Why You Should Always Pee After Sex
If you have a vulva, there's a very good chance that someone in your life, at some point, told you that you should always pee after sex. Even if that person couldn't tell you exactly why, it's still just one of those things that people with vulvas share with other vulva-having people. But is this really something you should be doing or is it one of those vaginal hygiene myths with no validity to it? Short answer: No, it's not a myth and, yes, you should be peeing after sex. Every time.
When you have sex — intercourse and otherwise — bacteria gets shifted around on different parts of the body. Although that's not necessarily a bad thing ( not all microbes are harmful, after all), such an exchange can result in bacteria entering the urethra, leading to urinary tract infection (UTI). According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, research has found that roughly 40 to 60% of individuals with vulvas will end up with a UTI at some point in their life, and 25% of these people with develop more than one. While these infections are common, it's widely believed that if you pee after sex, you can limit your chances of getting a UTI because the urine flushes the bacteria away, keeping it out of the urethra.
Whether you've never had a UTI in your life or you're specifically prone to them, if you have a vulva you should definitely pee after a sex. If you've yet to make this part of your post-coitus practice, now is the time to do so.
How peeing after sex is helpful
Unlike people with penises, individuals with vulvas have a short urethra length, making it easy for not-so friendly bacteria to travel inside the body and get to the bladder. To give you an idea of just how much shorter it is, the average urethra of someone with a vulva is 2.5 to 4 centimeters in length, while people with penises typically have a urethra ranging from 15 to 20 centimeters.
"In the female anatomy, the urethra, the vagina, and the rectum are all in close proximity to each other so there is a higher chance of these bacteria from the rectum area to get close to your urethra when you're having sex," gynecologist Dr. Alyssa Dweck tells Business Insider. "So, by flushing out that bacteria you decrease your chances of getting a urinary tract infection." Although those with penises don't run the same risk of getting UTIs as people with vulvas, there's no harm in them peeing after sex, too.
While there's no definitive amount of time that someone should pee after intimate play, the general consensus is within 30 minutes after any intercourse that involves touching the vaginal area. It's also not something you should force. For starters, pushing out a few drops isn't going to flush anything out of the urethra, and secondly, it can eventually lead to problems. According to the National Association for Continence, pushing those muscles can disrupt their usual state, most notably the pelvic floor. It can also, in some cases, cause one to develop hemorrhoids or a prolapsed organ. In these cases, it's best to get yourself a big glass of water and have a proper cuddle session until you do need to urinate.
What peeing after sex can't do
Tragically, sex ed doesn't teach us enough, so it's easy to fall prey to a whole boatload of sex-related rumors. As much as peeing after sex can reduce the chances of developing a UTI, that's pretty much where the benefits end. It cannot lower your risk of contracting an STI or getting pregnant. In those scenarios, only condom use can do both. However, if you're in a committed relationship where you and your partner are fluid-bonded and have decided to skip barrier methods, then the only way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy is by using contraception.
If you already having the post-sex pee routine down to a science, but you're still getting UTIs, be sure to talk to your doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, repeated infections could be the result of birth control, menopause, immune system issues, or any number of possibilities.
When it comes to having a happy sex life, it's important to realize that it requires keeping the whole body healthy. It's not just about the vagina or penis, but all the other organs, including the biggest sex organ of all: the brain. So always do what you can to keep things on the up and up, and if something doesn't look or feel right, make an appointment with a health care professional.