If you’re feeling a burning sensation when you pee and a persistent need to go, you might have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It’s most common in women, appearing in about one in every four women at some point in their lives, whereas for men, it’s about one in every twenty.
After filtering out the bad stuff from the blood, the kidneys produce urine, which goes down into the bladder through the ureters, and then is later expelled from the body through the urethra. Urine is sterile. There are no bacteria in it. However, a UTI can occur when bacteria makes it way up the urethra and into the bladder or ureters. There are a number of ways this can happen usually through bacteria from the bowel wandering up the urethra (remember, always wipe from front to back) and through sex. For women, vaginal bacteria can be massaged into the urethra during sex.
As such, it’s important to be aware and vigilant. One way to clear the urethra is to urinate after sex, flushing out the bacteria. It’s also good practice to wash the genital area before and after sex (and just regularly in general). If you are unfortunate enough to have contracted a UTI, head straight to your doctor. Describe the symptoms, they’ll get you to pee in a cup, and test to ensure you do have an infection. After that, you’ll be prescribed a course of antibiotics and you’re usually good as gold.
While these symptoms are tell-tale signs of UTIs, if you are experiencing any discomfort, pain or itchiness in the genital area it’s important to get a check-up at the doctor. If you’re sexually active there’s a chance you may have contracted a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). Even if you’re not experiencing any discomfort, it’s good practice to get a regular check-up regardless, or at least between partners. A friend of mine has always had a check up between every boyfriend she’s ever had, because it’s very important to her not to pass an STI on to any future partners.
Otherwise, keep your fluids up, keep yourself clean, be responsible and enjoy good, safe sex.
Love,
-S