Sex is great, as long as it’s done properly and with adequate protection.
However, even if you’re protecting yourself from unwanted pregnancy and STIs, there can still be pitfalls.
If you’re someone who’s experienced UTIs, thrush, or similar conditions, you’ll know just how uncomfortable they can be.
Not only this, it can be costly to buy over-the-counter medication to treat them, so for many prevention is better than cure.
If you’d like to know how sex affects your vaginal flora and fauna, we have everything you need to know about sex, thrush, UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and cystitis.
Can sex cause thrush?
Thrush can affect both those with penises or vaginas, and is a type of yeast infection.
Symptoms include white cottage cheese-like discharge, itching and irritation, and soreness and stinging during sex or when peeing.
For those with penises, it can also result in a smell or difficulty pulling back the foreskin.
Although thrush isn’t considered an STI, it can be passed through sex or triggered by intercourse.
If you have sex with someone who has thrush, this could cause you to get it too, but you’re more likely to get it if you have a weakened immune system or irritated skin in the warm, wet region of your genitals (which is where candida bacteria that causes thrush thrives).
Other things such as pregnancy or menopause can also increase your chances.
If you think you have thrush, you’re advised to avoid sex until you’ve finished your antifungal treatment – these can normally be obtained from the pharmacy, but it’s best to see a doctor first.
Using unscented soaps to wash, wearing cotton underwear, and making sure to dry properly after a shower can also be beneficial.
Using a condom can help you avoid getting thrush in the first instance, particularly if your partner is prone to bouts of it (even if they aren’t currently experiencing symptoms).
Can sex cause UTIs?
Urinary tract infection is an umbrella term for a variety of bacterial infections which can cause burning while peeing, needing to pee more often than usual, or cloudy or smelly pee.
They’re caused by faecal bacteria entering the urinary tract, and are more common in women since the vagina has a shorter urinary tract, making it easier for this bacteria to get in.
Sex has been proven to be a cause of UTIs, since the movement can push bacteria towards the vagina.
Thankfully, there is a relatively easy way of preventing this – and this one isn’t an old wives’ tale like drinking cranberry juice.
After sex, make sure to pee, which should push any bacteria out of the urethra and stop the UTI from taking hold.
Although it doesn’t always work (since some people are simply more susceptible) it should help. So should making sure to wipe from front to back, drinking plenty of fluids, making sure to empty your bladder as much as possible when peeing, and avoiding scented products when washing.
If you do think you have a UTI and it doesn’t pass within a few days, contact your GP, as you may need to take antibiotics.
Can sex cause bacterial vaginosis?
50% of women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) do not have any symptoms, which makes this a tricky one.
If you do experience symptoms of this infection, you may notice unusual vaginal discharge that has a strong fishy smell, particularly after sex, or a change in your discharge than makes it thinner, greyish, or more watery.
Not a whole lot is known about the exact cause of BV, but it’s been shown that sex can exacerbate symptoms.
Some people report getting BV after changing partner, or when they’re particularly sexually active. It’s worth noting, too, that women who have sex with women can also pass BV on to each other.
That doesn’t mean you need to abstain from sex altogether or worry about your sex life. Simply visit your GP or local sexual health clinic, and they can prescribe you treatment.
Also, make sure to use condoms or dental dams in future, as BV can make you more susceptible to STIs (due to the fact it lowers the acidity in your vagina).
Can sex cause cystitis?
Cystitis is technically a form of UTI, but in this case, the bacteria has gone further up your urinary tract to your bladder.
Much like with any UTI, although it is not an STI, it can be caused by sex in the sense that bacteria is pushed into your urinary tract from the friction while you’re having sex.
To avoid this, try to pee as soon as possible after sex, and practice good urinary hygiene (not holding your pee in, always emptying your bladder, and wiping front to back).
Stay away from perfumed products when washing your genitals, and try to keep hydrated so that any bacteria can be flushed out of your system more easily.
Visit your pharmacy if you think you have cystitis, but it might be worth seeing a doctor if your symptoms have lasted for more than three days.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/04/can-sex-cause-thrush-utis-bacterial-vaginosis-cystitis-12165482/
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