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Question
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I am a married woman whose husband is often away on extended trips. It seems
like every time I have sex after a break I get a urinary tract or bladder infection.
What causes this, and what can I do to prevent it? My doctor keeps prescribing
antibiotics which work, but can I do anything to prevent it in the first place?
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Answer
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What you are experiencing is sometimes known as "honeymoon cystitis"
because it often comes after a period of frequent and intense intercourse. It is
usually caused by E. coli or other bacteria normally present in the lower intestine
(and in fecal matter) being introduced into the urethra; this is a fairly common
occurrence in women. Once infected, women will often experience painful,
frequent, burning urination within a day or two, or even discolored urine due
to blood. At this point, the most common treatment is sulfa drugs and drinking
lots of fluids. If left untreated, symptoms will worsen and begin to include
lower-back or abdominal pain and fever. Eventually, damage to the kidneys may
occur. But, there are several things you can do to prevent such infections:
- Always wiping from front to back after going to the bathroom;
- Drinking lots of fluids;
- Urinating frequently, especially before and after intercourse;
- Making sure you are well-lubricated, using extra lubrication if you become dry during intercourse;
- Never inserting objects, fingers, penis, or other body parts into the vagina after contact with the anus without proper cleansing in between.
Finally, some women say that they have been able to stave off an infection by
drinking fluids high in acidity such as cranberry juice. Although this may
kill bacteria, be careful not to overdo it, otherwise you will irritate your
urethra and make the situation worse.
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Best,
Dr. Sandor Gardos
MyPleasure provides up-to-date and useful sexual education materials in combination
with a store that allows people to buy, try, and learn about new aspects of
sexuality. We believe everybody deserves a great sex life.
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