Honeymoon infections

By Esther Muchene

After months of tireless wedding planning and finally saying "I do" to the one you love, comes the greatest relief all newlyweds look forward to; the honeymoon. You imagine the two of you seated in a hot tub or by the poolside sipping mimosas as you bond and reflect on how your wedding was, not forgetting the fun part. The night of passion you’ve both been looking forward to is here.

But wait; could this be the worst honeymoon ever? You’re just from consummating your marriage and something feels funny. All of a sudden you feel this urgent need to urinate, which may be characterised with a burning sensation during urination.

Still have no idea what am referring to? Well, here it comes. This is what doctors call honeymoon cystitis. This is a term used to describe urinary tract infections after a girl’s first intercourse on her wedding night.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder with the following symptoms:

•Frequency of urination.

•An urgent need to empty the bladder.

•A burning sensation during urination.

•Cloudy urine sometimes tinged with blood.

•Painful urination.

•Pressure in the lower pelvic and pain above the pubic bone.

The E-coli bacteria are blamed for causing this infection where the bacterium, which normally lives in the bowel, enters the urethra. This bacterium begins to replicate, leading to infection.

Other ways you can get it include frequent strenuous intercourse, where the penis thrust causes irritation on the back wall of the bladder, touching with unclean fingers, penis, or other objects, which are inserted both in the anus and the vagina. Women, who also clean from back to front, rather than from vagina to anus, are also at higher risk of catching the infection.

Risk factors you should watch out for include:

•Frequent sexual intercourse.

•Poor lubrication during sex predisposes one to infection.

•Use of contraceptives such as the diaphragm and spermicide increase risk of contracting the infection.

•Poor hygiene.

However, the good news is, it can be managed and kept at bay with proper care by taking simple measures such as:

•Avoid taking too much coffee.

•According to studies, drinking cranberry juice every day can help prevent urinary tract infections by making your urine more acidic thus lethal to pathogens.

•Refraining from urinating for long periods of time may allow bacteria time to multiply. To flush out bacteria from the urethra, urinate immediately before and after sexual activity.

•During intercourse, consider using water-based vaginal lubricants for easy insertion and less friction.

•Keep the genital area clean by cleaning using lukewarm water.

•Wear loose fitting clothes.

•If you’re suffering from mild infection, antibiotics will do.

•If the symptoms get worse or remain the same, consult a urologist or gynaecologist for further treatment.

Now that you’re aware that such an infection can occur, it would be a good idea to pack a lubricant and some antibiotics for the trip, as they say prevention is better than cure.