What Happens When You Don’t Pee After Sex?

Always begin with foreplay, use protection, and engage in vaginal before anal. They’re some of the most common rules of sex, and for good reasons.

For when these simple cues are followed, generally sex is guaranteed to be a safer, more enjoyable experience for all involved. But, one unwritten law of sex that you’ve probably heard time and time again from your mama, sister, or girl squad is to always pee after sex.

So, the burning questions on everyone’s lower lips are; why should you pee after sex? What are the benefits of peeing after sex? And, what happens when you don’t pee after sex?

Why should you pee after sex?

If you’re a human with a vagina, the close proximity between your vagina, urethra and anus provides an easy-access route for bacteria to travel from your anus into your bladder. It’s at this point when the bacteria can develop into a painfully annoying urinary tract infection (UTI). Peeing after sex is the simplest way to flush any unwanted bacteria from the bladder, thus preventing UTIs from occurring later down the track. So, if you want to proactively reduce your risk of developing a UTI, a post-romp tinkle is your best line of defence.

A quick reminder – what is a UTI?

Urinary tract infections are a condition caused when bacteria move from the rectum to the bladder via the urethra. Around 1 in 2 women will get a UTI in their lifetime, and symptoms include frequent and painful urination, burning sensations, consistent feeling of bladder fullness, back pain, cloudy urine and irritability.

So, what happens when you don’t pee after sex?

Even if your partner isn’t consciously switching the sexual motions from the anal area to your vagina, there’s still plenty of opportunity for bacteria to travel around and near your urethra during sex. Movement during foreplay and intercourse can inflame the urethra, causing it to secrete lubricants that act as the perfect vessel to transport bacteria to other intimate areas, like your bladder. If you don’t pee after sex, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll develop a UTI, it’s just a riskier pathway. With UTI symptoms of painful urination and a burning vulva, a quick post-coital bathroom dash is totally worth it.

How long after sex can you wait before peeing?

While there’s no science-backed timeline, a sooner rather than later approach applies. But, don’t let your mission to pee ruin the mood; simply gauge the situation and intuitively do what feels best for your body. Feel like lingering with your lover for an extra half hour? No problem. Just try to avoid falling asleep or leaving your loo visit longer than an hour or two post-intercourse.

What if the sex isn’t penetrative?

Whether you’re having oral, anal, or penetrative sex, the same rules apply. When playing downstairs, there’s just too much opportunity for bacteria to relocate. Eliminate any future worry by peeing after sex, and you’ll be on your way to a relatively UTI-free life.

This blog is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your medical practitioner.