Anyone can contract a UTI, though people with vaginas are more susceptible than people with penises because their urethras are only between 2 to 3 centimeters long (compared to 15 to 29 centimeters in people with penises). The shorter urethra length makes it easier for unwanted bacteria to travel up to the bladder—especially during sex. At least 60% of women and 12% of men will contract a urinary tract infection1 at least once in their life, and some people experience recurrent UTIs. While some people are simply more prone to these bacterial infections, others increase their risk2 through external factors like having sex. “Penetrative sex can increase the risk of getting a UTI because the penis can cause bacteria to be pushed into the urethra,” OB-GYN Heather Irobunda, M.D., explains. “When this bacteria gets pushed into the urethra, it can stay there and cause an infection in the urethra, or the bacteria can travel and cause an infection in the bladder.” Some positions might be more likely to aggravate the area, OB-GYN Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA, adds: “Some positions bring the urethra into greater contact with the penis (in the case of penetrative sex); specifically, legs over your partner’s shoulders should be avoided if you’re having recurrent UTIs.” While penetrative sex presents a much higher risk, oral sex can also cause UTIs by pushing bacteria in or around the vagina into the urethra. Despite the conflicting research, many doctors recommend peeing after sex as a generally healthy habit to adopt. “This flushes the bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex out and decreases the chance of getting a UTI,” Irobunda explains. “It’s possible that someone is getting recurrent UTIs due to an anatomical issue,” Trubow says. “If you’ve had more than 3-5 UTIs in a year, it warrants a full workup." According to Simma-Chiang, you may need to take prescribed antibiotics, a postcoital prophylaxis, or a supplement like cranberry or d-mannose to properly treat the infection. “D-mannose can also be used ongoingly and won’t alter the microbiome, so it’s a great alternative to antibiotics,” Trubow adds.
