Why You Should Always Urinate After Sex; Urinating (peeing) after sex, according to females and some males can reduce the chance of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and some sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs).
So, what is the truth?
As with many words of wisdom, there are truths and misunderstandings that can be difficult to discern.
This article analyzes whether urinating after sex helps prevent UTIs or STIs. It also discusses various strategies for prevention and when you should contact a doctor if you have signs and symptoms of an illness.
For the purposes of this article, “female” refers to those born with a vagina, and “man” refers to people born with a penis, regardless of whether they identify as male or female.
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Why You Should Always Urinate After Sex
Female urinary tract infections and sex
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are clearly connected to female sexual intercourse. The more sex a person has, the more possible it is that they may get a UTI, including cystitis (bladder infection). Because of this, sexually transmitted UTIs are sometimes referred to as “honeymoon cystitis.”
One of the primary reasons for this is that vaginal intercourse puts pressure on the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body). Bacteria may be forced into the urethra as a result of this. It can also irritate urethral tissues, increasing their exposure to infection.
Why Are Females at a Higher Risk?
Females are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted UTIs than males for a variety of reasons, including:
- Because the female urethra is shorter, germs must travel a shorter distance to reach the bladder.
- In females, the skin of the urethral meatus (opening) is thinner and more porous.
- Because the female urethra is proximal to the rectum, germs from the anus are more easily transmitted (particularly if you engage in anal sex).
- Because the female urethra is next to the vagina, germs from the vagina have easy access to the urethra.
READ ALSO: How to deal with Vagina Dryness
Is it true that urinating after sex prevents UTIs?
Several studies have been conducted to determine if postcoital voiding, or peeing within 15 minutes following sexual intercourse, might lower the incidence of UTIs in females.
Many studies to date have suggested that it can. According to the notion, peeing after intercourse helps clear any germs out of the urethra before they can cause an illness.
Having said that, the findings are neither unanimous nor consistent. Some research has concluded that there is no link between peeing after intercourse and the risk of UTIs.
What is certain is that peeing after sex cannot harm you, and postcoital voiding has never been demonstrated to raise the risk of a UTI.
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Is urinating effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections?
If urinating after sex might potentially lower the chance of a UTI, especially in females, it stands to reason that it can also help avoid sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs).
There is currently no indication that this is the case. This is due to the fact that the path of infection for most STIs differs greatly from that of a UTI.
In the case of a UTI, germs normally move up the urethra to infect the bladder. Most germs that cause an STI enter the body through the permeable mucosal tissues that border the female genital canal and male urethra. Because they are so tiny, some STIs can even penetrate entire skin.
As a result, peeing after intercourse provides little to no help in avoiding STIs in either males or females.
Preventing sexually transmitted infections
- It is not always simple to avoid developing a UTI, but there are certain steps you may take to lower your chances, especially if you are female.
- Before and after intercourse, clean your genital and anal regions. Wipe from front to back to avoid spreading germs from the anus to the vagina.
- Drink lots of water before and after intercourse to guarantee that you can pee.
- If you are prone to UTIs, avoid wearing a diaphragm since it might bring germs into the vagina.
- Avoid spermicides, which can irritate and weaken urethral mucosal tissues.
- Minimize your number of sex partners to reduce your chance of any sexually acquired infection, whether a UTI or an STI. You are less likely to be exposed to bacteria that cause UTIs and STIs if you do so.
- Use condoms appropriately and regularly to avoid STIs. There is also an HPV vaccination and a daily medicine therapy known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that can significantly reduce your chance of contracting HIV.[1]
Quick recap
In females, peeing after intercourse may help remove germs from the urethra and minimize the risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Having said that, the data on whether the technique genuinely benefits is mixed. In the end, it may or may not be beneficial.
Men have a lower risk of UTIs from sex because their urethra is longer and ejaculation helps clear the canal. Men who participate in anal intercourse may be at increased risk, while there is no evidence that urinating afterward benefits.
Peeing after sex has not been proven to protect either females or males from contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
