Women’s Intimate Health: UTIs - Causes & Prevention

We’ve likely all felt it at some point — an intense need to pee followed by a burning sensation. Some women are more prone than others to UTIs, but we can do several things to prevent them. One thing we shouldn’t do is ignore them. An untreated UTI can lead to a severe infection in the kidneys, resulting in more intense care and treatment. Let’s dig into some of the leading causes of UTIs and how to prevent them. Mastering healthy habits to prevent UTIs can improve your overall vaginal wellness and intimate health - and ultimately reduces UTI-related pain and discomfort.

What Causes UTIs in Women?

Whether you’ve experienced only one UTI or get them frequently, these are the most common reasons why you get them in the first place:

Anatomy / genetics: Unfortunately, the way you’re built makes you more prone to UTIs. Women have a shorter urethra than men. It’s located near the opening of both the vagina and the anus, which can invite bacteria from both areas into the urinary tract. And once this bacteria enters, it only has to travel a short distance to infect the bladder.

Some women are also less likely to flush out bacteria because of genetics. Researchers found a genetic variant in specific cell receptors associated with chronic bladder and kidney infections.

Bathroom mishaps: We learn from a young age to wipe front to back. This reduces the risk of bacteria entering the urethra from the anus. It’s also essential for vaginal wellness to ensure  everything is clean and dry down there before putting your clothes back on to prevent bacteria transfer.

Chronic conditions: Chronic health issues such as diabetes, neurological disorders, and autoimmune disease may lead to recurring UTIs. Also, if you’ve had surgery or trauma on any part of your urinary tract, it could alter your anatomy, leaving you susceptible to infection.

Intimate play: During sex, we introduce all sorts of fun things into play. Fingers, mouths, genitals, and sex toys make everything more pleasurable. But they may also introduce a host of bacteria to the urinary tract. Peeing after sex is a key way to flush out any rogue bacteria that may have entered unwelcome areas. It’s also crucial to wash all of your sex toys after you use them.

How Can I Prevent UTIs?

In addition to some tips mentioned above, you can also:

• Drink plenty of water, while avoiding sugary drinks and excess caffeine
   
• Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, minimally processed foods, and healthy fats
   
• Wear cotton, breathable underwear (and go without whenever possible)
   
• Avoid holding your urine for too long
   
• Avoid using perfumed products, like vaginal deodorants, douches, and scented laundry detergent 

Don’t forget good sexual hygiene is essential for your urinary tract health— wash intimate areas along with your hands after sex, and keep your sex toys clean and dry. By bringing awareness to your sexual hygiene, you may also experience increased sexual pleasure.

We also recommend cleaning your vFit device after every use. To make that even easier, we developed Photonic Wipes. We formulated these wipes to clean away harmful bacteria and unwanted residue on your Joylux device. The ingredients are 99.5% effective in removing the most common germs that can easily collect from vaginal use while protecting the silicon, lights, and electronics from chemical and water damage.

By using these wipes, you can help maintain the quality and longevity of your device. Click here to purchase your wipes.