bladder irritation with sex

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2006
bladder irritation with sex
6
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 10:37pm

My boyfriend and I have been dating for about 6 months. Sex with him is very enjoyable, but lasts for over an hour, sometimes even longer. A couple of months ago, I was on antibiotics for an ear problem and had to use different birth control (I'm on the pill). I used a non-oxynol 9 insert, which I had used before years ago, and which was very irritating to my insides. I had forgotten that I used to get occasional bladder/urinary tract infections after using this birth control. My insides (and my boyfriend's penis)got very irritated. A week or so later, I had sex again and my bladder got irritated, it felt like an infection and I went on antibiotics again. It didn't go away, and I went through several tests at the doctor, they sent out a urine sample to see if there was infection, checking for different bacteria and there isn't anything. They also tested me for chlamydia, which can mimic infections. They can't find anything wrong with me, but I keep getting these irritations. My doctor said that possibly having sex for an extended period of time could be irritating my bladder.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any suggestions/advice on this and also on the subject of having problems after having sex for long periods of time?

thanks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2005
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 10:45pm

It's very possible that during the long process, your position is allowing him to irritate your urethra. That can feel like an UTI, but it's just an irritation. My doctor used to call it honeymoon cystitis. Try moving so that he's not rubbing in the area of your urethra.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2004
Mon, 03-20-2006 - 9:31pm

Very much agreed with dakine. In fact, I remember reading an incident about an irritated urethra area that began as an actual infection but then continued discomfort due to intercourse afterwards...even after the infection had long gone. The irritation caused by the earlier infection never properly "healed"--for lack of better term.

In your case, wouldn't hurt to give that sensitive area of yours a rest until any discomfort goes away. Warm baths seem to be a popular problem solver to help relieve symptoms. I'm curious to know what else your doc might have suggested as well.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2005
Tue, 03-21-2006 - 9:17am

There is also a "magical" cure called Cranberry Juice! True bladder infections can sometimes be hard to cure completely. I went thru several years of constant infections. Antibiotics aren't always the "cure". My doc put me on sulfa drugs prophylactically, and even that didn't do it.

One time when I got a particularly bad one, my own doctor wasn't available, and I got a "PA". When she looked at my history, she recommended Cranberry Juice. I'd never heard of that, and it seemed a little "off the wall" to me. If a PA knew that, why hadn't my own doctor recommended it? I did a little research, and it turns out there is a chemical in Cranberries that will cure a bladder infection before it even gets hold of you.

Anyone who's ever had a bladder infection knows the signs. The first sign is feeling like you need to empty your bladder, but then when you do, there are only two or three drops. This can happen every 5-10 minutes. (this can also happen with simple irritation) If it continues, within 24 hours, it will also start burning when you DO urinate. Some move a lot faster than that. I had them where I was fine in the AM, by noon I was running to the bathroom every few minutes, and by 3PM, I was passing blood and clots, and in pain (sorry if that's too graphic!).

After being told about the Cranberry juice, I got some and kept it in the house (it's NOT my favorite juice). The next time I felt it happening, I started drinking the juice non-stop. It worked. All symptoms were gone in a few hours. I also found out that when you get to that point, where you feel back to normal, you can't just stop the juice. It will come back the next day. If you continue to drink the juice for several days, it will NOT come back. Since I learned that, I've only had one other attack, and caught it immediately with the Cranberry Juice. It's been many years since I've had another one, but I STILL keep some Cranberry Juice in the cupboard, just in case.

After I found out about it, I did ask my doctor his opinion, and he agreed with the PA!

PS: Many doctors are too "quick" with the antibiotics. I will NOT take an antibiotic unless I'm tested first, to find out what's going on. There was a post on here recently from someone who "suspected" an STD, and with no testing at all, her doc prescribed antibiotics. She will never know whether she actually had the STD, or if she spread it to anyone else! This is why we are now developing MRSA's and the like. The infections are becoming antibiotic resistant because of overuse of the drugs. They're great if they're actually needed, but too many doctors hand them out like candy...."just in case".
(off topic, but I feel the same way about anti depressants!)

Avatar for katmandoo2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-21-2006 - 11:52am
Completely agree. The only UTI I ever had, was cured with Cranberry juice and plenty of water. Antibiotics should only be required if an infection has taken hold and has become chronic or resistant.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2004
Tue, 03-21-2006 - 10:10pm

Of course.

Maybe I misread the other post, but I figured cranberry was when women attempt to relieve the symptoms, so I didn't bother bring that up, lol. Good point to make anyways.

Thanks.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2005
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 10:59am

Hugs to you

I'm a long way down this road... have had cystitis on and off for 6 years and it has worsened more than I could have ever imagined. I am off work sick and have been for 3 months because of it - I have good days and bad days but it is basically a constant now, the antibiotics no longer have an effect, doctors have said they cannot treat it and I may need an operation. I have had countless urine samples, blood tests, x-rays and a cystoscopy and biopsies.

Avoid sex for a while, drink lots of fluid especially cranberry juice, wash thoroughly before and after sex (and your partner do the same). I know if you catch a mild dose of cystitis early enough you can self-treat it by drinking a pint of cranberry juice and taking painkillers.

Hope you feel better soon

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