One in three women has had a urinary tract infection at least once after having sex. And 20% of those women have gone through hell of seeing the infection repeat itself over and over again, regardless of the partner. This pathology is also so frequent that it has become a public health problem.
Each year, 4 to 6 million urinary infections are observed in France, or almost as many work stoppages and massive prescriptions of antibiotics. Faced with the lack of experimental data, some health professionals have closely examined the question in an attempt to understand the cause and above all, to focus on prevention. The good news (yes, yes, there is one) is that it is not a sexually transmitted disease and that it is not related to poor hygiene, since responsible germs are naturally present on the genitals. The problem is mainly of mechanical origin. In gynecology, we speak of a “ballistic” hypothesis. What does it have to do with sex? Hmm, we’ll let you guess on your own …
While waiting for you to find the answer, it turns out that the conclusions of the studies carried out are quite incredible: the classic position of face-to-face sex – also known as the missionary position or the “daddy-mommy” position – is the cause of these recurrent urinary tract infections.
A little anatomy before going to bed
In the missionary position (the woman is lying on her back and the man stands between her legs), the axes of the penis and the vagina are… inadequate. To penetrate his partner, the man is indeed forced to sweep the anterior part of the vagina with his penis before coming to lodge there. However, in women, this anterior part is close to the anus. And the vulvar region itself is close to the urethra. It is precisely this mechanical “sweeping” which is in question, because it facilitates the propagation and introduction of intestinal germs into the urethra and then contamination of the bladder.
Experts in gynecology who took an interest in the question qualify their conclusions by specifying that they deserve statistical confirmation. However, the fact is that the prevention carried out on this hypothesis has so far brought sufficiently satisfactory results for this theory to be seriously taken into account.
A fundamental problem
The problem is that by having urinary tract infections, some women come to dread having sex. A justified apprehension, but which reduces vaginal secretions. Result: the penetration can cause a slight trauma which favors the infection of the mucous membranes. In short, you will understand, the vicious circle is engaged. Because once the urinary tract infection is declared, antibiotics are essential. But prevention remains important to avoid having to resort to it, and this is where you will be able to intervene.
As the urinary system is able to naturally eliminate bacteria, it is indeed essential to promote urination drinking regularly throughout the day, urinating immediately after intercourse and wiping from top to bottom to prevent the anal area from contaminating the bladder. It would also be necessary to review the quality of the intestinal flora, which is probably unbalanced by a diet low in fiber and / or an excess of antibiotic treatments. In some cases, a course of probiotics accompanied by a diet rich in raw vegetables and whole grains will be appropriate to overcome Escherichia coli, the culprit bacteria.
Mother Nature has her say
Numerous clinical studies have also established the effectiveness of D-Mannose (a simple sugar) and cranberry (or cranberry) berries in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections. These two natural products in fact prevent Escherichia coli from adhering to the bladder. Without an anchor point, the germ can therefore be eliminated in the urine. Hence the interest in combining D-Mannose and cranberry berries with orthosiphon, a plant whose diuretic power promotes urinary flow and elimination. Some food supplements bring together this trio of shock and are consumed before and / or after each intercourse.
And in bed, how do we do it?
In addition to these recommendations, there are others, more specific, developed from the ballistic hypothesis. If you are prone to these infections, you would be wrong to skip them, because this is probably your lifeline. What is it about ? To use a lubricant at the beginning of the report to avoid any trauma to the mucous membranes, to direct the penis of your partner in the right axis at the time of penetration to avoid “trial and error” and to brief your dear and tender so that there is take it easy at first, while your secretions are naturally stimulated. There is also the possibility of varying the positions. Running out of inspiration? Christmas is in three weeks! There’s still time to add a naughty book to your list, right?
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