It would be best to avoid products containing sugar (such as Yakult) when you have a UTI as bacteria feeds on sugar; rather go for a high strength probiotic from the pharmacy (lactose-free probiotics are also available, as some studies suggest that dairy should be avoided during this time).
My flatmate suffered very much from the same thing and after trying everything including the antibiotics, she approached it from the homeopathic side and also looked at the psychological side.
Now I know, that isn't for every one but it sure as hell helped her for good!
So, if you're not afraid of stuff like that, go and look for a homeopathist in your area and maybe she/he can sort it out.
How about changing your positions? My OB explained which you already know, intercourse rubs bacteria into your urethra. Maybe another position, which minimises the contact of the penis and the urethra.
A home remedy is Brennessel tea, try drinking a cup or two a few hours before your BF comes over.
Besides all the good advice about how to "physically" cure your UI ailment. Have you included the metaphysical route. The mind and body work together and the subconscious is always try to express itself. Are you "pissed off" about something?
Little Isabella mentions a very good point. I suffered for about 4 years in my mid twenties, did all the antibiotics etc, ultrasound scan normal. Gynae said that that having intercourse around the time of ovulation increases the risk of UTI (check out the biology on the internet rather that going into details here), eventually it stopped. Also important when you have had a course of antibiotics that you have another specimen checked to ensure all is clear otherwise it just starts again.
When we moved here 5 years ago, I was approaching menopause and had several UTI where I'd never had one before. My doctor said that as you approach menopause, estrogen decreases and your vaginal tissues thin and dry out, and there's no longer a protective layer between this and your urethra. I realize you're not near menopause, but you might want to see if your UTI are more likely when your estrogen levels are lower, based on your cycle.
There are estrogen vaginal suppositories that you can use - as long as you're not at increased risk of hormone positive reproductive cancers. Interesting for me, once I went through menopause the UTIs stopped. I can't use the suppositories since I've had breast cancer.
You probably do this , but drinking water with lemon or cranberry (no sugar) keeps the bacteria from adhering to your bladder, etc. If you drink bubbly water, it might not be acidic enough. That's the other part of it. You have to keep your bladder, urethra exposed to low pH (acid) so the bacteria slide off. But, you have a more complicated story - have you seen a urologist or a urogynecologist? I know they have them in the US, not sure about here.
agree with the sugar thing. this may sound strange and it's a bit unconventional, but my grandma used to tell me right when you feel it coming on to put salt in your belly button. hokey, i know, but it works wonders. don't know why but in spanish we call it chistate and you feel an a** to put a touch of salt there but it worked for me every time...
Second - have you tried a massive amount of vitamin C as soon as you get the very earliest symptoms of an UTI? I'm not speaking of a bottle of cranberry juice here, I mean 5 000 - 10 000 mg of pure ascorbic acid. (Please notice that you should NOT take such an overdose with any multivitamin product. However, pure vitamin C goes straight to the bladder, making E. coli feel very much unwelcome.)
While the osmotic water-retaining properties of vitamin C can cause temporary diarrhea in some patients (not all of them), I am not aware of any damage that a single megadose could do to the digestive tract. I am not entirely sure which one you meant, but in case the latter - do you mind me asking if you had a previous history of ulcers or intestinal bleeding?
I agree with you that an ascorbic acid megadose is not a miracle cure to UTI. However, I am also pretty sure that the OP is ready to try anything that might help.
Have to agree with the problems of taking loads of Vit C. Years ago when I was coming down with a cold, a friend's mum told me to take a high dose of it to stave off the symptoms.
Being young and stupid, I followed her advice and ended up with stomach cramps and the raging trots.
And, to add insult to injury, it did absolutely nothing to stop the cold.
I would advise against taking mega-doses of anything - there is a stated dosage on medication for a reason.
No history of anything like that, no. Pretty normal that a big dose can cause diarrhea though, which is what I was referring to. And yes, I was definitely in the same boat of trying anything.
Are you sure that your bladder is really infected each time?
I ask, because a friend of mine had the same problems, or so she thought. She would start peeing blood and having intense pains after each intercourse. But further tests showed that it was not bacterial. Apparently, after a cycle of genuine UTIs she started associating sexual intercourse with pain, and the 'fake UTI' would become psychosomatic. This doesn't mean this wasn't serious, but of course antibiotics did nothing to help.
You probably have gotten this advice already - have you gone for a second opinion? Perhaps another gyno/specialist could understand your medical background better, and propose a more compatible solution.
I endorse Edot's comment regarding consulting a urogynecologist. An ultrasound examination by such a specialist (a gyni usually does not have the special equipment for such an examination) should reveal what is causing your problem, and how to treat it. Good luck!