health
That's disgusting
Sex in dirty places
Sexual intercourse in unsanitary conditions and places, such as in a car or the outdoors, can expose you to a higher risk of genital yeast infection and urinary tract infection (UTI), says Jenny McKee, health educator at the Wellness Resource Center. Yeast infections can cause itch and irritation in genitalia. UTIs can create pain and bleeding during urination.
Cars, in particular, can be dirtier than your average sex location because of leftover food messes and shoes transferring bacteria from the outdoors.
Photo illustration by Sachiko Miyakawa! No! That's the gearshift! Cars are usually harbor unsi- nary environments, which expose you to more diseases.
Researchers, however, don't have strong evidence that urinating after sex or regular hygiene routines prevent UTIs, says Deborah Wing, a specialist in maternal fetal medicine at the University of California, Irvine. Even on your bed or after taking a shower, you may get UTIs through sexual intercourse.
McKee says women are more prone to these infections, but regular hygiene routines, such as washing hands and taking showers, can reduce the risk of infection. Urinating after sex can also prevent UTIs, according to the National Kidney Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
McKee says a UTI is not uncommon. Twenty percent of women develop a UTI during their lifetime, according the National Kidney Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
— Sachiko Miyakawa
18
February 12, 2009