Postcoital cystitis or "Honeymoon disease" — poetic, isn't it? It's actually cystitis that develops within 24 hours after sexual intercourse.
How to suspect it:
- Urges to use the toilet that are unbearable
- Pain during urination
- Painful sensations in the lower abdomen
Why such a sad diagnosis got such a poetic name? Quite simply, the main risk factor is sex.
- 60% of all urinary tract infections occur after sexual intercourse. Having sex more than three times a week increases the risk of developing the disease threefold compared to having no sex at all
Why does such a wonderful act of physical exertion cause cystitis?
- During sexual contact, movements of the penis touch and shift the opening of the urethra. At this moment, bacteria that live in the vagina and anal opening are introduced, and they "run" through the urethra, the walls of the bladder, causing inflammation
Women are more prone to cystitis, partly due to anatomical differences. The urethra in women is wider and shorter, providing an easy and convenient path for bacteria. There is no buffer zone between the urethra and the anal opening, allowing bacteria to penetrate where they are not invited.
What to do? Abandon sexual life?
- If bacteria caused cystitis, it is treated with antibiotics. Despite knowing which drug is most commonly used, it doesn't mean you can simply buy it at the pharmacy and prescribe it to yourself. The doctor tailors the therapy based on the course of the disease. There is no single scheme that can be prescribed universally and used everywhere
Can postcoital cystitis be prevented?
- If you engage in both anal and vaginal sex during intercourse, always change the condom when switching orifices
- Women who consistently experience cystitis after sex may be prescribed a special regimen: prophylactic intake of a drug BEFORE sex
- Urethral transposition is a method of treating postcoital cystitis if conservative methods do not work. This involves reducing the mobility of the urethra, either by injection with hyaluronic acid filler to lift and slightly cover it, or through surgical methods, where a surgeon performs plastic surgery on the external ring of the urethral canal
Will urination after sex help?
There is no precise evidence that going to the toilet immediately after sex will 100% protect against cystitis. But it certainly won't hurt.