How to Prevent UTI After Sex

Although the urinary tract is designed to prevent bacteria from entering, harmful microbes that cause female urinary tract infections (UTIs) are easily spread during sex. Hormone changes during pregnancy, new sexual partners, and low estrogen levels post-menopause can also increase the risk of more frequent UTIs.

Antibiotics are the recommended medical treatment for UTIs but antibiotic resistance can become an issue with recurrent urinary tract infections. It's therefore helpful to understand how to avoid urinary tract infections after sex and which alternative treatments can help prevent UTIs from recurring.

In this article, we explain how UTIs occur, why they are more common in women than men, how to prevent a UTI after sex, and how an effective Aloe Vera supplement can prevent recurrent UTIs.

What is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in one or more parts of the urinary system, which includes the bladder, kidneys, ureter, and urethra. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urethra (where urine exits the body) and travel up the urinary tract to the bladder, causing inflammation and irritation. For this reason, UTIs are also known as bladder infections.

UTIs are more prevalent in women than men, and females can also experience recurring UTIs. When UTIs are left untreated, they can spread from the bladder and result in a far more serious kidney infection.

The first line of treatment for UTIs is antibiotics. That said, medical experts encourage women who suffer from recurring UTIs to seek alternative treatment to avoid antibiotic resistance and other impacts on the immune system or vaginal health.

What Causes UTIs?

The most common cause of UTIs is a group of bacteria known as Escherichia coli (E. coli). Harmless strains of E. coli live in the intestines to help digest food, however, an infection can occur when these strains, or more harmful strains of E. coli, enter other body parts, such as the urinary tract.

Because E. coli lives in the intestines to aid food digestion, it is also found in a person's stool and often present around the anus. In the female anatomy, the anus is much closer to the urethra than in males, meaning E. coli is spread much easier to the urinary tract due to skin-to-skin contact during sex or while wiping after using the bathroom.

Women with a new sexual partner typically have sex more frequently, which increases the risk of E. coli spreading to the urethra. For this reason, cystitis gained the nickname 'honeymoon cystitis'.

Hormone changes during pregnancy and after menopause are also known to increase the frequency of UTIs. Additionally, statistics show that urinary tract infections are common in women who experience difficulty emptying the bladder, those with a family history of UTIs, and women with pelvic organ prolapse.

What Are the Symptoms of a UTI?

When E. coli enters the urethra and travels up the urinary tract, UTI symptoms can occur within 24 hours or a few days. The most recognizable symptom of a UTI is the pain or stinging sensation experienced when urinating.

Other common symptoms of UTIs include:

• A frequent urge to pee but passing very little urine each time
• A sudden need to pee despite the bladder not being full
• Cloudy urine
• Unusual ammonia-like odour from urine
• Red, pink, or dark urine due to the presence of blood
• Abdominal pain
• Pelvic discomfort

Can a UTI Cause Fever or Back Pain?

Yes, UTIs can cause fever, chills, and pain in the lower back or side, particularly if the infection reaches the kidneys. If you're experiencing fever or back pain with a UTI, consult your healthcare practitioner immediately to determine if you require treatment for a kidney infection.

How to Prevent UTIs?

One of the best ways to prevent UTIs is to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to help the urinary system flush bacteria from the body. It's also important to pee when you need to. Holding urine for a long time gives bacteria in the urinary tract time to thrive.

Breathable cotton underwear is recommended above those made from non-breathable synthetic materials. Fabrics like polyester trap perspiration, creating a moist environment where bacteria like E. coli can thrive.

Other tips to prevent UTIs include:

• Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom to prevent bacteria around the anus from spreading to the urethra
• Shower instead of taking baths to reduce the possibility of bacteria in the water entering the urethra
• Don't douche or use products with synthetic ingredients or fragrances in or around the vagina to protect the vaginal pH and the natural balance of the vaginal flora
• Change tampons or sanitary pads regularly to avoid bacterial growth
• Take a daily probiotic to maintain a balanced gut microbiota, a healthy immune system, and a healthy vaginal microbiome. This can prevent pathogens that are spread from the anus from thriving in the vaginal tract.

How do you prevent a UTI after Sex?

E. coli from the intestines typically resides on the skin around the anus. So when skin-to-skin contact occurs during sex, bacteria can easily spread from the anus to the vagina and into the urethra. When spermicides are used during intercourse, they can disrupt the vaginal microbiome and make it easier for harmful bacteria to thrive.

