5 Things You Must Do After Intimacy

Getting cosy under the sheets may be all fun and games, up until you contract a UTI or suffer inexplicable pain during or after intercourse! Now, now, we’re not saying that this will happen every time you have sex. But as it happens, taking precautions for healthy and safe sex is not something that should be done only prior to the activity. There are a couple of things you shouldn’t forget to do even after you’ve had your fun!

* Use Bathroom

This doesn’t mean you need to rush to pee as soon as you and your partner have had your moment! Sit back and relax for a bit but ensure that you do make the effort to get off the bed and flush out the bacteria that would have entered your urethra during intercourse. Once you’re done, wipe from front to back to avoid germs from travelling back to the urethra. Peeing after sex is especially important for women, since the risk of contracting urinary tract infections is so much higher for them. But hey, there’s no harm in men doing the same either!

* Wash up well

Your cleansing routine need not be filled with exquisite-smelling products and a super-hot shower – in fact, the simpler you keep it, the better for your private parts. It’s best to wash the area around (and only around!) your genitals with warm water. Keep the fragrant soap and the myriad of genital wash products you may have aside; warm water will work just fine, while other products will alter the good bacteria and flora in your vagina. It’s important that women do not douche, i.e., clean inside their vagina with products or even water, because it can actually lead to more infections. Men with foreskin need to gently pull it back and wash with warm water as well.

* Avoid hot water for cleaning up

While the fact that boiling water kills germs holds true for other purposes, the same logic doesn’t apply in this case. In fact, exposing your genitals (especially the vagina) to super-hot water right after sex can make it more prone to contracting infections, because the skin’s antimicrobial barrier gets compromised. Therefore, nice and warm does the trick!

* Wash your hands

We know that’s something you never forget to do after visiting the washroom, but it needs to be mentioned because it should be an important part of your post-sex routine. During sex, germs from your partner’s body, especially the genitals, may have gotten transferred to your hands. Leave them ignored and you’re setting yourself up for unwelcome infections. Why take the chance? Simply wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water so that you can go back to bed in peace!

* Get a drink of water

Yes, hydration counts here as well! Sex counts as exercise, so drinking a cup of water doesn’t only help replenish your strength, but also contributes to flushing out bacteria that may still be around in your urethra. If you think you’re going to be too tired to go to the kitchen to get a cup of water, keep a bottle filled and ready on your nightstand so you don’t miss out on this step.