Many women get UTIs after sexual intercourse because the motion can transfer bacteria from the bowel or vaginal cavity into the urethra. To lower your risk, pee within 30 minutes before and after being sexually active, says  Lisa N. Hawes, MD, a spokesperson for the American Urological Association.

UTIs are very common in women after menopause, Kavita Mishra, MD, a urogynecologist at Stanford University, recently told Prevention. That’s because your estrogen production to drops, resulting in vaginal pH changes. This disturbs the balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina, increasing chances of infection. Some postmenopausal women with atrophy (aka thinning of the vaginal walls) can also develop small cuts near the urethra, which may predispose them to UTIs. 

Being constipated makes it difficult to empty your bladder completely, which means trapped bacteria have lots of time to grow and cause infection, says Dr. Hawes. On the flip side, diarrhea or fecal incontinence can also increase your risk of getting a UTI, because bacteria from loose stool can easily make their way into your vagina and urethra. A tried-and-true tip: Wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom to prevent bacteria transfer.

“When blood sugar is high, the excess sugar is removed through the urine,” Dr. Hawes says. This makes a favorable environment for bacterial overgrowth,” potentially leading to infection. What’s more, people with diabetes have a weaker immune system, which makes it difficult to fight off infection-causing bacteria.

Holding our urine for 6 hours or more may make UTIs more common, as bacteria that does get into the bladder has lots of time to overgrow between voids. While traveling, for example, it may seem like a good idea to hold tight and keep driving until the next rest area, but do yourself a favor and stop—the extra miles aren’t worth the risk of a UTI.

Washing up after is never a bad thing, but avoid using lots of soap or pH-altering products. Research also shows that the use of diaphragms and spermicides can bump your chances of developing a UTI. Similarly, certain lubricants, fragranced soaps, and vaginal douches can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and increase your risk.

Drinking plenty of water not only quenches your thirst, but it also wards off UTIs, according to the NIDDK. When you pee regularly, your body is able to flush out any bacteria that could fester in your urinary tract, so aim to drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily to help prevent an infection.

“Dirty pads and tampons are a place where bacteria can grow very easily,” says Ehsan Ali, MD, a primary care physician in Beverly Hills, California. To prevent urinary tract infections during your menstrual cycle, change your tampon at least every 4 hours, depending on your flow, and avoid wearing them overnight. Pads should also be changed every 4 to 6 hours.

Your underwear may also be a surprising UTI cause, according to Alyssa Dweck, MD, a practicing gynecologist in New York. She says wearing breathable, cotton underwear helps prevent excessive moisture that causes bacteria to grow down there. “Avoid thongs with a thin, chafing G-string, which can transfer bacteria,” she says.