Intimacy · 5 min read
Dear partners: this is your business too
Honeymoon cystitis is not a hygiene failure. And it's not only her job to prevent it.
By Mona Zeina · Co-Founder & CEO
There's a name for UTIs after sex: "honeymoon cystitis." Cute, right? As if it's a funny little souvenir. In reality it means burning, running to the toilet every ten minutes, and quietly dreading the next time you're close to someone.
And almost every time, the advice lands on her. Pee faster. Wipe better. Shower before. Shower after. Did you pee? Are you sure you peed?
The advice doesn't hold up that well
Sexual activity is one of the clearest risk factors for UTIs in young women, studies show. But the hygiene rituals we all follow? Guidelines say there's no strong evidence that peeing after sex or wiping front-to-back prevents recurrence. They're harmless. They're just not the magic shield we've been told.
So if you've been blaming yourself: stop. Often it's friction and anatomy, not dirt.
It takes two people to have sex. It shouldn't take one person to carry the consequences.
What partners can actually do
Wash your hands. Yes, properly. Beards too, if you've got one. Don't rush. Use enough lubrication. Bring her a big glass of water afterwards without being asked. And if she says she's sore, believe her.
In our own survey, intimacy was the trigger women named most. Many told us the fear changed their relationships. That's not a women's problem. That's a couples' problem, and couples can solve it together.
