Bathroom Habits and UTIs

It’s not the sexiest conversation. No one wants to begin date night by discussing their toileting routine, any more than you’d want to bring up a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at the dinner table. But for your best sexual health while maintaining hygiene, it’s important to consider how to balance your sexual activity with a trip to the loo. Let’s dive into how you can avoid urinary tract infections (UTI).

What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

You may have already heard advice regarding your bathroom trips before and/ or after sex, but do you know why? The idea is to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), a very common type of infection in your urinary system. A UTI can involve any part of your urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. Symptoms typically include needing to urinate often, having pain when urinating and feeling pain in your side or lower back¹

How to Avoid UTIs After Sex

When doctors advise those participating in sexual activity to head to the bathroom pre or post coitus, it’s with the hope that the stream of urine will carry out any bacteria that may have accidentally been pushed into the urethra. Unfortunately, not everyone is on quite the same page when it comes to the most beneficial frequency. Accordingly, we’ve summarized the recommendations depending on your personal situation.

• Scenario 1: You experience UTIs frequently. The best course in this situation is to pee before and after sex.
• Scenario 2: You infrequently or never experience UTIs, but your bladder is full. Please don’t hold it: pee before sex, and again within an hour of sex.
• Scenario 3: You infrequently or never experience UTIs and your bladder is not full. Feel free to skip peeing before sex but give it a go afterwards.

Remember that just because you want to avoid UTIs (for good reason) doesn’t mean you need to sprint to the toilet without even so much as a cuddle. If you don’t have the urge to go immediately, within the hour is a good general guideline, as the sooner you pee the sooner you are flushing out bacteria²

Freshen Up Your Intimate Areas with Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes

An additional reason you might want to head to the bathroom before sex? It will give you that all important moment to freshen up. Our top tip for feeling like your best self? Try slipping a pack of Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes into your bag alongside your safety method of choice. These intimate Flushable Wipes are infused with the gentle cleaning power of water and

unique CleaningRipples™ to leave you feeling your most confident. Made with plant based fibers, Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes are made for a worry-free flush, because we know you don’t need anything else to worry about!  What’s more, they’re also plastic free wipes, are free of parabens, alcohol, and harmful chemicals so you can safely get a freshness boost wherever you are.

Trust us when we say that once you’ve tried these, you’ll be happy to share your Downtherecare™. Here are some free coupons for flushable wipes to get you started.

¹https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections