Jonniker has me thinking about UTIs (thanks, Jonniker!), and that reminds me of a question. One of my friends said she heard that if you take a vitamin C tablet after every time you have sex, it can help prevent urinary tract infections. Something about the vitamin C being acidic in the bladder and urinary tract, and the acidity killing off bacteria or whatever awful demons cause a UTI. Is this the kind of crazy thing that people say but it doesn’t actually work, or is it the kind of crazy thing that saves a girl from wanting to amputate her entire lower half a couple times a year?
I don’t know, maybe they think if you get up for the vitamin C you’re liable to stop and pee on your way back. I’ve always heard peeing after sex helps with that.
I know that blueberries have the same thing in cranberries that can help prevent them. And I personally find blueberries infinitely more tasty. I believe in the power of peeing after and drinking a glass of water (or yummy yummy blueberry juice).
Oh, here, I looked it up and here is a list:
* Drink a lot of fluids, such as herbal teas and water. Avoid sweetened fruit juices and other sweetened drinks.
* Eliminate refined foods, fruit juices, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.
* Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that inhibit the binding of bacteria to bladder tissue. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice regularly seems to help lower the risk of UTIs and can help cure one if you drink it when you first feel symptoms.
* Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg two times per day) makes urine acidic, which inhibits bacterial growth.
* Beta-carotene (25,000 to 50,000 IU per day) is necessary for immune function and mucous membrane integrity.
* Zinc (30 to 50 mg per day) supports immune function.
So maybe taking vitamin c every day, rather than just after sex, is the way to go. Or eat some oranges.
Eat oranges DURING sex!!!
I’ve never heard of anything except the cranberry juice thing and peeing after sex. The peeing thing’s always worked for me. I think I’ve only had 2 UTIs in the past 10 years. Maybe I just have naturally acidic pee?
I have never had a urinary tract infection (except the week I lost my virginity, and I’ve heard that’s pretty standard) because my mom always taught us about the miracle powers of cranberry juice. I can feel when a UTI is coming on and immediately start chugging the juice with every meal, and it always works. Within a day, I’m feeling normal again.
Also, I do always pee after sex!
Shelly: Tell me you’re joking?
Anon- it could be worse, she could suggest skipping the husband altogether and having sex with the orange.
My doctor said the best thing you can do is just to pee right after sex. That and not have vaginal sex after anal sex. To which I said “Ew.”
Most grocery stores carry cranberry pills in with the vitamins. Lots easier to take than drinking lots and lots of unsweetened cranberry juice.
That said, though, black sheeped said above that drinking cranberry “can help cure one if you drink it when you first feel symptoms.”
That isn’t true. An infection is an infection, and if you are getting one, cranberry juice isn’t going to help. Antibiotics will. But taking cranberry pills or drinking the juice CAN help prevent them.
I think Jenny’s advice is spot on…no vag sex after butt love. Hmm, does one actually need to be told this by a doctor?!!!!!
I get them ALL THE TIME, and a few things have helped me. 1) Cranberry pills. And I mean a lot of them. A LOT, like 12 a day.
2) Drinking a lot. A whole lot.
3) Prophylactic antibiotics. This was a last-ditch measure for me, after getting infection after infection after infection. Now, if I have my period, I take one every day, and always after sex. If I forget (hello, Moon Cup!), I almost always get one, though not always during my period. Hence, I forgot to take one and used the Moon Cup, and it was UTI-city.
And actually, Emily, I’ve had them work, and my doctor mentioned that a mild infection can be cleared up with a lot of fluids. If you’re pissing razor blades and contemplating suicide, then no, you’re right. But mild twinges, especially in people who get them often, can be staved off with a lot of fluids and cranberry juice.
i have a low grade ongoing uti type thingy that apparently i’ve adjusted to, so says my recent gyno visit. so the dr. gave me a pill to take after every time we have sex. well now lets talk about that. she gave me 28 w/ no refills. just how long does she think that’s going to last? we’ve not even been married a year. i give those a month.
BUT, i never really started taking them b/c ifound out they were an antibiotic and that was just odd to take those prn.
anyway…i might try the vitamin c thing.
I used to have a chronic bladder infection with all the nasty drugs that came with it. Then one day my doctor coughed up that the infection loves growing in the very last bit of pee left in your bladder. So I started doing like the boys, they shake twice at the end of peeing. I squeeze my pelvic floor muscles twice at the end of every trip to the little girls room. Voila! From chronic UTI to free from UTI, and have been for almost 10 years now.
Sometimes, I’d rather eat an orange than have sex.
Seems like I remember hearing/reading that it is only 100% cranberry juice that works. Not cocktail cranberry juice. Not sure if that is true but I do remember that.
And what if it isn’t necessarily the Vit C but just overall vitamin balance? Hmmmm.
So the consensus is no hoohaa touching after messing with the butt and be sure to pee! Got it!
I copied that list from a university health center website. So if anything is wrong, you can blame them. And their shady ways.
I’m not sure about that, but the doctor has said to go to the bathroom every time after sex. I haven’t had once since!