Will peeing after sex reduce one’s chances of getting pregnant?

Urine travels from the bladder through the urethra before exiting the body. The female urethra is relatively short, only about 1.5cm in length, and the urethral opening (meatus) is situated between the clitoris and vagina, in close proximity to the anus, explains Dr Sneha Sathe, fertility consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai

Do you pee post sex? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

There are so many misconceptions regarding pregnancy and conception that for couples trying to conceive, the dos and don’ts around sex might appear confusing. Experts, however, suggest that rather than going by what others say, one should always seek professional guidance. One such notion is that the chances of getting pregnant reduce if the woman pees after sex as it is believed that the urine would flush out semen. Is this true?

Dr Vijaya Sherbet, consultant (obstetrics and gynaecology) at Manipal Hospital in Hebbal, Bengaluru, says that semen contains sperm, which are tiny cells invisible to the naked eye.

“Pheromones made by the woman’s body attract sperm cells, which move independently (aided by their tail) once deposited. The white liquid that leaves her body after sex is the vehicle that transports the sperm,” describes Dr Sherbet, emphasising that urinating or washing the area after sex does not prevent pregnancy.

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Dr Sneha Sathe, fertility consultant at Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai, concurs and says that there is no evidence to suggest that urinating after sex has any impact on the likelihood of pregnancy. “In fact, urinating after sex can have health benefits,” says Dr Sathe.

To understand why, let’s have a quick anatomy lesson.

Urine travels from the bladder through the urethra to exit the body. The female urethra is relatively short, only about 1.5cm in length and the urethral opening (meatus) is situated between the clitoris and vagina and is in close proximity to the anus. This increases the risk that harmful bacteria may make their way into your urethra during sexual activity, leading to UTI (urinary tract infection). “Urinating after sex can help wash away any bacteria from the urethra, thereby reducing the risk of developing UTI,” says Dr Sathe.

But, is this still okay if you’re trying to conceive? Yes, absolutely okay, Dr Sathe stresses.

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Does peeing impact one’s chances of getting pregnant? (Source: Freepik)

Peeing after sex does not reduce one’s chances of getting pregnant. Dr Sathe further explains that it is important to understand that although the urethra and vagina are located close to each other, they are separate organs. “The urethra is responsible for transporting urine out of the body, while the vagina is where the semen is ejaculated during sex. You might notice that when you stand up to go pass urine after sex, some seminal fluid might leak out. This is normal. Even though some semen (containing sperm) flows out of the vagina, there is still enough left to fertilise the egg,” Dr Sathe told indianexpress.com.

Also Read | Women, you must never ignore symptoms like pelvic pain, cloudy urine, burning sensation in the vagina

The bottom line is, peeing after sex won’t have an impact on your chances of conceiving but, in fact, it can serve as a preventive measure against UTI, the chances of contracting which increase after sexual intercourse.

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