I have had so many, all after sex. Literally dozens over the past five years. I have the infections more under control now (none since November) and take nitrofurantoin as a prophylactic, but I can't shake the feelings of dread and paranoia around having sex. It is like someone tasered me every time I ate chocolate, so now I no longer want chocolate, does that make sense? My partner can get quite frustrated with me. Anyone else feel the same? Any advice on how to get over this?
Urinary Tract Infection - Anyone else afraid to have sex because of UTI?
Question posted by 1976er on 16 March 2016
Last updated on 12 December 2019 by 1976er
9 Answers
1976er
12 Dec 2019
As the individual who started this thread more than three years ago, unfortunately I’m not really that much better off than I was back then. I still take nitrofurantoin prophylactically; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes I get a yeast infection from the antibiotics and have to treat that. I have cycled between UTIs and yeast infections about four times in 2019 alone. The best advice I can offer is: negotiate with your partner re: frequency of sex. I do this, and the deal basically is if we have sex, at least 2-3 days must pass before we have sex again. That’s enough time to determine whether any infection has set in and if medication is required. Always thoroughly clean yourself before sex, and pee right afterward. Drink tons and tons of water. If you’ve had an infection and treated it and THEN have to deal with a yeast infection, lay off sex for at least two weeks. Your partner should be understanding, and if not, lay it on thick.
Your health is important, more important than mere gratification. It’s not easy and not fun, and it definitely feels like a curse at times.
Tina987
12 Dec 2019
Yeah I’m afraid to have sex too. I must have gotten 8 UTIs straight in a row. It was obviously the same UTI that wasn’t getting treated enough. My advice is you just have to do it. Right now I’m trying to get pregnant so very frequent sex. I just got another Uti. There’s one thing that I think helps I got some pills on uquora. I think it makes them less frequent. I also take cranberry pills. And a probiotic refrigerated one. Honestly I think all you can do is hope for the best and decide whats more important the relationship or never getting another Uti. And negotiate some w your partner on how frequent sex will be. Also I think a shower before and after sex helps. The one time I didn’t do it I think led to my current Uti. Othet than that get butt wipes for when you poop. But I think the most important thing is talk about it and negotiate w your partner some give and take.
He should be willing to give some but youll need to too to meet him in the middle. Like he may want sex super frequent and your scared negotiate somewhere in the middle. And do the best you can to prevent them.
aemdb61511915
4 Dec 2016
I am just wondering how you are doing with this? I'm sorry I have no advice; I am actually here because I am seeking the exact same answer to the question. I am just a couple days away from being finished with my first round of Macrobid (2x/day, 7days) and my husband and I typically have a very active sex life but I'm almost petrified.
I had never experienced an actual UTI before now; anytime I felt anything weird I would just double down on water intake and be fine. but this came on quickly and fierce after a weekend without kids and lots of sex.
my home treatments did not work. I tried for a week to treat it at home with lots of water, cranberry, parsley tea, homeopathic remedies, kidney/bladder pills... I would have good and bad days but by the time a week was passed I knew I needed to deal with it. I was (of course) feeling pretty good the day I saw the dr and she prescribed Macrobid but I have had no problems since.
but I'm still scared to think about having sex. I really to, but I'm scared to. have you found any solutions?
Marie roze
22 Sep 2016
I can relate, I have had chronic uti's for about four years now. I have had the same partner and we both take all precautions to be very clean but everytime we have intercourse I get a uti. I have been to two urologists and have had ultrasounds only to find nothing wrong. I had taken macrobid for six months daily and that seemed to be the only thing that had worked till yeast started taking over. Also risk of lung disease with prolong usage and we have cancer in our family. I take a probiotic and have spent thousands on supplements with no success including cranberry and Dmannose. This has become very stressful on both my partner and I. My quality of life has become compromised and although I am a high energy, positive person this has become an incurable disease which has left me depressed and desperate for normalcy. I went to see an infection control specialist and he to told me to take macrobid. I am peri menopausal so I can't imagine what full on menopause will do.
My dr won't give me estrogen cream because I have a history of breast cancer in my family. I recently tried the package mixture with water for uti's day 2 and no relief yet. I am diet conscious and limit caffeine, do not eat dairy as I feel being on all these antibiotics has caused other stomach issues. I am desperate for answers and some type of cure to have my life back. I have exhausted my friends as no one knows what to do to help and I feel people don't want to always hear about it, nor do I want to complain. My husband and I have been reading about a nasal spray that has been tested but not approved yet for uti,s. Any advice to help my situation would be a blessing. As for others who suffer from the same you have my compassion this is no easy battle. Thank you!
