Can Masturbation Cause a UTI?
There's nothing wrong with a little self-pleasure. In fact, sometimes, it's the best way to receive pleasure because you're in control and you know what you like. So play, explore, and discover yourself using your own fingers or a toy. Just be sure you're doing it in a healthy way.
Masturbation can prevent many things associated with traditional intercourse, like pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. But there is a possibility of developing a urinary tract infection by masturbating.
Don't worry, it's not cause-and-effect. It's more about hygienic practices. So, should you be masturbating with a UTI? When going solo, you should take even more care of yourself than you usually would.
What Are UTIs?
Okay, let's start with the basics. First of all, what is a UTI? A urinary tract infection is an infection typically occurring in the bladder or urethra. Left untreated or if it gets more serious, the infection can reach the kidney. They're more common in women and in people with vaginas.
With a UTI, you may experience pain in the pelvic region and when urinating. You may also feel an increased need to urinate, and there may be blood in your urine. If the infection has reached the kidneys, it can cause back pain, nausea, vomiting, and a fever.
You don't have to have sexual intercourse to have a UTI. UTIs are common for those who have sex as the friction involved in sexual stimulation pushes bacteria toward the urethra.
However, it's important to remember that UTIs are not sexually transmitted infections because the bacteria that cause them are already present in and on your body.
Short answer: yes, you can get a urinary tract infection from masturbating. But, as stated above, it's not a cause-and-effect situation. You won't develop a UTI just because you masturbated, so don't feel afraid to explore your body.
Getting a UTI from masturbating has more to do with cleanliness. Since UTIs develop because bacteria get into the urethra and most self-play also happens around that area, you can accidentally introduce bacteria that cause a UTI.
Whether you use your fingers or a toy when masturbating, it's important to practice proper hygiene to prevent a UTI.
Should You Be Masturbating With a UTI?
When you have a UTI, many doctors recommend abstaining from sex until the infection clears up. After all, since many UTIs stem from sex, having intercourse can be a hindrance to your healing, or just be uncomfortable, depending on your symptoms.
However, that's not necessarily the case when it comes to self-pleasure. You can masturbate with a UTI without harm or threat of worsening the infection as long as you take care to have good cleaning routine before, during, and after.
Actually, masturbating with a UTI can offer some pain relief. Because orgasms stimulate oxytocin production, you may experience reduced pain after masturbating.
But it's important to note that this increased oxytocin production is only temporary and not the way to treat a UTI or any of its symptoms. However, masturbation, along with your medical treatment, can help alleviate some of the discomforts. Masturbation is not an alternative or treatment on its own.
How to Prevent a UTI After Masturbating?
The causes of a UTI are sneaky bacteria. And since we can't see them, they're often out of mind. Especially when we're in the mood or caught up in the moment. Luckily, proper care is the main prevention you need.
First: clean hands. Don't touch yourself without thoroughly washing your hands. Using antibacterial soap and warm water, give your hands a rinse before going down.
The same goes for any toy you use, whether they're used internally or externally. Clean toys before and after using them to prevent bacterial growth and any transfer to your body that could cause a UTI.
While masturbating, remember never to go back to front. Anuses have E. Coli and that's a common reason many people get bladder infections. You should never put a toy that was in your anus back into your vagina without washing and disinfecting it first.
You’ve heard the advice to pee after sex, but the same rules apply to self play. After any sexual activity it's best to pee! Bacteria that get into the urethra are typically the start of a UTI. But peeing right after can flush them out of your system before they have the chance to cause an infection.
Vaginas are self-cleaning, but it's always a good idea to occasionally lend a hand. Using warm water and unscented soap, wash around the vagina and vulva. Clean around the folds of your lips, but be careful not to get soap inside the vagina as that can disrupt the natural pH balance and lead to infections as well.
If you feel like you're always getting UTIs, it may be time to speak to your doctor. Health conditions, hormone imbalances, or even birth control that could be the cause of your symptoms.
Testing and Treating a UTI
You did all of the above, but you still feel off and continue to get UTIs. You should test for a UTI and get confirmation of the bacteria causing the symptoms. There are a number of ways to be tested, and most involve a visit to the clinic or urgent care. You can read more about your options here. If you're prone to UTIs or simply like being on the safe side, it may be a good idea to have a few at-home tests so you can test quickly. Our MyUTI kits are simple, pee in the cup in the privacy of your home and then mail to our lab overnight, and you'll be able to access your results from your phone as soon as they're ready (usually in 24 hours).
The MyUTI Just In Case Kit
No more running to urgent care just to pee in a cup! Accuracy and convenice when you need it most.
Luckily, treatment is pretty easy as well. Based on test results, if bacteria is detected, you will be given an antibiotic recommendation to help fight off the infection in a few days. Along with medication, you should keep hydrated by drinking lots of water to help flush out infection and keep the antibiotic working.
Healthy Solo Sex Is the Best Kind of Solo Sex
Sometimes touching yourself is exactly what you need. Whether you're looking to relieve stress or want to have a boost of pleasure, masturbating can be a fun and healthy activity. But to keep it fun and healthy, you have to practice safe and hygienic self-pleasure.
Maintaining a healthy clean routine for yourself and your toys can go a long way in preventing a UTI. And while masturbating with a UTI is perfectly healthy, you want to have good hygiene to ensure you aren't making it worse.
Plus, remember that some people are more prone to developing UTIs than others. That's where an at-home UTI test can come in handy. Check out our comprehensive MyUTI test you can do in the comfort of your home.
