Dr Anne Henderson, on behalf of Canesten, recommended two steps to follow after intercourse to help prevent a painful urinary tract infection (UTI).
“Women may benefit from showering and emptying their bladder after having sex, specifically those women prone to cystitis,” said Dr Henderson.
“This is usually due to transmission of E-coli and other bowel organisms across the perineum and up the urethra into the bladder.
“Emptying the bladder ideally within 20 to 30 minutes of having sex has been shown to reduce the risk of post-coital cystitis.”
Cystitis
Fairly common, the NHS reports, cystitis symptoms include:
- Pain, burning or stinging when you pee
- Needing to pee more often and urgently than usual
- Pee that’s dark, cloudy or strong smelling
- Pain low down in your tummy.
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If the symptoms don’t dissipate after three days, it’s recommended to see a doctor.
Sometimes, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.
The NHS cautions: “Long-term infections are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer in people aged 60 and over.”
Dr Henderson said if your bladder is inflamed due to cystitis, you should “avoid stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods”, as this could worsen symptoms.
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Additional infections to be wary of include thrush and bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Dr Henderson added: “If you do have concerns on whether you have an infection, easy self-testing kits such as Canestest can help diagnose common vaginal infections, including thrush and BV.
“Canestest measures the pH in your vagina and will guide on what this could mean.”
Sexually active adults also need to be aware of sexually transmitted infections.
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“Chlamydia can cause cervicitis, a condition which develops higher up the vagina and around the cervix (the neck of the womb),” said Dr Henderson.
The Mayo Clinic says cervicitis can lead to:
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Pain with intercourse
- Pain during a pelvic examination.
To help protect yourself against STIs, it’s recommended to practise safe sex and to have regular check-ups.
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