Sun, sand and festival season: a summer plan for your bladder

British summers are short, so we squeeze everything in: beach days in Cornwall, a heatwave week at the office, a muddy weekend at a festival, a fortnight somewhere hot. Each one asks something different of a sensitive bladder.

The classic wet swimsuit problem gets one line here: change into a dry one straight after swimming. The full explanation lives in our seasonal guide. Below are the situations it does not cover.

How do I keep my bladder happy on a beach day?

• Bring more water than you think. A litre each for a few hours on the sand is a sensible starting point; a frozen bottle wrapped in a towel stays cool until lunch.
• Find the toilets first. Before you lay out the towel, check where the nearest café or beach loo is, so you never have to choose between your spot and a toilet trip.
• Pick shade at midday. Sitting in full sun from 11am to 3pm drains you faster than you notice.
• Rinse off the sand before changing. Sand inside a swimsuit or knickers rubs delicate skin, and a quick rinse at the beach shower helps.
• Pack unperfumed wipes, a spare pair of cotton knickers and a light dress to change into.

Can air conditioning affect a sensitive bladder?

Air-con is the summer twist on the cold-weather problem: you arrive hot and damp from the street, then sit for hours in a chilly office, car or train. Many women feel less comfortable after a day under the vent.

• Keep a cardigan or light scarf at your desk to cover your lower back.
• Change out of sweaty clothes when you arrive, if you can, rather than letting them cool on you.
• In the car, point the vents away from your legs and stop every two hours for a stretch and the loo.
• Air-conditioned air is dry, so keep sipping even when you do not feel hot.

Festival season: toilets, heat and drinks

Four days in a field, long queues for the portaloos and plenty of cider: festivals are a real test. The temptation is to drink as little as possible to avoid the queues. Resist it, because that is exactly when a bladder starts complaining.

• Plan toilet trips before the headliner, not during, when the queues are longest.
• Carry a refillable bottle and use the free water points; most big festivals have them.
• Pack a hygiene kit: unperfumed wipes, hand gel, spare knickers and a small pack of tissues.
• Alternate each drink with water, especially in the afternoon heat.
• Change out of damp clothes before the evening, after rain or a sweaty day.

Holiday romance or a new partner: what should I know?

Summer holidays and new relationships go together, and for some women so does a sore bladder a day or two later. Two habits help: pass urine soon after sex, and keep intimate hygiene simple, with water and no perfumed products. Our guide to cystitis after sex and the article on intimate hygiene go into more detail.

What does an easy summer routine look like?

1. A cool morning startA glass of water on waking and, on hot days, any exercise early, before the heat builds.
2. Water on the goA refillable bottle in every bag: beach, office, car and festival.
3. Lunch in the shadeA light meal, a big glass of water and, if you follow a supplement routine, two capsules before you eat.
4. Dry by the eveningOut of swimwear or sweaty clothes, a shower, then the third capsule before dinner.

Products readers choose in the UK for summer

Summer habits do most of the work. If you also like a simple daily supplement, Cystobact is the product our editors pick for UK readers: D-mannose and cranberry extract 4:1, plus strawberry-tree leaf and citrus bioflavonoids, in small capsules with no sugary juice to carry around.

The routine travels well: two capsules before lunch and one before dinner, each with a glass of water, which suits hot days perfectly. A bottle of 30 capsules covers ten days, so it fits a beach holiday or a festival week. Read how to take Cystobact or see the UK price.

Frequently asked questions