Episode 28: The UTI That Won't Go Away (& What Your Pelvic Floor Has to Do With It)

You tested positive for a UTI, took the antibiotics, and felt better. But then the symptoms returned (the burning, the urgency, the constant feeling you need to pee but can't fully empty ugh)…except that the culture came back negative this time, and no one can explain why you still feel awful. In this episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Alex DiGrado and sex & relationship therapist Dr. Rebecca Eudy explain what’s happening when a real UTI triggers pelvic floor tension that outlasts the infection itself, why this pattern becomes more common as estrogen levels shift, and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help. 

What you'll learn:

  • How your nervous system stays stuck in a protective loop even when the threat has passed, and what helps it settle down.

  • Why repeated rounds of antibiotics without a confirmed infection can make things worse by disrupting your vaginal microbiome.

  • What a pelvic floor PT looks at when you come in with UTI-like symptoms and how getting that full picture can speed up recovery.

  • Why men with non-bacterial chronic prostatitis caused by pelvic floor tension are often misdiagnosed, and how that impacts the treatment approach.

Tune in if you've ever thought:

  • "The swab was negative, but it still feels exactly like a UTI. What’s going on?"

  • "I keep getting these way more often than I used to. Is this just part of getting older?"

  • "My doctor keeps prescribing antibiotics, but I'm not sure they're fixing the right thing."

Helpful resources:

Connect with us:

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Website: rebeccaeudy.com

Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy

Newsletter: Parents in Love Substack

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado

Website: bostonpelvicpt.com

Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt

Newsletter: Under the Hood

Under the Hood Podcast

Instagram: @underthehooddocs

Website: underthehoodpod.com

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Episode 29: How to Fight Fair (What No One Taught Us About Conflict)

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Episode 27: Let’s Talk About…*Talking* About Sex