Need a reason to get a bit freakier in the sheets? Research now shows that women who don’t have sex for long period of times are more prone to getting urinary tract infections.

It is called honeymoon cystitis, what Nicolette Horbach, MD, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University defines as a UTI that occurs when women have a lot of sex in a short period and experience additional trauma to the tissues. Especially when they have been having it infrequently.

Right now, UTI is one of the most common infections women are going through. Nicolette says 75% of the time, UTI is caused by sex.

It has led to over 8 million visits to the hospital annually and four out of five of the women infected get it again within 18 months.

It has nothing to do with hygiene

She says, sex causes UTI because of the back and forth motion literally massages bacteria from the anus to the vagina especially after pregnancy because the vaginal tissues may be drier, scarred or not lubricated well enough.

There are many ways to prevent recurrence. Firstly, it’s been said that peeing before and after sex should help keep it at bay. This is true. However, you need not jump of the bed immediately and make a run for the washrooms. Just ensure that you do, at least thirty minutes after as it will help wash out any accumulated bacteria from the sex.

Also, ensure there’s enough lubrication for the vagina, a water based lubricant should do the trick, or you can ask the doctor to give you an ostrogen cream that will replenish natural vaginal lubrication and prevent irritation.

If the UTI is recurrent for more than three times a year, Nicolette says that you should ask for preventive antibiotic from the doctors who can make you take it for more than a year to allow the bladder to completely heal. Also, you may be directed to take just a dose post sex to knock of any bacteria that might accumulate.