An estimated 50% of all women will experience a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives, and 20-40% of these women will have recurring infections, putting them at risk for kidney and bloodstream infections. But now, new research suggests over-the-counter painkillers could help prevent such infections from occurring.
They found that, by inhibiting an immune protein that causes inflammation - called COX-2 - they were able to eliminate repeat urinary tract infections in mice. The team explains that COX-2 can be blocked by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes ibuprofen.