UTIs and the Gut Microbiome: The Surprising Connection The Microbiome Expert
Recurrent UTIs can be frustrating, especially when antibiotics only provide temporary relief—or worse, when the bacteria causing them become resistant. But did you know that your gut microbiome plays a crucial role in whether or not you keep experiencing UTIs? In this video, I break down the science behind UTIs, gut dysbiosis, and how supporting beneficial bacteria can be a long-term solution instead of relying on endless rounds of medication.

I cover how most UTI-causing E. coli originate in the gut, why antibiotics can actually increase UTI risk, and why conventional treatments fail to address the root cause of urinary infections. I also dive into the critical role of butyrate-producing bacteria in maintaining microbial balance and preventing pathogenic bacteria from taking over.
What You'll Learn:

• How UTIs are linked to dysbiosis and gut health.
• Why antibiotics can make UTIs worse over time.
• The role of beneficial bacteria (like butyrate producers) in preventing infections.
• How microbiome-focused strategies provide long-term relief from UTIs.

If you’re tired of treating UTIs without lasting success, this video will help you understand how addressing your gut microbiome can change everything.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more microbiome insights and expert health strategies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBe8oQ7bX38
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because we're sick of it all. heal the gut people - heal the gut and heal the utis!

From MSD Online - Consumer Version

The organisms that cause infection usually enter the urinary tract by one of two routes. The most common route by far is through the lower end of the urinary tract, which is the opening of a man's urethra at the tip of the penis or the opening of a woman's urethra at the vulva. The infection travels up the urethra to the bladder and sometimes to the kidneys, or both. The other possible route is through the bloodstream, usually to the kidneys.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are almost always caused by bacteria, although some viruses, fungi, and parasites can infect the urinary tract as well. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that come from the intestine. Ordinarily, however, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are washed out by the flushing action of the bladder as it empties.

Bacteria

Bacterial UTIs are more common among women than men. About 40 to 50% of women have at least 1 UTI in their lifetime, compared to about 5 to 12% of men. Women also get bacterial kidney infections but less commonly than bladder infections.

Escherichia coli is the most common bacteria to cause a UTI.

Although the urethra is part of the urinary tract, an infection of the urethra (urethritis) is usually caused by bacteria that cause a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea) or Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia).

Risk Factors for Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Risk factors for UTIs that are common among both men and women: Risk factors for UTIs in women: Risk factors for UTIs in men: History of previous UTIs Sexual intercourse Benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) Insertion of a urinary catheter or any instrument by a doctor Structural abnormalities such as urethral stricture (narrowing), bladder diverticulum (outpouchings) or leaking of the valve-like mechanism between the ureter and the bladder Blockage in the urinary tract by kidney stones Conditions that interfere with normal voiding such as paralysis resulting from a spinal cord injury Decline in memory and thinking skills (cognitive impairment), fecal incontinence, or urinary incontinence Use of a diaphragm and spermicide Use of antibiotics A new sex partner within the past year History of UTIs in first-degree female relatives (such as a mother or sister) First UTI at an early age Presence of an abnormal connection (fistula) between the vagina and the bladder or the intestine and the bladder Prostatitis (infection of the prostate) Blockage anywhere in the urinary tract (for example by a prostate tumor or urethral stricture) Unprotected anal intercourse Uncircumcised

UTI = urinary tract infection.

Viruses

The herpes simplex virus may infect the urethra, making urination painful and emptying of the bladder difficult. Other viral UTIs, such as bladder and kidney infections, do not usually develop unless a person's immune system is impaired (for example, by cancer, advanced HIV infection [also called AIDS], or use of a medication that suppresses the immune system).

Fungi

Certain fungi, or yeasts, can infect the urinary tract. This type of infection is often called a yeast infection (yeasts can also cause inflammation of the vagina [vaginitis]). The fungus Candida albicans is the most common fungal organism that causes UTIs (candidiasis). Candida frequently infects people who have an impaired immune system or a bladder catheter in place.

Fungi and bacteria may infect the kidneys at the same time.

Parasites

A number of parasites, including certain types of worms, can infect the urinary tract.

Trichomoniasis, caused by a type of microscopic parasite, is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause a greenish yellow, frothy, fishy-smelling discharge from the vagina in women. Occasionally, the bladder or urethra becomes infected. Trichomoniasis can infect the urethra in men. It usually causes no symptoms in men.

