Do you suffer from urinary tract infection? Perhaps it's a recurring complaint. True, men suffer from UTIs as well as women, but as Dr. Weil tells us:

Bladder infection (cystitis) is a common and annoying problem, especially among women, whose urinary anatomy makes them more vulnerable than men.

He goes on th list five ways to end this recurrent misery. The National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearing House (NKUDIC) has some excellent information on Urinary Tract Infection including this on preventing UTIs:

For women, using a diaphragm or spermicide for birth control can lead to UTIs by increasing bacteria growth. If you have trouble with UTIs, consider modifying your birth control method. Unlubricated condoms or spermicidal condoms increase irritation and help bacteria cause symptoms. Consider switching to lubricated condoms without spermicide or using a nonspermicidal lubricant.

NKUDIC also has this to say about what causes urinary tract infection:

Usually, a UTI is caused by bacteria that can also live in the digestive tract, in the vagina, or around the urethra, which is at the entrance to the urinary tract. Most often these bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the bladder and kidneys. Usually, your body removes the bacteria, and you have no symptoms. However, some people seem to be prone to infection, including women and older people.