‘Peeing after sex’ isn’t simply a locker room myth: It’s an important factor in maintaining genital health. And as lockdown measures remain strict, some of us may be having a lot more sex with their live-in partner(s) during the restrictions than we usually would – and it’s imperative to look after ourselves and practice proper aftercare. Including being aware of, and trying to avoid, getting cystitis.
It’s also important to note that for those of us going through a sex drought, cystitis can still strike at any time. According to Healthline, urinary tract infections can affect anyone.
But first – what exactly is cystitis? How is it caused, and more importantly, how can we prevent it?
What Is Cystitis?
Cystitis, also referred to as a urinary tract infection or a UTI – is what happens when your bladder becomes inflamed. This means something – either internal or external – has irritated the bladder. The infection can occur in absolutely anyone, but those with wombs and vaginas are the most susceptible to it. Cystitis can vary in severity and there are many causes for it.
For vagina owners, you may find yourself more likely to contract cystitis if you’re sexually active. Using diaphragms with spermicide may also cause irritation, but a UTI can also be caused by acts like taking hot baths, vaginal douching, wiping back-to-front and using various hygiene products.
Pregnancy and menopause are also common factors and other medical causes include radiation and chemotherapy, using a catheter, diabetes, HIV and kidney stones. In some people, the culprit may be a natural bacterial imbalance. Unfortunate to report, but some people are just genetically susceptible to it!
What Are The Symptoms?
Cystitis can cause discomfort and mild pain. The NHS lists the most common symptoms as needing to pee more often than usual, a stinging sensation while actually peeing, feeling like you need to pee straight after doing so, cloudy urine, and urine with a strong odour. Other symptoms include mild stomach pain (or cramps), blood in your urine, a low fever (below 38 degrees) and pain during sex.
While it’s unlikely that cystitis can spread to your kidneys, if left untreated, it can lead to a kidney infection. If you’re experiencing frequent nausea, vomiting, back pain, chills and/or a fever above 38 degrees, it may be a sign of a kidney infection. The good news is, both cystitis and kidney infections can be easily – and quickly – treated in most cases. As always: When in doubt, seek out a doctor’s advice.
Treating Cystitis
Cystitis (as well as kidney infections) can be easily sorted out with some antibiotics but other over-the-counter treatments are available for cystitis too. HANX offers an online prescription ordering service for cystitis treatments, and similar medicines can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies.
Other tried-and-tested at-home remedies include drinking lots of fluids – particularly cranberry juice in order to prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. (You just can’t include the usual double shot of vodka.) People with vaginas are also advised to wear loose fitting clothes and cotton underwear when suffering from cystitis. Still, it is always worth seeking out the advice of a medical professional when needing treatment for any illness.
Preventing Cystitis
Preventing cystitis can be easy when you know. While some of us are simply predisposed to suffering these infections in random bouts throughout our life, there are ways we can lower our chances of contracting them.
Wiping front-to-back after using the toilet, taking showers instead of baths (and if you are going to take a bath, please stay away from bath bombs and bubbles), steering clear of fragranced shower gels and vaginal deodorants, keeping to cotton underwear and always peeing after sex. This advice also holds true for avoiding associated genital conditions like thrush and bacterial vaginosis.
In fact, one of the best ways for everyone to avoid cystitis is to pee when you need to pee: A lot of us have forgotten the toe-curling, leg-crossing embarrassment of needing to pee in a public toilet – a social faux-pas that a lot of us tend to avoid. But waiting to urinate when we really need to can place a lot of unnecessary pressure on our bladders that leads to infections like cystitis. So, next time, in the words of Elsa – let it go!
While these genital specific ailments often carry a shroud of shame with them, the reality is leaving cystitis and similar conditions untreated can really damage your health long term. And as repeated throughout this piece: If in doubt, seek out medical advice from a trained professional.