Schistosomiasis, an infection caused by a type of flatworm called a fluke, can affect the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This infection is a common cause of severe kidney failure among people who live in Africa, South America, and Asia. Persistent bladder schistosomiasis often causes blood in the urine or blockage of the ureters and may eventually result in bladder cancer.

https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/infections/urinary-tract-infections-utis/overview-of-urinary-tract-infections-utis#Causes_v763529

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me - so even if they check your urine - all bets are they're only checking for bacteria. Not for fungi, not for parasites and not for viral loads either. And they can all exist together or singularly. Maybe we're killing off the bacteria but there could be a sl of other pathogens just lingering that no lab would ever test for. Stuff to think about.

This information is suited to viewers who have:

• Inability to completely empty (incomplete emptying or urinary retention)
• Difficulty starting emptying (hesitancy)
• Slow bladder stream (slow flow)

Normal Bladder Emptying
When you empty your bladder you should be able to easily start the flow and it should be strong and continuous without needing to strain. You should have a feeling of completely emptied your bladder when finished.

Straining to empty your bladder can damage your pelvic floor which can worsen bladder problems. Retained urine can increase the risk of bladder infection.

If you find that you can’t empty your bladder, go to the hospital emergency department. Urinary retention can cause bladder overstretching and serious long-term bladder problems.

1. Bladder Emptying Position
   *If you have normal sensation then empty your bladder when you feel an appropriate urge to empty
   *Start sitting on the toilet seat and never hover or stand leaning over the toilet seat
   *Your feet should be supported on the ground or on a footstool
   *Your legs and hips should be apart
   *Support your trunk by leaning forward and resting your hands or elbows/forearms on your thighs
   *Keep the inwards curve in your lower back while emptying your bladder

2. Bladder Emptying Technique
   *If you’re having trouble initiating bladder emptying then you may try turning on a tap. Sometimes the sound of tricking water can help start voiding.
   *When your bladder has started emptying keep leaning forwards and relax your bladder opening. Allow your lower tummy to relax and bulge forwards at the same time until your bladder is empty.
   *Always avoid straining.

If you sense that your bladder isn’t completely empty, then you can try any of the following double void techniques:

1. Rock side to side before trying again
2. Stand up and rotate your hips as if hula hoop
3. Walk around for 15-30 seconds before sitting back down and repeat voiding
4. Use both hands above your pubic bone to gently press inwards with your fingers over your bladder

Tips to Improve Bladder Emptying
*Avoid overfilling your bladder because when it’s too full. This means knowing that you need to empty 3-4 hourly (or around 250-400 mls of urine) depending on your fluid intake
*Stay well hydrated by drinking steadily during the day rather than all at once. Doing this helps you avoid sudden bladder filling
*Take your time to empty your bladder completely rather than rushing
*Avoid emptying just in case
*If you have trouble emptying your bladder because of reduced sensation you may need to go on a timed emptying program. This involves attempting to empty your bladder regardless of whether or not you feel the urge.
*Reduce your intake of diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol because they draw extra fluid into the bladder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RuG6SiVIA8

This is a very comprehensive explanation with natural solutions and everything else you ever wanted to know but didn't know who to ask - https://dulwichhealth.co.uk/blogs/blog/natural-biofilm-disruptors-what-works-and-why

Ever wonder why you feel anxious, depressed and out of it with abx? That you feel like crap whenever you do yet another round? It seems like it's a cycle, you deal with one flare, one infection, down 3 weeks or more of abx and midway you just want to crawl up and cry. From the pain, the fatigue, the hopelessness and everything else connected. But what if the abx just made everything else just worse? Like 1000 times worse. Read on - because it's a very interesting read - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9796968/

Carl Jung documented a psychological transformation so disturbing that he called it one of the most terrifying cases in his clinical practice. This isn't about empaths being weak or broken—it's about what happens when someone who feels everything finally reaches their breaking point and undergoes complete psychological metamorphosis.

Jung observed empaths who had endured systematic emotional abuse, manipulation, and betrayal until something inside them fundamentally shifted. What emerged wasn't destruction—it was integration. These individuals transformed from emotional absorbers into psychologically sovereign beings who could no longer be manipulated, controlled, or broken by others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aggWMmHddJY

Interesting documentary with interviews from people who knew Jimi. Theories abound, the truth is still unknown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aUxRlK4sd8