For your partner to understand your experience and support you, it's vital to speak honestly and openly about your UTIs. And if you do it right, it can actually make you feel closer to each other.
A UTI is a bacterial infection. They happen when bacteria — often from the anus, dirty hands, or skin — get into the urethra and travel to the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract. UTIs are not sexually transmitted and are not contagious. This means that people with a UTI will not pass on a UTI to their partner.
Can men get UTIs from women? Men can get UTIs from women during sex, by getting the bacteria from a woman with the infection. However, this is unlikely. Typically, the infection arises from bacteria that are already present in the man's body.
UTIs are not contagious nor sexually transmitted – that is you cannot catch them from another person – but some women do get them frequently and they can occur after sexual activity, when bacteria in the vaginal area get pushed near or into the urethra.
Your urethra is the single tube that carries urine from your bladder past your prostate and to the tip of your penis. If unhealthy bacteria build up anywhere in your urinary tract, this can cause an infection. And while urinary tract infections (UTIs) are much more common in women, men can also get them.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
The likely reason for the woman's bladder infection is rubbing during sex that can irritate the opening of her urethra and make it even easier for bacteria to enter. You can help your partner avoid bladder infections by changing sexual positions to minimize irritation.
Anatomy and/or genetics. Women are more prone to UTIs mostly because of their anatomy. A woman's urethra is shorter than a man's. Plus it is located near the openings of the vagina and anus, meaning there's more opportunity for bacteria from both those areas to spread—or be wiped—into the urethra.
Explain to your partner that UTIs are extremely common. Getting a urinary tract infection does not make you unhealthy, unsanitary, or incapable of taking care of yourself. At the same time, UTIs are very serious. They can be incredibly painful and can even lead to hospitalization if they spread to your kidneys.
Holding your urine for too long can weaken the bladder muscles over time. This can lead to problems such as incontinence and not being able to fully empty your bladder. Holding your urine for extremely long periods of time can also cause urinary tract infections due to bacteria build-up.
UTIs, while uncomfortable, are easily treated with antibiotics. If a UTI is left untreated, it can turn into a kidney infection – which is much more serious and difficult to treat. But no, UTIs will not cause chlamydia or any other STD.
Additionally, a number of common foods and drinks — artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, acidic fruits, citrus, or caffeinated drinks — can irritate your bladder, and may worsen UTI symptoms — so you should steer clear of them if you have signs of a bladder infection.
Bladder infections or urinary tract infections
If you have new, severe urinary symptoms, leave work and see your doctor. These symptoms can worsen quickly, causing nausea, headaches, and even kidney infections. Early antibiotic treatment is key.
Here's how to get through the day if you have a urinary tract infection. If you catch the flu you're guaranteed a rough ride but at least you know bed-rest is the best option to get you better, and staying away from the office will help prevent the spread of infection.
Yes, you can get a UTI from having sex, especially if you're a woman. “During sexual intercourse, thrusting can introduce bacteria up the urethra and into the bladder, increasing the risk of a UTI,” explains Dr. Lakeisha Richardson, MD, OB-GYN.
The two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) medical providers can detect using a urine test are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Many STDs or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as healthcare providers now call them, don't cause immediate physical signs or symptoms.
There's no harm in males peeing after sex, but there's not as much benefit. A male's urethra is longer than a female's, so they don't usually get post-sex UTIs. Common causes of UTIs in men include kidney stones and an enlarged prostate.
Chlamydia can cause painful, burning urination that feels like a UTI. However, most people with chlamydia don't have symptoms. 5 It's possible to pass along the infection, even if you're asymptomatic.
Many women with urinary tract infections (UTI) report the desire to masturbate when they feel a UTI coming on, and for a good reason: masturbating helps relieve pain, lubricates the vagina, and flushes old, "unfriendly" bacteria from the cervix.
OTC Medicine: Some over the counter UTI medications contain antibiotics that can nip a UTI in the bud before it starts. Keep in mind, though, that if the infection progresses fully, you may need to get a doctor-prescribed course of antibiotics.
UTIs usually require antibiotics to be treated, meaning you'll need to visit a healthcare provider. Telehealth services can make it easier to schedule an appointment. Getting started on your antibiotic right away and drinking plenty of water are some of the most important steps in helping to get rid of a UTI fast.
Men's Risk of UTIs
Older men tend to get more UTIs than younger men. I usually see men get recurrent infections when they do not properly empty their bladder because of an enlarged prostate. Men may not empty their bladder for other reasons such as nerve damage from stroke, diabetes or trauma to the spine.