I seemed to be producing more androgens than normal, my other levels were quite normal.
4. ALSO IMPORTANT: I ​​had an ultrasound of my urinary tract (bladder and kidneys), and everything seemed normal except for two small kidney stones, one 4mm and the other 2mm. I don't know how long I've had them, maybe years, but the doctors keep telling me they're so small that surgery is pointless. I've tried drinking teas to dissolve them and consuming a lot of lemon, but they're still there. So I have this worry that I can't seem to shake, thinking that maybe there are bacteria hiding in them.
5. My urogynecologist examined me and concluded that my pelvic floor is in perfect condition.

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QUESTIONS

1. I've been trying to figure out why this is happening to me for years. A hormonal imbalance seemed like a possibility, but after the tests I've had done, I'm starting to have doubts. Using or not using a condom doesn't seem to make any difference. I've ruled out Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. My partner doesn't have any STIs. Obviously, I follow all the hygiene advice before and after sex. What other possibility is there?
2. In mid-2024, I had irritation in the vulvar area, accompanied by some small white spots inside. It cleared up with antifungal cream, but now I'm wondering if it was Streptococcus galactiae… I've had it since then, but only now, due to dysbiosis, have my symptoms worsened? Can this bacteria contribute to UTIs?
3. My biggest fear right now is that Klebsiella pneumoniae is hidden in my bladder due to have had it for so many months. I don't have any symptoms, but who knows if they'll appear when I resume sexual activity? I haven't had sex for two months to let my body heal, but I can't stop thinking about it. I took NAC to break down the biofilm for a month, but who knows if that was enough. What do you recommend in this case?
4. Finally, please, if you've been through something similar or have any advice to give me, I'd listen carefully. I want to be intimate with my partner again without being terrified of the consequences, to feel healthy. I've suffered chronic pain every minute, every day, for six months. I even started to think that living like that wasn't worth it. I need a solution to all of this, and I know you'll take me more seriously than all the doctors who have ignored my pleas.

Thank you all!