- Baths – sometimes an unclean bath can harbour bacteria.
- Bubble bath/bath creams and bath bombs can also cause issues.
- Swimming pools – caustic chlorine can irritate the urethra and bladder. If the water looks cloudy, chemicals may only recently have been added
- Public hot tubs/jacuzzis – these can be a breeding ground for bacteria as they are not regularly cleaned and sterilised
- Condoms lubricated with spermicide – these can lead to an increase in UTIs. Find out more about Contraception and UTI.
- Scented toilet paper – chemicals can cause vaginal, vulval and urethral irritation
- Douching – will upset the natural balance of vaginal secretions and can lead to bacterial vaginosis/thrush/vaginal bacterial infections
- Underwear made of synthetic materials. Thongs are also known to cause UTI issues due to the proximity of the string to the anus (back passage) and bacterial transfer between anus and vaginal and urethral openings
- Tight jeans – can cut blood supply to urogenital tissues and rub along the urethral entrance
- Scented washing powders and fabric softeners – chemicals can cause vaginal, vulval and urethral irritation
- Coffee and tea – a diuretic due to caffeine. Find out more about diet and drink
- Cranberry juice/fruit juices – these are acidic and can cause irritation
- Carbonated drinks – carbonic acid can be a bladder irritant and fizzy or sparkling water contains dissolved carbon dioxide which results in an acidic solution and may increase urinary urgency. These also contain caffeine which may make any symptoms of urgency or frequency worse.
- Chocolate – In general, chocolate with high cocoa content such as dark or bitter chocolate may lead to reactions due to the biogenic amine content. White chocolate usually is better tolerated. To produce white chocolate, the cocoa mass is deprived its cocoa powder. Only the cocoa butter is used. Milk constituents and sugar is then usually added. White chocolate contains less biogenic amines, as only the cocoa butter is used.
- Alcohol – due to the fermentation process and in some cases high tannin levels which can cause histamine problems. It can also increase the acidity level of your urine and irritate the bladder lining
