A full bladder is not the only cause of urination during or after sexual activity. Women can also suffer from stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which is caused by weak pelvic floor muscles and a weakened urethral sphincter.
SUI can be caused by friction from the penis and vagina during foreplay or penetration. Lubrication can minimize this friction.
Bladder pain syndrome
If a person feels like they need to pee all the time, especially after having sex, it may be bladder pain syndrome (BPS). BPS affects women more frequently than men and involves persistent pelvic pressure. It can be caused by weak muscles in the pelvic floor, a problem with the urethral sphincter or nerves that go to and from the bladder. It can also be triggered by stress, eating spicy foods, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine and having a bladder that doesn’t empty completely.
Infections like a urinary tract infection can occur when bacteria enters the kidneys, bladder or urethra. This is a common cause of UTIs, which are often painful and require antibiotics to clear up. Many people get UTIs more than once in a year. They can be more common in women because the urethra is shorter and easier for bacteria to enter. They can also be more frequent in people who use a catheter; have a family history of UTIs; are pregnant or postpartum; have diabetes or pelvic organ prolapse; and experience hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause.
Urinating before and promptly after sexual activity can help prevent UTIs. It also helps to use a condom and drink plenty of fluids. Having a BPS-related bladder condition such as interstitial cystitis or bulimia can increase the risk of UTIs because these conditions can make it harder to empty the bladder. If these treatments don’t improve symptoms, a doctor may recommend neuromodulation therapy. This treatment delivers harmless electrical impulses to nerves that go to and from the bladder to change how they work.
Urinary tract infection
The urinary tract is an important part of the body that helps to filter waste and convert it into urine. It’s not immune to infection, however. The ureters, which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and the urethra, which allows urine to leave the body are both at risk of infection. A urinary tract infection, or UTI, can cause pain in the lower abdomen. Some people may also feel a burning sensation when they urinate. Urinating frequently may help to flush bacteria from the urinary tract and urethra.
Both men and women can get UTIs, but it’s more common for females to have recurrent bouts of them. Germs like E. coli can spread from the anus to the vagina or urethra during sexual intercourse and stick to the lining of the urinary tract. Women can reduce their odds of getting a UTI by wiping from front to back, using feminine hygiene sprays sparingly and only as directed, wearing cotton underwear instead of nylon, and cleaning the genital area thoroughly before and after sex. They can also urinate shortly after sex to clear the bacteria around the anus that could otherwise make it into the bladder and urethra.
Other factors that can increase the chance of a UTI include pregnancy, having diabetes or a pelvic organ prolapse, transitioning to menopause (changes in the urethra’s tissues due to drop in estrogen can lead to an increased risk), and problems with the way pee drains from the bladder into the ureters and kidneys such as vesicoureteral reflux.
Overactive bladder
If you have a constant need to pee, especially after sexual activity, it is important to see your doctor. Frequent urination can be caused by many things, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and even prostate problems in men. It is also a symptom of some chronic diseases like diabetes, nerve damage and kidney disease.
Overactive bladder is a condition where your brain sends incorrect signals to your bladder. These messages cause your detrusor muscles to contract too frequently, leading to a frequent urge to pee. The bladder may fill up and then empty too quickly, which can lead to urine leaks. Other symptoms of overactive bladder include nocturia, which is the need to get up and pee several times a night.
During sexual activity, the erectile structures and pelvic floor muscles can block the flow of urine from the bladder. However, if you have to pee immediately after sexual activity, it is not caused by an infection and is likely because your urethra has been opened during intercourse.
It is also normal to pee after sex if you are using a diaphragm or spermicide as a form of birth control. It helps to flush the urethra and prevent a UTI. It is important to drink lots of water and clean your genital area before and after sexual activity, and use a vaginal lubricant that does not contain sperm.
Stress
Those that suffer from stress, or who are nervous about things going on in their lives often find they have to use the bathroom more frequently. This is because in times of fear, the body releases a rush of adrenaline that makes it hard for the bladder to hold urine. During this time, the muscles in the genital area may also tighten, which can cause the sensation of having to pee constantly and even result in a condition known as paruresis.
This is because the same circuitry in the brain that triggers our fight-or-flight response, also controls our bladder control. It’s no wonder that we all feel the need to pee in moments of fear and anxiety, and it seems that sex can be a trigger for this feeling.
In some cases, however, the need to pee after sex could be due to something else. For example, if you have cystitis or an infection of the urethra (often called ‘honeymoon cystitis’), sex can trigger this because it can push bacteria up your urethra and into your bladder.
If you are experiencing this problem, it’s important to visit a doctor and have a urine test done to determine what is causing the issue and how best to treat it. You can also make lifestyle changes and take medication, as needed, to help manage the symptoms and reduce your risk of developing a UTI.
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