Sex and UTIs

The #1 UTI Trigger

One of the most common triggers for a UTI is…you guessed it…SEX.  And that's because sex can create an easy path for bacteria that live in the bowel to enter the urinary tract.

Most often, UTIs are caused by E. coli, which is responsible for more than 90% of UTIs. And if you're wondering why you get them more than your partner does, that's probably because women tend to have shorter urethras than men and since bacteria has to travel a shorter distance to reach the urinary tract in women, sex triggers UTIs for women way more often than men. 

Sometimes, women confuse an STD for a UTI so it's important to understand the difference in terms of symptoms. UTI symptoms for infections caused by sex include burning with urination, the urge to pee quite often, and sometimes you'll also notice cloudy or weird smelling urine. One in your bladder, a UTI can cause pelvic pressure, pain in your lower abdomen, frequent, painful urination, and blood in your pee. And if the infection spreads to your kidneys, you can experience upper back and side pain, a high fever, shaking and chills, nausea, and vomiting.

Are your UTIs caused by sex? If so, you should think about taking some precautions before you get it on, like peeing before and directly after sex to help flush out any bacteria that may have been introduced.

You should also avoid using a diaphragm, unlubricated condoms and unsanitary sex toys as much as possible. If you can manage it, taking a shower with your partner BEFORE sex is a great idea because it can help reduce the amount of bacteria on your body.

We also recommend taking femiNature right after the deed to help boost your immune system and prevent inflammation. femiNature's ingredients bind with UTI-causing bacteria, preventing it from attaching to the urinary wall, increase urinary flow with a gentle diuretic to boost urine flow and help flush out bacteria, and boosts immune system function to help your body fight off any bacteria that may have been introduced.

And not to be a total killjoy, but it's actually crucial that you avoid sex altogether when you have a UTI. If you have sex with a UTI, it could actually worsen the infection by re-seeding the bacteria that caused the infection in the first place. So take a few days off to rebalance your body and heal before you jump back in bed.

And remember: With treatment, you’ll feel relief – and get busy again – soon.