In high school and college, many of us probably talked with our girlfriends about sex. Whether you spoke about things like masturbation with sex toys or different types of orgasms, the one consensus you probably heard from everyone was how crucial it was to pee after sex. After all, running to the bathroom to pee after sex can help protect you from things like UTIs and is just better for overall vaginal health, right?

But what if you don’t actually have to use the bathroom post-sex. It begs the question: Do I really need to pee after sex? And is it bad to not pee after sex? Let’s discuss it below.

Should I pee after sex?

Although there’s not a ton of solid research on whether or not you should pee after sex, many doctors say it’s a generally healthy habit to adopt.

Why? During sex, there are a lot of fluids exchanged between partners. Between lube, potential semen, and vaginal secretion, there’s a whole lot going on down there — and the female urethra (aka the pee hole) is right next to the vaginal opening.

Bodily fluids have the potential to contain both bad and good bacteria — but with the vaginal opening so close to the urethra, there’s a higher possibility some bad bacteria may make their way up to the bladder, thereby causing a UTI.

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a bacterial infection in any part of the urinary system, which includes the bladder, kidneys, urethra, and ureters, per Mayo Clinic. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract, which means the bladder and the urethra.

Women are more likely to contract UTIs than men due to human anatomy. That’s because female urethras are only between 2-3 centimeters long, compared to 15-29 centimeters in males. The shorter urethra length makes it easier for unwanted bacteria to travel up to the bladder in women, especially during and after sex.

So peeing after sex is actually a super simple preventative measure to avoid any UTIs. This post-sex habit can help ensure bacteria is washed out of the urethra, decreasing the odds of contracting a UTI.

Is it bad not to pee after sex?

It’s not bad not to pee after sex — but peeing post-sex is a beneficial strategy to preventing UTIs. Of course, peeing after sex isn’t a total guarantee you’ll avoid infection as some people are just more naturally prone to UTIs. In fact, at least 60% of women and 12% of men will contract a urinary tract infection at least once in their lifetime. But external factors like sex can increase the chances of developing a UTI. 

While penetrative sex presents a much higher risk of developing a UTI (especially in certain sex positions that bring the penis in closer proximity to the urethra — think of legs over your partner’s shoulders), oral sex can also cause UTIs by pushing bacteria in or around the vagina into the urethra.

“Listen to your own body,” says Wendy Schofer, MD, and founder of Family in Focus. “Do you need to pee? Then do it! Do you tend to get urinary tract infections after vaginal sex? Then consider peeing afterward.”

What about masturbation? Should I pee after sex when it’s just me, myself, and I? Schofer shares that if you find that you tend to get discomfort or infections after masturbation or sex, then consider peeing soon after you’re done with either activity.

The bottom line on peeing after sex

Even though there’s a lack of strong research proving that peeing after sex will prevent UTIs, it’s a recommended strategy that may decrease the risk of infection. When you pee after sex, you’re flushing out bacteria from the urethra, potentially lowering the risk of developing a UTI. When in doubt, pee it out — but if you can’t, don’t worry too much about it.

“This does not have to be an emergency run to the toilet,” remarks Schofer. “Whether you are sexing it up by yourself or [with] someone else, enjoy the moments and you can take care of the toilet business when you are ready. And if you cannot pee after sex, it is ok. Listen to your body. You can [always] try again later.”