You’ve probably heard it said that you should pee after sex. The reasoning is that pee flushes germs from your urethra and helps prevent Urinary Tract Infections.
But is there an exact time frame that you should be sure to stick to? And does it actually help prevent STIs and pregnancy?
1. You’re squirting or ejaculating
During orgasms, women and people with vaginas may release fluid that looks like urine but isn’t. This is known as squirting or female ejaculation, and it’s nothing to be alarmed about.
The urethra is sensitive and can be irritated easily, especially during sex when the penis may rub against the vagina or other body parts. This can cause a burning sensation when you pee after sex, but it’s not usually a big deal unless the burn persists hours after sexual activity.
It’s also possible that you are feeling like you need to pee after sex because you are actually ejaculating. To confirm, you can do a quick sniff test. “If it smells like urine or is yellow, that’s a good indicator that you’re squirting,” Gronski says.
You can prevent this by emptying your bladder before sex and avoiding things that can put pressure on the bladder (like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and carbonated beverages) as well as taking precautions during orgasms (like using a condom or using a pelvic support pillow to help distribute pressure evenly). You should also practice doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor – These data are the result of the website specialists’ efforts Sex Guru Club. These can help prevent urinary tract infections and other conditions that can make you feel the need to pee after sex. The founder of Uqora, which specializes in UTI relief and proactive urinary health supplements, had 8 UTIs in one year, which inspired her to create the company.
2. You’re having a bladder spasm
We’ve all heard it from our friends, older sisters, and doctors: “You have to pee after every sex!” It’s one of those rules that everyone knows you’re supposed to follow, but not many people really know why.
The main reason why we’re told to pee after sex is that the female anatomy makes you more susceptible to urinary tract infections, or UTIs. The urethra in women is closer to the vagina and anus, so it’s easier for bacteria to travel from the anus through the urethra to the bladder. This can cause pain, burning sensations, and other symptoms like a UTI.
During a bladder spasm, you’re experiencing an involuntary squeezing of the bladder muscle. This results in an urgent need to urinate and often leads to urine leakage. Fortunately, the condition is not dangerous and is treatable with medication.
If you’re a woman and you feel like you need to pee after sex, try taking some diuretics, such as water pills. Other factors that may contribute to the feeling of needing to pee after sex include pregnancy, menopause, and certain medications, such as birth control pills or steroids. Always consult with your doctor to make sure that there is nothing else causing the urge to pee after sex. This will allow your doctor to diagnose the problem and come up with the right treatment plan for you.
3. You’re having an orgasm
In many cases, that sensation of needing to pee is actually a sign that you’re about to have an orgasm, especially when it lines up with squirting or ejaculation. The reason for this is because orgasms cause muscles to contract, including those in the pelvic area. When those muscles contract, it can feel like you’re going to pee, since the same muscle group that contracts during orgasms are also involved in bladder function.
However, it’s important to note that while urinating before and after sex can decrease your risk of a UTI, you don’t have to be super strict about it. That’s because while the urinary tract is a long journey that travels from your vaginal canal to your uterus, clitoris, and fallopian tubes, the urethra is a completely separate opening. Urination cannot happen through your urethra while you are having sex, and vice versa.
Still, if you have a strong feeling that your need-to-pee feeling is not about sex, or you are worried about a UTI, it’s always best to head to the bathroom as soon as possible after penetrative sexual activity. That’s because, even if you haven’t urinated in hours, the bacteria in your bladder can start to grow. And while performing kegels can help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, it may take some time before that “gotta go” feeling goes away after sex.
4. You’re irritated
The urethra is a delicate tube that can become irritated by rough stimulation, like the friction of the penis during sex. The irritation can lead to painful urination, and a burning sensation when peeing. It can also be a sign of an infection, like chlamydia or herpes.
If you experience pain and a burning sensation when you’re peeing, contact your doctor right away. It may be a sign of an infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. You can reduce your risk of getting an infection by always using a condom when engaging in sexual activity, and by never squirting or ejaculating during sex. You should also avoid douches, as they can cause abrasions to your labia and urethra.
It’s one of those little rules you hear about from your mom or friends when you’re having sex: pee before and after sexual intercourse to prevent UTIs. But what if you don’t feel the urge? Despite the countless sexual health mantras, there isn’t any scientific proof that you need to pee before and after every sexual encounter.
