Supporting urinary tract health

Key highlights 

• Recurrent UTIs are increasingly recognised as a multifactorial condition, influenced by bacterial reservoirs in the gut, vagina and bladder, microbiome composition, immune responses, and factors that affect the body's natural defence mechanisms.
• The vaginal microbiome helps protect against uropathogen colonisation, with Lactobacillus species playing a key protective role.
• Cranberry currently has the strongest evidence base among complementary interventions for recurrent UTI prevention.
• Evidence suggests that interventions targeting microbial balance and immune function may offer complementary support for recurrent urinary tract health.
• Lifestyle measures such as adequate hydration, healthy bladder habits, and supporting immune health further help reduce recurrence risk.