Urinary hygiene: why is it important to pee after sex?

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Peeing after sexual intercourse is a topic that is very often overlooked, and extremely important in the context of the prevention of urinary tract infections. Many women do not see the connection between having sex and the constant urge to urinate and recurrent cystitis, which can be a real pain.

Why is it so important to pee after sex and what to do if you can't pee after sex? Can peeing after sex be a method of contraception? In this article, we address the important issues of feminine hygiene after sexual intercourse.

Pissing after sex and the female anatomy

After romantic moments of elation, most women, instead of rushing to the toilet, prefer to cuddle up to their partner and fall asleep in his tender embrace. It's completely understandable, but those few minutes spent in the toilet peeing after intercourse can effectively help a woman preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Katarzyna Opuchlik

Obstetrics and gynecology specialist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

During sex, various germs can easily be transferred to the woman's urethra by caressing, touching the genitals and rubbing against the partner. Hence, there is a simple way for pathogens to spread to further sections of the urinary tract, e.g. on the bladder. In women, the urethra is up to 5 times shorter than in men. In addition, the urethral opening, vagina and anus are anatomically very close to each other, which predisposes women to more frequent urinary tract infections.

Peeing after sex helps to effectively cleanse the urethral opening of germs. Behind urinary tract infections in women 90% of it is responsible E. coli bacteria (so-called fecal bacilli) commonly colonizing the human large intestine. Washing up after intercourse is also helpful, but peeing after sex is considered to be more effective in preventing UTIs in sexually active women.

Constant urge to urinate after intercourseare the most common symptoms of urinary tract infection

In women in childbearing age UTI most often involves inflammation of the bladder. We already know why peeing after sex is important, but what if we suspect cystitis?

The constant urge to urinate after intercourse, i.e. the feeling of constant pressure on the bladder, pain and burning during urination are the most common symptoms of a UTI in women. They may be accompanied by a slightly darker urine color and its unpleasant odor, which is associated with inflammation of the bladder mucosa. Discomfort and the constant desire to urinate immediately after intercourse may also be associated with irritation of the urethra, which occurred as a result of intense closeness with the partner.

In some cases, pain and burning when peeing after intercourse can also be caused inflammation of the urethra alone or inflammation of the vagina. The constant desire to urinate after intercourse and the great discomfort accompanying cystitis should prompt a woman to visit a gynecologist. In the case of uncomplicated cystitis, antibiotic therapy recommended by a doctor is very effective. It is important to follow the specialist's instructions exactly and not to discontinue the drug immediately after the first symptoms disappear.

Why can't I pee after sex?when should I?

Katarzyna Opuchlik

Obstetrics and gynecology specialist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

In the short time after intercourse, the inability to start micturition may result from congestion of the reproductive organs, as a consequence of an orgasm. This is a completely physiological phenomenon and resolves spontaneously within a few minutes.

Difficulties with peeing after sex can also result from insufficient hydration of the body. Of course, it is often difficult to relieve yourself "on demand", but drinking 1 glass of water shortly before or after intercourse can effectively help you pee after sex. There is no need to rush to the toilet immediately after sex, but it is worth peeing up to 30 minutes after intercourse.

Why can't you pee after sex??

This problem may also result from high emotions and the desire to return to the partner who stayed in bed as soon as possible. The woman tries to push hard on the bladder, but this is often not conducive to bowel movements. It's worth taking a moment and sitting on the toilet for a few minutes, which can help you pee after sex.

Katarzyna Opuchlik

Obstetrics and gynecology specialist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

It is very important, in the context of the prevention of urinary incontinence and lowering the reproductive organ, to never perform such an effort to urinate. Urine should flow spontaneously, do not accelerate its stream. 

No need to urinate a lot - a little bit is enough to effectively cleanse the urethra of microbesthat have not yet firmly attached themselves to the mucous membrane lining the urethra. Why can't I pee after sex? It can also be caused by temporary irritation of the urethral opening caused by intense sex. You can gently wash yourself in a bidet - warm water and its noise can effectively help to relax the muscles, initially soothe irritations and pee after sex.

Peeing after intercourse and other effective methods of preventing urinary tract infections 

Constant urge to urinate after intercourse and other symptoms recurrent urinary tract infection they cause considerable discomfort in women and reduce the quality of life. What else, apart from peeing after sex, helps in effective UTI prevention? If possible, gynecologists recommend washing yourself before intercourse and washing your hands thoroughly - it is worth to include both sexual partners in such hygienic activities. Of course, hygiene of the genitals should also be taken care of every day, which significantly reduces the risk of multiplication of microorganisms.

It is also worth taking care of the already mentioned, proper hydration of the body, which will help to deal with the problem effectively. Of course, we try to drink about 2-2,5 liters of water not only on days of sexual activity, but also every day.

When we want to pee try not to hold your urine for too long but - if possible - go to the bathroom immediately. It is equally important to wipe yourself properly after using the toilet: we always move from front to back to prevent the transfer of microorganisms from the anal area to the urethra. Using a condom is also helpful in the prevention of UTI and, above all, prevents infection with sexually transmitted diseases. However, despite the use of a condom, it is still recommended to pee after intercourse.

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Ewa Kamińska

Pharmacologist, Chief expert in the field of opinions on cosmetics, medical devices, washing and rinsing agents and biocides, Institute of Mother and Child

Peeing after intercourse and contraception

Unfortunately, many couples still live under the misconception that if a woman uses the restroom quickly after sex, urinates, and waits for the semen to leak out of the vagina, she will definitely not get pregnant. Nothing could be more wrong - peeing after sex and leakage of excess semen from the vagina is not an effective method of contraception. During ejaculation, sperm are inserted into the vagina very deeply and immediately stick to its walls so much that peeing after intercourse or thorough washing is not able to prevent possible fertilization.

The only effective method of preventing pregnancy is the use of contraception, the form of which the couple should adjust to their needs, in consultation with a doctor. It is worth knowing that a higher incidence of UTI has been proven in women using spermicides, especially in combination with such methods of contraception as a vaginal ring or cervical cap.

Therefore, if a woman often feels a constant desire to urinate after intercourse and struggles with frequent, troublesome urinary tract infections, she should talk to a gynecologist about the best methods of contraception tailored to her needs.

Medical consultation

Katarzyna Ouchlik

Obstetrics and gynecology specialist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child

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