Mental health · 4 min read
Sex, fear and the calendar in your head
Counting days after sex isn't romance. Let's talk about the anxiety nobody mentions.
By Mona Zeina · Co-Founder & CEO
If you've had a few UTIs, you probably know this feeling. It's a lovely evening. And somewhere in the back of your head, a little voice is already counting. Day one. Day two. Is that a twinge? Was that a twinge?
Nobody prints that in the leaflet. But it's real, and lots of women told us about it.
Avoiding it is a symptom too
Some women start saying no, not because they don't want to, but because they're scared of the week afterwards. Research on recurrent UTIs points the same way: the impact goes well beyond the bladder, into sleep, work and sex.
If that's you, you're not dramatic. You're reacting reasonably to something that keeps hurting you.
What helps, honestly
Talk to your doctor about the pattern, not just the latest infection. Ask about prevention, not only treatment. Look at your contraception (spermicides can raise risk). Use enough lubrication. Tell your partner what you're scared of. It's a lot less scary said out loud.
