"Antibiotics were ultimately my only option for treating my UTI, but in the long term, they were incredibly damaging for my vaginal health."
After years without any vaginal infections, Carrie suddenly found herself trapped in a relentless cycle: UTI, antibiotics, then a yeast infection. Her story follows the frustrating search for answers and how her contraception was playing a hidden role.
We know by now that antibiotics are far from a perfect solution. But what happens when they’re the cure for one infection and the trigger for another?
In this article, Carrie opens up about her experience with repeat urinary tract infections (UTIs), the antibiotics she relied on to treat them, and how it impacted her vaginal health. From one infection to another, this is her honest account of learning to navigate a system that rarely sees the full picture.
“I hadn’t had a UTI for probably 10 years. Then last year, while I was travelling Southeast Asia, I had three UTIs in the space of four months.”
UTIs happen when bacteria like E. coli enter the urethra and travel up the urinary tract, causing pain, inflammation and the constant urge to pee. The standard treatment is usually antibiotics. But for Carrie, that was just the beginning of the story.
“I would dread having to take the antibiotics because I knew that taking them would give me a yeast infection within less than 24 hours. It was a never-ending cycle: treat my UTI with antibiotics, then have to deal with new symptoms.”
What started as unexpected symptoms soon turned into an ongoing battle. She knew the antibiotics would tackle her UTI symptoms. But they would almost immediately trigger a yeast infection, caused by an overgrowth of Candida in the vagina.
“Suddenly, I was dealing with two infections instead of one.”
Carrie had no choice but to take the antibiotics to treat her UTIs, even while knowing they were raising her risk of thrush.
“The antibiotics weren’t just targeting the infection, they were also wiping out the good bacteria. I knew that every time I took a course, I was making myself more vulnerable to another infection.”
Antibiotics take a broad approach to infection. They don’t just target the bad bacteria; they wipe out good bacteria in both the vagina and the gut. This includes Lactobacilli, the protective microbes that make up the majority of your vaginal microbiome. When antibiotics lower lactobacilli levels, the balance tips and yeast infections thrive.
Understanding why the cycle kept repeating didn’t make things any easier for Carrie. It felt like treating one problem, only to directly cause another, but with no alternative solution.
While travelling in Southeast Asia, Carrie found that getting antibiotics was fast and incredibly easy but that accessibility came with its own problems.
"In Thailand and Vietnam, I went straight to the pharmacy and didn’t need a prescription. I just had to describe my symptoms, and the pharmacist gave me antibiotics along with anti-inflammatories, antiseptics, and probiotics."
At first, it felt like a huge relief. No delays. No waiting for appointments or prescriptions; just instant care. But without a proper diagnosis, Carrie couldn’t be certain she was getting the right treatment.
“I ended up with a UTI again just a month after returning home. It made me think that the antibiotics I was given in Southeast Asia didn’t properly target the infection. In hindsight, I wonder if they were the right ones or if I had developed antimicrobial resistance."
The cycle of infection and uncertainty was incredibly frustrating. Had she just caught another infection? Or had the original infection never really left? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can happen when antibiotics are overused (or misused), allowing bacteria to adapt and become harder to kill.
“It’s scary to think about how easy it is for bacteria to become resistant, and how many women are relying on antibiotics to deal with repeat infections.”
Carrie refused to just accept the cycle. She tried everything to fix it: supplements, probiotics, and lifestyle changes, but it wasn’t enough.
"Even if I was taking probiotics, I couldn’t keep up with it. My body just seemed to be really sensitive. The antibiotics would mess with my digestion, make me feel fatigued. I just hated the feeling of having to take so many pills every day. Especially when those pills were making me feel worse.”
While probiotics can help support a healthy vaginal microbiome, they work best when taken consistently over time, not in short bursts or while taking antibiotics. And for some (including Carrie), remembering to take a pill every single day isn’t always realistic. Antibiotics also disrupt the gut microbiome, triggering extra symptoms like bloating, digestive discomfort and general fatigue.
It wasn’t just the infections anymore. It was the constant worry, symptom management and side effects that were taking a toll on Carrie’s mental and physical health.
Having never suffered from repeat infections before, Carrie started looking beyond antibiotics and wondering if her copper IUD could be part of the problem.
"I had no issues with the copper IUD at first, but then these UTIs started happening. That’s when I began to suspect that the IUD might have something to do with it. I read some research that said the copper IUD introduces new bacteria to your vaginal microbiome but doesn’t boost the good bacteria. I think this imbalance probably had an impact on my ability to fight off the yeast infection while I was taking antibiotics.”
Although the copper IUD has been around for decades, research into its impact on vaginal health is still in the early stages. A small study found that it may increase inflammation in some women, leading to a 5.5-fold increase in total bacteria and decreased Lactobacilli levels.
For Carrie, the pattern was too strong to ignore. It is a powerful reminder that solutions intended to support women’s health can sometimes complicate it further.
Carrie isn’t alone in feeling let down by how fragmented healthcare can be.
"Antibiotics were ultimately my only option for treating my UTI, but in the long term, they were incredibly damaging for my vaginal health."
Her frustration highlights a bigger problem: the way we treat infections as isolated events rather than addressing the underlying causes of recurrent infections.
“There’s a tendency in healthcare to treat the symptom, not the cause. We need a more integrated approach that looks at the whole picture; how contraception, antibiotics, and the vaginal microbiome all interact.”
This approach requires more than just prescriptions. It calls for more research, more personalised care and a shift towards prevention and long-term health support.
“In the end, I had my IUD removed for a few different reasons. What’s crazy is, I haven’t had a UTI since. And without taking antibiotics, I haven’t had thrush either. It really makes me realise just how connected everything is.”
For Carrie, understanding why these infections kept happening was a key turning point. Learning more about the vaginal microbiome (how it’s impacted by antibiotics, contraception and everyday choices) helped her feel more in control and confident in making changes.
“We desperately need real research to connect the gaps. Education isn’t just about telling us what’s happening, it’s about helping us understand the deeper ‘why’ behind our health challenges."
Carrie’s story is a powerful reminder that women’s health is far from simple; it’s complex and interconnected. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, understanding those connections and taking a holistic approach to your vaginal health is essential.
Have you experienced recurring vaginal infections? Join the conversation and share your story with us here – because no one should feel alone in this.
At UVISA, we're committed to representing women who experience vaginal infections in a diverse and authentic way. If you feel comfortable sharing your story, we invite you to contribute through our open survey. Every voice helps shape a more honest understanding.
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