Introduction
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in women. UTIs can happen anywhere from your urethra to your kidneys, but they’re usually caused by bacteria traveling up through the urethra during sex.
When you urinate after sex, you flush away any germs that might have entered your body through sexual activity—which is why it’s so important to pee soon after having sex if you want to prevent UTI’s from recurring again!
The reason you’re more likely to get a urinary tract infection (UTI) when you have sex is because a woman’s urethra (the tube where urine comes out) is close to the vagina and anus.
The reason you’re more likely to get a urinary tract infection (UTI) when you have sex is because a woman’s urethra (the tube where urine comes out) is close to the vagina and anus. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It’s located in the pelvis, which is made up of both hip bones, or pelvic girdle bones, and includes your backside or buttocks area.
The female urethra passes through an opening between your labia minora—the smaller inner lips surrounding your vaginal opening—to reach its destination on your perineum, or “taint” (the junction between your vagina and anus). Some women also call this area their “front bum,” but since it’s part of their rear end we’ll stick with taint here because that seems more polite!
In women, urinating soon after sex is one of the most effective ways to prevent UTIs, according to Dr. Joanne S. Kondel.
In women, urinating soon after sex is one of the most effective ways to prevent UTIs, according to Dr. Joanne S. Kondel.
Urinating soon after sex helps flush out bacteria and other germs from the urethra and bladder. Urination also prevents the urine from pooling in your urethra and irritating your bladder lining. This irritation can cause UTIs and increase your risk of developing kidney infections.
It’s also important to drink lots of water throughout the day and urinate frequently, Dr. Kondel says.
You should also drink water throughout the day and urinate frequently, Dr. Kondel says.
The best way to avoid getting a UTI is to drink water before, during, and after sex. Most people don’t drink enough fluids on a daily basis anyway so it can be easy to get dehydrated without realizing it—especially if you’ve been sitting at your desk all day at work or studying for a final exam.
Drinking plenty of fluids before strenuous exercise is also important because it helps prevent dehydration which can lead to UTIs in some cases (though this does not apply specifically when it comes to sexual activity). When engaging in any physical activity such as running or swimming, make sure that you are properly hydrated beforehand so as not to put unnecessary stress on your bladder later down the road!
“The purpose of urinating is to empty your bladder,” Dr. Kondel says. “If you have bacteria in your bladder from intercourse, it gives those bacteria a better chance at growing in the urine.”
If you don’t urinate after sex, the bacteria may stay in the urethra and cause an infection. “The purpose of urinating is to empty your bladder,” Dr. Kondel says. “If you have bacteria in your bladder from intercourse, it gives those bacteria a better chance at growing in the urine.”
Drinking water and urinating frequently also help prevent UTIs because they flush out bacteria that could have entered the urethra during intercourse.
A 2013 study conducted in mice found that E. coli is able to travel up the female urethra during sex, which causes UTIs in some women.
A 2013 study conducted in mice found that E. coli is able to travel up the female urethra during sex, which causes UTIs in some women.
This is not a recommendation to have more sex if you’re prone to UTIs; there are other ways to prevent them (like drinking lots of water and peeing after sex), so don’t worry too much about this one.
They don’t actually recommend doing that, though—there are plenty of other ways to prevent UTIs without wearing a condom during sex or giving up sex altogether.
If you’re having UTIs, it can be tempting to try any method that promises an end to your UTI-related discomfort. But using a condom during sex won’t actually prevent UTIs from happening. In fact, the Mayo Clinic suggests that using a condom might actually increase your risk of getting one.
The reason for this is because condoms can trap bacteria and moisture inside of them, which makes them a perfect breeding ground for harmful germs. If left untreated and undetected for long enough, these bacteria can get into the urinary tract and cause an infection! So while using condoms may seem like a good idea at first glance—you’re preventing pregnancy after all—it’s really not worth it if it means risking getting sick with another painful urinary tract infection (UTI).
If your UTI symptoms are severe or don’t go away within 24 hours, see your doctor as soon as possible—avoiding treatment could cause more serious problems like kidney infection or sepsis.
If you’re suffering from a UTI, it’s important to take care of yourself and get help. A urinary tract infection can be painful, uncomfortable and even cause serious health problems in the future if left untreated.
If you experience any of the following symptoms:
- An overwhelming urge to urinate—you might feel like you have to go all the time
- Pain or burning when urinating (peeing)
- Cloudy urine that smells unusual or strong
- Blood in your urine
Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s but water intake and frequency also help!
Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s, but water intake and frequency also help! Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s but water intake and frequency also help!
Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s but water intake and frequency also help! Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s but water intake and frequency also help!
Urinating after sex is the most effective way to prevent UTI’s but water intake and frequency also help!
Conclusion
So, there you have it! The reason why sex causes UTIs is because the urethra is close to the vagina and anus, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel up during sex. But if you’re worried about getting one after having sex with your partner, Dr. Kondel says that there are many ways to prevent UTIs without wearing a condom or giving up sex altogether: Urinating after intercourse will help flush out any bacteria that may have entered your body through your urethra during sex; drinking lots of water throughout each day also helps flush out urine from within your bladder (and keeps things running smoothly down there). If those methods aren’t enough, talk with a doctor about prescribed antibiotic medications that can kill off any lingering bacteria before they cause problems later on down the line—like kidney infection or sepsis.