Question: How do I practice good post-sex hygiene?

Answer

Having sex can feel messy. There are many ways to practice good post-sex hygiene, even if you do not feel like showering. Getting a urinary tract (UTI), yeast, or bacterial infection after oral or penetrative sex can be quite common for women. Urinating within approximately 30 minutes of having sex is important, especially if you are prone to UTIs. Urine washes out the bacteria present at the end of the urethra. Wiping the vagina from front to back (you can do this after you use the bathroom!) to get rid of any lube and bodily fluids using wet wipes or toilet paper is vital. However, you can skip cleaning the inside of your vagina—typically called douching—because your vagina has its own cleaning system. 

While not necessary, it can be very pleasant (and romantic with your partner) to soak in a warm bath with extra virgin coconut oil. This can decrease your risk of infection, soothe any vaginal swelling or irritation, and hydrate your skin. Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, suggests skipping scented oils, bubbles, and other bath products to avoid any vaginal irritation which may occur.  

If you are trying to get pregnant, similar hygiene practices after sex are necessary! Urinating after sex will not flush away sperm from inside your vagina, since urine comes out of your urethra. Likewise showering, bathing, and douching will NOT affect your chances of becoming pregnant as sperm is very resilient! 

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only.

The continued availability of external resources is outside of the NWHN’s control. If the link you are looking for is broken, contact us at nwhn@nwhn.org to request more current citation information.