Let’s Talk UTIs: Normalizing a traditionally taboo topic
Urinary Tract Infection. These three words are often regarded as a taboo subject that is an all-too-common occurrence for women of all ages. Up to 60% of all women will experience a UTI in their lifetime (and 12% of men). What’s more? Women are 8 times more likely than men to get a UTI. So, what can we do to normalize the traditionally off-limits topic?
I still remember when my dad shared the difficult news that my grandma had passed away at the young age of 51 years. Inconvenient access to care and her own unfamiliarity with UTI education lead her to suffer privately. Prior to her passing and as a result of her chronic UTIs, she lost one of her kidneys and had severe complications since. This experience deeply impacted my understanding of women’s health and motivated me to start Utiva with my co-founder, Derek Oh.
Sadly, my grandmothers’ story is not unique. We often hear about similar experiences from women who struggle with urinary tract infections, only to discover that their friends, neighbors, colleagues or family members are secretly dealing with the exact same thing in private. The unnecessary stigma around UTIs and the lack of open communication about a topic that will affect so many women is unsettling, and exasperates mental and physical health issues.
Utiva is a healthcare company with a focus in Urinary Tract Health. We offer products that are simple, natural and backed by science to combat UTIs once and for all. We were founded with the belief that everyone deserves the best care, and we are committed to educating and empowering women through their health journey to be prepared to have a UTI-free life. Our goal is to ensure that every single customer gets the best support, education and care at Utiva.
National Women’s Health Week (May 9–15) serves as a reminder for the empowerment of women’s health and the necessary rhetoric needed by all genders to empower women to take steps in their own health journey. Research has shown that when a woman experiences taboo or shame, they are less likely to reach out for professional help and medical advice. This can delay diagnosis time and potentially lead to a more serious condition. The only way to end it is to open up the conversation and break the taboo — whether it’s through our products, community or tools, we hope you find something to help you on your UTI journey. You are not alone!
So, what exactly are UTI causes for women? How can we stop them before they start? AND how can begin to change the rhetoric around UTIs?
While antibiotics are an effective UTI treatment, taking them too often (or incorrectly) can cause antibiotic resistance. This means that bacteria stops responding to antibiotics and continues spreading, which makes treating infections far more difficult.
In fact, the World Health Organization says antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest global health threats. And in the US alone, over 35,000 people die every year from antibiotic-resistant infections.
The good news? You can break the UTI-antibiotics cycle. Several natural remedies can reduce the frequency and severity of UTIs. For example, Utiva’s UTI Control Supplement contains 36 mg of PACs at 15% concentration (one of the highest in the market). It’s clinically proven to prevent UTIs, improve gut and bladder health, and provide a boost of healthy antioxidants.
But health isn’t one-size-fits-all. We know that your own health journey is unique. Discovering what works best for you can help you build healthy habits around preventing UTIs and we offer tips and tools to encourage empowerment around your UTI health.
Discovering what works best for you can help you build healthy habits around tracking and preventing UTIs. We offer tips and tools through the Utiva UTI Tracker App to encourage empowerment around your daily UTI health. Also, our Utiva support community is a safe space where you can freely talk with other women about anything and everything UTI-related. We host monthly virtual sessions with doctors and industry experts to help educate and empower women about their health.
We are proud to be partners for women in urinary tract health and are committed to continue to elevate the conversations around UTI health, education and empowerment.
