The Connection Between Masturbation and UTIs
There are many known benefits of masturbating, like better sleep and lower stress, and doing it doesn’t increase your risk of getting a UTI on its own. But many of the actions that are part of sex and masturbation could contribute to UTIs by introducing bacteria that doesn’t belong into the urethra.
“While masturbation itself does not increase the risk of UTIs, certain types of products associated with it, such as lubrication or toys, can,” says Dr. Grover.
For example, she says that lubes can mess with the pH of the urogenital flora, the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina, which can cause infections.
Additionally, using toys in both the anus and vagina or anal fingering without proper cleanup can “cross-contaminate the urethra with bacteria that is innate to the anorectal region,” she says. (Also the reason that people are taught to wipe front to back when using the bathroom.)
This is why it’s so important to never use anal toys in the vagina, to wash your hands when moving between the front and back door, and to regularly clean your sex toys. “Bacteria from the anus as well as from fingernails or the toys themselves can cause a cross-contamination that can infect the urethra with foreign pathogens,” says Grover.
You could even get a UTI from friction during penetration because the thrusting can push bacteria toward the urethra.
“Keep in mind that during intercourse, thrusting, or manual stimulation, bacteria like E. coli that normally reside near the anal and vaginal openings can migrate toward the urethra,” says ob-gyn Alyssa Dweck, MD. Peeing after sex may help flush out bacteria so it can’t reach the urethra.
Any penetration — whether with a toy, penis, or fingers — can push bacteria closer to the urethra. Grover says, “It’s actually common to get a urinary tract infection while being fingered during sexual activity as well as using toys or a vibrator.”
“When having sex or even when masturbating or using sex toys, there could be transfer of fecal matter residue and associated bacteria frontward, near the urethra,” says Dr. Sekhon. “Therefore, it is possible that any of these acts could increase the risk of a UTI, particularly in women who have other risk factors for developing a UTI.”
If you already have a UTI, masturbating can make it worse, too. Grover says that masturbating can amplify the painful sensations of having a UTI by applying unneeded friction and pressure to an already inflamed and irritated area. So if you have a UTI, it’s best to cool it until you’re healed or try masturbating without touching.
