How to prevent UTIs after sex and masturbation
If you’ve ever felt the uncomfortable, burning sensation of a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know that it’s not something you want to deal with. Unfortunately, thanks to female anatomy, UTIs are quite common—and sex is often a trigger. But there are ways you can prevent UTIs from occurring in the first place.
So, whether you’re experiencing your first UTI, are trying to make sure you never have one, or that urge to pee has become a regular occurrence, here is the lowdown on how to prevent UTIs after sex and other play.
What is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is just that, an infection in any part of the urinary system, commonly caused by bacteria or fungus. Infections typically impact the lower part of the urinary tract, which is why it’s common to hear it referred to as a bladder infection. When the infection is in the bladder, it is usually pretty easy to treat with a round of antibiotics.
Common symptoms of a bladder infection include:
- A constant urge to pee (even after you’ve just gone)
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- Blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain
If you think you have a UTI, it’s important that you speak with a doctor or medical professional as soon as possible to avoid complications.
How to treat a UTI at home
If you’re currently Googling ‘how to treat a UTI at home’ and praying for the infection to go away, there are some things you can do at home to ease the discomfort. Just know that UTIs almost always require antibiotics, so you shouldn’t try to treat a UTI at home. If left untreated, the infection could quickly move up to your kidneys, causing more complications and greater health risks.
If making it to your doctor’s office is out of the question (or you’re sans insurance and looking for a more affordable route), you could turn to a telehealth clinic. Many online health platforms provide an affordable and convenient way for you to meet with a medical professional who can assess your symptoms and prescribe you the correct antibiotics so you can start feeling better sooner.
And while you’re waiting for your symptoms to pass, you can try these home remedies to alleviate symptoms and speed up the recovery process:
- Drink plenty of water to help flush out the infection
- Wear loose clothing to avoid further irritation
- Use a heating pad to ease pelvic pain
- Take a daily probiotic to build good bacteria
- Pee as often as necessary to empty infected urine
- Grab an OTC pain reliever specific to UTI pain, like Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride
How to prevent UTIs after sex and masturbation
The only thing better than quick treatment for a UTI is preventing one in the first place. And while female anatomy makes it much easier for women to suffer from a UTI than a man, there are some things we can do to prevent them from happening.
Wash before playing
One of the most common causes of UTIs is intercourse. Whether it’s with a finger, toy, penis, mouth, or another body part, any type of sexual contact could introduce bacteria to your urethra. Yes, you can get a UTI (and STDs and STIs) from oral sex and masturbation! To minimize this risk, take a few minutes to wash up before playing. You can even make it sexy by inviting your bae or your waterproof vibrator into a steamy shower sesh.
Keep your toys clean
Toys add immense pleasure for both solo sessions and partner play, but it’s important to properly clean and store toys before and after use. Taking a few minutes to wash your toys will not only prevent infections but will help make them last longer, too.
Pee after sex
UTIs usually start in the urethra, where bacteria enters and travels up the tract system. However, peeing directly after intercourse can help flush those unwanted microorganisms out before it moves up and causes an infection. The best way to prevent UTIs after sex is to pee with force directly after intercourse. Forceful urination helps to push out any bacteria that may have made its way in there.
Talk to your doctor
If it feels like you’re constantly battling a bladder infection, there could be something else going on. Various health conditions, such as STDs/STIs, autoimmune disease, hormone imbalances, and even anatomy, can mimic or cause chronic bladder infections. If you have two or more infections within a 6-month time frame, you should bring it up with your doc.
Switch your birth control
Some birth control methods, such as spermicides, diaphragms, and IUDs, can make you more prone to fungal and bacterial infections, which could lead to more frequent bladder infections. If you’re having issues with frequent infections, you may want to check out other non-hormonal birth control options.
Never go ‘back to front’
E. Coli, a bacteria that can be found in your intestine and anus, is the most common culprit for bladder infections. That’s why wiping back-to-front is a big no-no. It’s also why you shouldn’t switch from the backdoor to the front during your sexcapades. If you’re practicing anal play, avoid switching back to vaginal penetration, or at least wash up or switch toys first.
Clean your vagina—but not too much
Vaginas are beautiful, pleasure-filled, self-cleaning miracles that require a delicate balance of bacteria to maintain tip-top shape. So, if you want a WAP, or just want to avoid more infections, it’s important to know how to properly clean her.
Use warm water and gentle, unscented soap to wash around your vagina and vulva. Be sure to spread your lips to clean around the folds, but avoid getting any soap inside your vagina, which could mess up your PH levels and lead to infections.
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