Experts revise advice: Women should urinate before and after sex to prevent infections

For years, women have been advised to urinate after sexual intercourse to reduce the risk of infection. However, recent insights suggest this advice may be incomplete, and experts now recommend urinating both before and after sex.

This updated guidance aims to combat the common issue of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which affect a significant portion of the population. A survey by sexual wellness brand Lovehoney revealed that two in five people have experienced sexual injury, with UTIs being the most frequent. While urinating after sex is known to help, the timing and necessity differ between sexes.

“

Women can significantly reduce the chances of getting an infection if they pee before and after sex, as this flushes unwanted bacteria from the urethra.

Sexologist Chantelle Otten explains that women can significantly lower their infection risk by urinating before and after sex. This action helps flush out unwanted bacteria from the urethra. Men, she notes, have a different physiological response; they can wait up to 15 minutes after intercourse. The difference is attributed to men having longer urethras, creating a greater distance to the bladder.

Symptoms of a UTI can include bladder pain, fever, a general feeling of unwellness, increased urge to urinate, unusual odor, back pain, and difficulty urinating. Following the expert advice to urinate both before and after sex is presented as a simple yet effective measure to avoid these uncomfortable symptoms.

“

They can wait up to 15 minutes after sex.