Is peeing after sex really important?

Some useful advice especially for women

Pee is very important to wash the urethra, especially for women. If they pee after sex, germs in their urethra get flushed away before they can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).

“When you urinate, anything that was trying to get to the bladder gets pushed out with the urine”, explains Dr. Zanotti. “Studies have not proven that urinating always reduces the risk of UTIs, but many women find it helpful”.

If you tend to get UTIs after sex, this happens to lots of women. That’s because friction from sexual activity can spread bacteria and these germs can spread from oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

“Many kinds of bacteria are harmless on the skin or in the anus”, says Dr. Zanotti. “But during sex, these germs can spread to your urinary tract and eventually cause a UTI”.

Because of their anatomy, women are more vulnerable to UTIs than males. The urethra is shorter and closer to the anus in females than in males. Therefore, germs are more likely to penetrate the urethra and migrate into the bladder. Kidney stones and enlarged prostates, instead, are prevalent in males, and both can lead to a urinary tract infection. That’s because males rarely suffer post-sex UTIs and there isn’t much benefit for them to urinate after sex. Women, on the other hand, should urinate within 30 minutes after sex because bacteria have a larger possibility of getting into the bladder as time passes.

Peeing after sex, on the other hand, may have some advantages, but not always, especially if you’re worried about pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, because the vagina is separate from the urethra, peeing after sex will not prevent pregnancy because it will not remove any baby-making sperm from your vagina. Furthermore, peeing does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Why does it burn when women pee after sex?

When some women urinate after sex, they experience a scorching sensation. That feeling isn’t always indicative of a UTI. You may have irritation on the outside of your body or in your vaginal area.

“Vaginal irritation can feel like a UTI because it can cause burning and urgency with urinating”, explains Dr. Zanotti. “If the burning or urgency goes away after a day or two, it was probably irritation. But if the symptoms last more than two days after you had sex, contact your doctor”.

However, if you experience irritation after sex, avoid:

• Condoms containing spermicides. (Instead, use spermicide-free latex condoms);
• Lubricants with warming, tingling, or perfumed properties. (For sensitive skin, try water-based, fragrance-free lubricants instead).

Source help.clevelandclinic.org