Have you just married and are heading towards your honeymoon? Here are a few tips you do not want to miss to save yourself from that honeymoon cystitis. When a woman experiences UTI-like symptoms that are frequent urination, urgency to use the loo, burning sensation while peeing, and painful urination soon after either doing sex for the very first time hence the name honeymoon, or after a long period of abstinence.
“At times, symptoms like blood in urine, urine with a strong smell, feeling pressure in the lower abdomen, and pelvic discomfort can also be present. This does not need to only happen with penetrative sexual intercourse but it can also happen with fingering”, said Dr Mridula Raghav, Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, and Infertility Specialist, adding, most commonly experienced by women in their 20’s.
Why Only Women Experience Honeymoon Cystitis
Now the question arises why only women experience this condition? According to Dr Raghav, this is because the female urethra is just about 4 cm long and is close to the vagina and the anus (place from where they poop). So, it makes it easier for the bacteria to travel from your perineum and around and enter your urethra (urine pipe) and further enter your urinary bladder (where your urine is stored) during sexual activity.
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These bacteria will stick to the bladder wall and cause inflammation and release of toxins which will cause all the symptoms. The most frequently involved bacteria are E. coli others being Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Citrobacter. Contamination of the skin, of either partner, around the perineum can induce infection. These bacteria are normally present around your poop opening and the gut but if they enter your urinary bladder they will multiply and cause infection because they feed on nutrients present in urine. This infection can sometimes even climb up to your kidneys and cause symptoms like high-grade fever with chill and other UTI symptoms.
What can you do to avoid this?
Firstly, hydrate yourself - all that wedding stress causes a lot of dehydration so make sure while on your honeymoon you drink plenty of water. Secondly, always urinate before and after sex. This will help to flush out all that bacteria which by chance could have climbed up to your bladder. Thirdly, study prove that cranberry juice help fight urine infection so either drinking it or taking supplements can help.
Fourth, if you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate to go and see your gynecologist once. If not taken care of the bacteria can form biofilms in the urinary bladder and cause recurrent UTIs.
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Your doctor will start you on appropriate antibiotics and it can be taken care of. Do not self-medicate or google medicate yourself because not taking appropriate antibiotics as per sensitivity can make bacteria resistant and difficult to treat. Does having a UTI mean you cannot have sex? Nope. But it can worsen the symptoms so can be avoided. Happy honeymoon!