If you’ve ever suffered through a bladder infection you know how disruptive the urgency, frequency and painful urination can be. It’s natural that preventing future infections comes to mind, especially if you’re concerned about developing antibiotic resistance. As a pelvic health physical therapist I see many women struggling with recurrent UTIs, fortunately there is an alternative to help, let me explain…
It’s estimated that up to half of all women will have one bladder infection (UTI) in their lifetime and of those it’s estimated that 20-40% will have recurrent UTIs. A recurrent UTI is up to three bladder infections per year or two in the last six months.
Women most at risk for recurrent bladder infections are pregnant, post menopausal and immunocompromised women and women who use a catheter. Basically any woman who has a compromised immune system, is low in estrogen or uses a catheter to empty her bladder.
Bladder infections are more common in women because the female urethra is shorter than males and thus bacteria is able to travel to the bladder more easily.
Antibiotics are the standard treatment when an infection has been identified. Long-term antibiotic use is commonly prescribed for women with known recurrent bladder infections.
While long-term antibiotic use has been proven to be effective, there are down-sides to their use. Allergies may develop, bacterial resistance, and side-effects are all considerations. An additional problem with long-term antibiotic use is that once you stop taking the medication, the bladder infections return, often within three months.
With all of these concerns, it’s natural that many women want to know how to prevent future or recurrent infections from happening without the use of antibiotic medication.
Isn’t cranberry juice helpful?
For many years cranberry juice has been the go-to for home remedies, but why cranberry is helpful has not always been clear. It was speculated that the acidity of the juice was in some way helpful, but that theory has not held up when investigated by researchers.
What researchers did find however, is that a natural sugar extract in cranberries acts like an antimicrobial agent against bacteria. The one bacteria it’s especially good at fighting is E. coli and since most bladder infections involve E. coli, it’s uniquely able to help. This natural sugar is called d-Mannose.
What is d-Mannose?
D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar found in many fruits and vegetables. Examples of the fruit and vegetables with high d-mannose content are;
Cranberry
Apples
Oranges
Peaches
Broccoli
Green Beans
When researchers tested d-Mannose in large doses, that is larger than what is found naturally occurring in cranberries or cranberry juice, it was found to be very beneficial at reducing the incidence of bladder infections or recurrent UTIs.
How does d-Mannose work to prevent bladder infections?
D-Mannose works to prevent bladder infections by not allowing the bacteria to adhere to the lining of the bladder (or bladder wall) and urinary tract. The ‘anti-stick’ property of d-Mannose means that bacteria are flushed out of our system before they have a chance to create an infection.
Not only does d-Mannose keep bacteria from creating an infection, it also has been found to significantly decrease other bladder symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence episodes and painful urination.
What’s more these benefits lasted for up to one month, even after women stopped taking it. In one study, d-Mannose was even found to help prevent the recurrence of bladder infections better than some antibiotics and with fewer side effects.
What side-effects does d-Mannose have?
D-Mannose is a natural sugar that is closely related to glucose. Our bodies rapidly absorb this sugar, but do not store it, and then it’s flushed out when we urinate. Because it’s not stored in the body, it has minimal side-effects.
Some women (approximately 8%) did develop abdominal bloating and mild diarrhea but it was never significant enough to stop them from taking it.
Since it is a form of sugar, women with diabetes, pregnant or nursing should not be taking d-Mannose without consulting your doctor first
What if I have a bladder infection, will it help to treat the infection?
No, If you do have a bladder infection, please seek medical attention! D-Mannose is not intended to replace antibiotics for the treatment in an active infection, rather it is a supplement that aids in the prevention of new or recurrent infections.
And while eating foods naturally high in d-mannose may help, the amount found in fruits and vegetables is a good idea, it will not be enough to prevent infections or stop a bacterial infection from progressing.
Instead, take d-Mannose in capsule or powder form to get enough to make a difference. Exactly how much is still being debated but most studies used 1,000-2,000 mg per day. That’s typically 2-4 capsules of 500mg tablets per day.
Check the label for the manufacturer’s recommended amount per day and as a best practice always check-in with your doctor or nurse practitioner whenever taking any supplement.
Is d-Mannose right for me?
Given that so many women struggle with recurrent UTIs and the effect on quality of life can be significant, an alternative to antibiotics with minimal side-effects is a promising option.
So if you are one of the many women who struggle with bladder infections and want to break the cycle without prolonged antibiotic use, then d-Mannose may be right for you.
Want to know more about how to prevent bladder infections? Check out my blog on the subject here!
Happy Bladder wishes 
Tami
Other blog topics you may be interested in:
Bladder Urges Bossing you Around? Here are 5 Strategies to Regain Control!
Isn’t it Normal to Pee A Lot? How Often is ‘Normal’ for Bathroom Breaks?
Feel Like You Are at War With Your Bladder? 5 Tips to Make Peace!
Tami Lines is a licensed Physical Therapist with certifications in Pelvic Rehabilitation and Women’s Health Coaching. She is the founder of Pelvic-Health-Matters. Tami has over 15 years of experience with expertise in bladder Health, and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction for adolescent and adult women. She is also a mom of two wonderful young adults working their way through college.
The content in Pelvic-Health-Matters is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, treatment or diagnosis, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician.
References:
Feng F, Hawks J, Kernen J, Kyle E; Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Care: Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Urologic Nursing 2018; 38:5; 231-244
Kyriakides R, Jones P, Somani B; Role of D-Mannose in the Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Evidence from a Systematic Review of the Literature; 2020 European Urology Focus
