I am 64 years old, and I have two sexual partners. With one, every time we have intercourse, I get a bladder infection. I take Macrobid to clear this up, but I don't like having to do this. I don't see this partner very often approximately four times a year since we live in different cities, but I would like to avoid these infections. Why does this happen, and what can we do to prevent it? I do not experience these infections after having intercourse with my other partner. It occurs whenever vaginal intercourse leads to urinary tract infections UTI. It is typically caused when the man's penile thrusting irritates the back wall of the bladder through the front wall of the vagina , massaging organisms into the bladder which, if you don't pee right after sex, can multiply and cause infection.
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People with a vagina should urinate after sex to reduce the risk of getting an infection.
People may have heard that peeing after sex is beneficial, especially for women. This is because peeing flushes bacteria out of the body, which may help prevent a urinary tract from developing. Here, we look at how peeing after sex may help to prevent urinary tract infections. We also discuss whether there are any other benefits to peeing after sex. Sexual intercourse is a risk factor for urinary tract infections UTIs. The urethra is the tube that connects the bladder to the urethral opening where urine comes out.
Not peeing after sex can lead to a UTI or a prostate infection.
I prioritize my urinary health over cuddling too long after sex — but sometimes, when I head to the bathroom and sit down to pee, nothing comes out. After sex, the body releases vasopressin and oxytocin. Both of these hormones play an important role in pair-bonding. But vasopressin is an antidiuretic , which can make it hard to urinate after sex, says Dr. Christina E. Lewicky Gaupp , a urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Too much of this hormone can cause the kidneys to retain water, so a sudden release post-orgasm can limit the amount of water passed in urine. Lewicky Gaupp and Dr. Lewicky Gaupp. While Dr.
Peeing after sex may help prevent urinary tract infections UTIs. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, usually through your urethra, and travels to your bladder. If you have a vagina, your urethra — the opening where urine is released — is close to your vaginal opening. Peeing after sex can help flush bacteria that was introduced during intercourse away from your urethra. Peeing after sex is the least beneficial for individuals who have a penis. The bacteria have to travel much farther to cause a UTI. You or your partner can touch anywhere else on the vulva without having to worry about increasing your risk for UTIs. However, there is an exception, if your partner performs oral sex or cunnilingus, which focuses on oral contact with the clitoris which is very close to the urethral opening , bacteria can be pushed from the mouth and tongue into the urethra. Ideally, you should pee within 30 minutes of having sex to reap the UTI-prevention benefits.