Claim: Poor peeing hygiene habits in men can be a cause of UTIs in their female partners

Fact: True. Lack of hygiene in men can cause UTIs in their female partners. Everyone should follow clean and safe sexual practices, and maintain hygiene at all times.

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are among the most common infections affecting women, and poor hygiene habits are largely blamed as their cause.

First Check received a tipline query asking if poor hygiene practices among male partners might also be a reason for UTIs in women. 

We reached out to Dr Abha Majumdar, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and the Head of the IVF Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital who said this was indeed the case. 

“UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply which often leads to burning during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and pelvic discomfort being among the most common symptoms,” she said. “The most common culprit is a bacterium we call Escherichia coli, it can be found in a person’s colon, the anal canal.”

Dr Majumdar said that poor genital hygiene was the main culprit when it comes to UTI infections. “Hygiene practices after urination and defecation are important. Women should practice washing the area properly and wiping from back to front,” she said, cautioning that the wiping should not be done from front to back as this transfers bacteria from the anal area to the urethra, and exposes the area to infection. 

“Men too should wash properly after urinating and every person should change their underwear frequently, and should only use clean undergarments,” she added.

Dr Majumdar said that the men who don’t wash their hands after urinating or fail to clean their genitals before sexual activity, risk transferring bacteria to their partners. 

The gynaecologist advised proper and safe sexual practices, “Both partners should wash their genital areas before and after sex. Women should try to urinate immediately after intercourse which flushes out bacteria that may have entered the urethra,” she said. “Using contraception can also reduce the risk of bacterial transfer during sex. Maintaining overall hygiene, such as changing underwear regularly and staying hydrated is essential.”

Sexual intercourse itself can introduce bacteria into the urethra. “You can certainly develop a UTI without any sexual activity, but post-sex UTIs are common. That’s because you have lots of bacteria on the outside of your genitals. Sexual activity moves that bacteria around and it can end up at the opening of your urethra, causing an infection,” reads this article in the Cleveland Clinic. 

Also read: Fact Check: Does Poor Oral Hygiene Cause Heart Attacks?

(Do you have a health-related claim that you would like us to fact-check? Send it to us, and we will fact-check it for you! You can send it on WhatsApp at +91-9311223141, mail us at hello@firstcheck.in, or click here to submit it online)