Urinating after sex: is it really necessary according to doctors?

Some women need to go to the toilet to pee right after a little bumping, others fall asleep immediately and only pee eight hours after the act. What do doctors say is wise?

Do you need to pee after sex or does it not matter at all?

Don’t know much about biology
The answer seems simple: yes. You should definitely pee after a good sexual encounter. Peeing after sex is also known as postcoital urination and is a useful way to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), says urologist Vannita Simma-Chiang to Mindbodygreen. There haven't been many scientific studies on it, but the general healthy advice from doctors is: do it. Even if you don't feel the urge. According to doctors, bad bacteria can easily reach a woman's bladder through sex. And you definitely don't want that there.

It all has to do with a lesson in biology. The typical length of the urethra is between two and three centimeters, compared to 15 to 29 centimeters of the penis in men. In other words: our urethra is dangerously close to our ‘other opening’, where penetration occurs, and where sperm also ends up. By peeing after that climax, you flush out all the nasty bacteria, reducing the chance of an infection. This has been proven in research, but: you can of course also get a urinary tract infection or bladder infection if you do pee after sex. You just make the chance a bit smaller, and some women are simply more susceptible to it.

Sorry darling, I'm just peeing
What is a big misunderstanding according to doctors is that only peeing after a little bump makes sense. Running to the toilet before you get down to business is also useful and healthy, says sexologist Gigi Engle. Having a full bladder during sex can be quite uncomfortable and can also increase the risk of infections. And even funnier: with a new partner, the chance of a bladder infection is only greater. With a new partner, you may have a higher chance of bladder infection during sex because your body is not yet accustomed to the bacteria that your new partner carries. The sex itself is often a bit more intense, allowing the bacteria to nestle deeper in your body. Ah, lovely, that first infatuated phase.

Besides all that peeing: should you also shower after a little humping with your lover? Yes, that actually can't hurt, according to experts. Maybe not as romantic as a little cuddling and chatting, but yes. So run to that bathroom as soon as you're done (finished).

Source: Mindbodygreen.com