Sue2244
30 Sep 2016
Hello all new on this site , I am having all similar symptoms re curing uti for over a year now on and off different types of antibiotics . I have now been given nitrofurantoin to try as a preventative measure and a course of h r t . Am 52 in a relatively new relationship frequent sex has now ceased because of all this .its driving me nut s . Antibiotics / side effects / thrush / soreness . Hormones were checked last year came back as normal which seems ridiculous !! I have hot flushes that aren't constant just certain times of the month . What is the answer to all of this just seems never ending . I had bouts of u t I ten years ago at 42 after treatment ongoing for 18 months had chronic fatigue which took a long time to get over . Was feeling better till just over a year ago when all this started. . Ten years ago I stopped smoking and had spiritual heating as I was so desperate to put an end to it all . It cleared up and never came back till now !!
eileenmcf8078
3 Sep 2016
Totally there with yah! I suffer the same. I take Monurol sachets anbx
prescribed for me when I get the infection. I was supposed to take
before sex but I don't do that. I often wait it out and see if
I get the infection first I figure what's the difference I would be taking
the anbx more if I took it every time before hand. It's a 1x dose packet and it works over 3-4 days. Try ellura sold through
Amazon they are real cranberry extract pills you take before and after sex, try good probiotic, Luvena therapeutic wash and Luvena vaginal moisturizer
that may help as well. How about vaginal estrogen? If your menopausal
eileenmcf8078
3 Sep 2016
I am right along with yah sister!!! constantly getting horrible UTI's
Always After sex!!! My husband wants to divorce me
Melons83
2 April 2016
1976er I have been taking Macrobid for 4 years now due too a recurring UTI... I don't drink alcohol or do drugs but the sex part besides the fact I don't really GAF whether I hump my hubby or now(been married TOO long) LOL but it makes me feel WORSE after and I went to my Urologist because he ordered a ultra sound(Renal) too make sure there are NO stones because stones would make sense in MY case because I CANT get rid of the UTI... The Macrobid has made me hard of hearing in my left ear but its something I CANT live without because if I go 2 days WITHOUT it BOOM my UTI is back... I get a "Cystostemy" next week where they use a catheter to go look IN my bladder which in MY opinion he should of done BEFORE an ultrasound but anyways it depends on how YOU feel after sex... If it makes you feel worse DONT do it 4GET what your BF/HUBBY wants he might have to WAIT just my opinion...
I have NO idea what I'm doing WRONG too keep getting these BS UTIs I even told my Urologist that I drink 5 cans of MUG root beer daily and I HATE water he said "Soda is mainly water after digested!" Ummmmm THAT threw me WAY off because I have heard OVER & OVER again too drink WATER and not SODA 24/7 but whatever I guess he would know... I think I might get a 2ND opinion because now he put me on Ciproflaxin AKA "Cipro" and when I took this before I spent the night in the hospital from C-Diff(HORRIBLE) Good Luck... Hope you feel better and YES I have had a UTI for OVER 4 years it was from drinking regular "Pepsi" & NOONE told me I was allergic too caffeine so the caffeine gave me terrible "D"(Diarrhea)sorry and that made me get UTIs from cross contamination... Smh...
eileenmcf8078
3 Sep 2016
I was wondering how your cystoscope turned out and how you are feeling?
I am a chronic UTI sufferer and have been on many anbx and allergic to many
as well. I was reading your post. I hope your feeling better
eileenmcf8078
3 Sep 2016
I was wondering how your cystoscope turned out and how you are feeling?
I am a chronic UTI sufferer and have been on many anbx and allergic to many
as well. I was reading your post. I hope your feeling better
caymus
17 March 2016
OH YES!!! I know exactly what you mean! I hated giving up sex because of UTIs! It was a disaster for my relation ship. I tried everything you can imagine... I also used Nitrofurantoin until I read that it was banned for UTI prevention in Europe due to risk of serious liver and lung damage! Thankfully, a urologist told me to take ellura. It WORKS!!! I have been taking it before or after sex for over 2+ years and have not had a single UTI!!!
1976er
17 March 2016
Thanks for your reply! Good to know I'm not alone. But just FYI, I live in Europe, and nitrofurantoin is definitely not banned here as an antibiotic prescribed to humans, as it has been prescribed to me here many times. What is banned is the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals in the EU. I for one am a fan of having no antibiotics used in food-producing animals and food production in general, but nitrofurantoin is the one antibiotic left that I haven't become resistant to. I will look into Ellura, though, thanks!
Melons83
2 April 2016
"Ellura" I am willing too try ANYTHING just too get OFF this "Macrobid" :( Maybe if I move too Europe I would get treated BETTER??
sambie23
17 March 2016
I had a UTI one of the worse things to do is have sex. Usually you have to wait a week till your finally done with any symptoms of a UTI. If you do have sex worse things is heavy pain and even more burning and bleeding so I would suggest to wait.
1976er
17 March 2016
Thank you for your response, but I was not asking when I could have sex again. My question was something else entirely.
Related topics
urinary tract infection, infections, nitrofurantoin, sex, urinary tract
Further information
- Nitrofurantoin uses and safety info
- Nitrofurantoin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Nitrofurantoin (detailed)
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