Sex can affect the bladder in a number of ways. One, widely known, upset is referred to as ‘honeymoon cystitis’. This refers to the fact that the tissues around the entrance of the vagina are tight in women who have not had a baby and tend to push the thrusting penis towards the front wall of the vagina so ‘bruising’ the urethra and bladder. Urination may be painful after intercourse and cystitis, a true infection of the bladder, may follow. Organisms are milked up the urethra by the penis and because the female urethra is so short the germs soon reach the bladder where they multiply and eventually begin to irritate and inflame it leading to cystitis. Passing urine immediately after intercourse may overcome the problem by washing out the germs. Some women, however, find this difficult.
Urinary tract infections (cystitis)-Passing urine frequently and painfully is a sign of an infection of the urinary tract. Such infections are common in women and many are related to intercourse. Washing the vulva before sex, passing water after intercourse and less vigorous intercourse, perhaps in a new position, may help prevent the condition. Large quantities of fluid may also help cure an attack. Some women have similar symptoms in the absence of organisms in the urinary tract. Emotional or sexual factors may also be involved.
*209\164\2*