Heard about honeymoon cystitis yet? Know all about this sex-related infection

The honeymoon period, as they say, is looked forward to by every new couple. But sometimes, that particular holiday that you are eagerly awaiting for some steamy sex, can cause a problem if you end up developing honeymoon cystitis! Wondering what it is?

While you may wonder it is something related to your honeymoon, it is nothing but a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) that happens after having sex for the first time, having it multiple times or having it after a very long time. Basically, when vaginal intercourse leads to urinary tract infections, it is commonly referred to as honeymoon cystitis.

Why does it happen?

Dr Divya, an obstetrician and gynaecologist popular as The Girl Doc Next Door on Instagram, has revealed the reason behind it in a new video.

“In a female body, the anal opening is very close to the vaginal opening, where you have penetrative sex from. Similarly, the latter is closer to the urethral opening. So the bacteria can travel from the anus to the vaginal opening, and then further up to urethral opening. It is more common in women because the urethral opening is much smaller than that in males, so the bacteria travels faster and the infection can occur sooner,” she says.

Check out her video here:

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To put it simply, a man’s penile thrusting irritates the back wall of the urinary bladder and massages organisms into it. If a woman doesn’t pee after intercourse, those organisms or bacteria can multiply and cause infection, leading to honeymoon cystitis. Hence, it is not only a lack of protection that can lead to bad sex, but also honeymoon cystitis as it can have an adverse impact on your sex life.

Also, read: Bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infection: What’s the difference?

Symptoms of honeymoon cystitis

According to National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), around 50–60 percent of women end up developing UTIs in their lifetimes. It can be extremely uncomfortable for the person suffering from it. However, it not only occurs due to sexual activity but any bacterial infection, kidney stones, or radiation exposure.

Its symptoms include:

1. Increased frequency and urgency to pee

When you have honeymoon cystitis, one may feel a need to urinate more frequently.

2. Burning while peeing

In a person who develops honeymoon cystitis, there will be a burning sensation when urinating.

3. Painful urination

Symptoms of honeymoon cystitis tend to invite pain while urinating or discomfort down there.

4. High-grade fever

In case symptoms aggravate, it can cause high-grade fever as well.

5. Lower abdominal pain

If you’re experiencing pain in the abdomen, there are chances of you having honeymoon cystitis because it is a common symptom of it.

Treatment

If caught in time, honeymoon cystitis can be treated easily. Hence, do not shy away from seeking help. Meanwhile, keep these tips handy:

• Pass urine right after sex as you can then flush away any bacteria around the genital area or within the urethra.
• Drink plenty of water to flush out any bacteria from your urinary tract.
• Try alternative sex positions that do not cause too much friction over the urethra.
• Always wipe front to back and not vice versa, after passing urine so that you prevent any  bacteria from passing from the anus to the urethra and vagina.