To prevent E. coli from traveling through the urinary tract and causing an infection after sex, ensure the bladder is empty beforehand and urinate afterward to flush out any bacteria. Then wash the vagina with warm water and pat gently dry. Female health practitioners also recommended that women avoid using spermicide to maintain a healthy vaginal environment.

If UTIs recur frequently, as they sometimes do when estrogen levels are low during pregnancy or after menopause, a daily natural supplement called Aloe Vera + D-Mannose with Calcium can help keep them at bay.

Why Do UTIs Recur?

Recurrent urinary tract infections are common in some women for differing reasons. Not drinking enough water, wiping from back to front after using the bathroom, and forgetting to urinate or wash the genitals after sexual activity are common causes of recurring UTIs.

Failing to complete the antibiotic treatment for a UTI means the offending bacteria can continue to thrive in the urinary system. While relief is often experienced when antibiotic treatment is commenced, symptoms will return if the course is not completed.

In the second and third terms of pregnancy, hormone changes and extra pressure on the bladder can increase the risk of UTIs. Post-menopause, when estrogen production has permanently lowered, the vaginal walls dry, thin, and lose elasticity, making the genitals in general more susceptible to infection.

Recurring UTIs can also happen because of anatomical abnormalities, or underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney stones.

How Do You Prevent UTIs from Recurring?

If you are experiencing recurrent urinary tract infections, ensure you finish each course of antibiotics, drink enough water, urinate when the bladder is full, and wipe front to back after using the bathroom. It's also vital to urinate after sex to flush bacteria from the urethra and wash the genitals with warm water.

When vaginal dryness after menopause is the culprit behind recurring UTIs, vaginal estrogen can help to prevent them. For those seeking a non-hormonal route, however, a daily Aloe Vera + Mannose with Calcium supplement is a powerful antidote. In addition to preventing recurring UTIs, this one-of-a-kind formula relieves IC and BPS symptoms.

Here's how it works...

When taken orally, Aloe vera's anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties have been proven to ease bladder pain. The added calcium creates the perfect pH for Aloe vera to do its work. And D-Mannose, which is found in many fruits and vegetables, prevents harmful bacteria like E. coli from sticking to the bladder wall and causing irritation.

If you suffer from recurring UTIs, taking an Aloe Vera + D-Mannose with Calcium supplement with your next antibiotic treatment will substantially reduce the risk of the infection returning. Because the supplement is 100% natural, it's also safe to take Aloe Vera + D-Mannose with Calcium daily capsules long-term to prevent UTIs from recurring postmenopause or ease the chronic symptoms of IC/BPS.

Can Drinking Cranberry Juice Treat a UTI?

Although some trials suggest that a daily glass of unsweetened cranberry juice can treat and prevent recurring UTIs, the evidence is weak. Cranberries contain D-Mannose, which can prevent certain bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. However, research shows the amount of D-mannose in cranberries is too small to have a preventative impact.

Research has also concluded that once a UTI occurs, drinking cranberry juice will not help to treat it. The most effective treatment for clearing UTIs is antibiotics. If you suffer from recurring UTIs, taking an Aloe Vera + D-Mannose with Calcium supplement at the same time will substantially reduce the risk of the infection returning.

Conclusion

Sex does not cause UTIs in women but it can increase the likelihood of them occurring due to the proximity of anal bacteria to the urethra. Underlying conditions like diabetes and kidney stones can also increase the occurrence of UTIs, as can hormone changes during pregnancy and after menopause.

Staying well-hydrated and practicing good hygiene after sex and bathroom visits can help prevent UTIs. Women suffering from recurring UTIs, which are common with sexual activity and after menopause, can greatly benefit from Aloe Vera + D-Mannose with Calcium supplements. In addition to relieving bladder pain within 24 hours, they prevent further bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.

References

National Library of Medicine - Urinary tract infection in women - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8077804/

Mayo Clinic - Cystitis - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371306

Web MD - Interstitial Cystitis - https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/interstitial-cystitis

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - About Escherichia coli Infection - https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/about/index.html

Frontiers in Microbiology - Healthy Vaginal Microbiota and Influence of Probiotics Across the Female Life Span - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.819958/full