It will end badly: Doctors have told which sex positions are dangerous for women over 45

The disease in question can affect a person of any sex and any age, but it is known for the fact that it often overtakes girls in bed.

This is a urinary tract infection, which women experience 30 times more often than men. According to statistics, every second of us has faced this disease, while a quarter have relapsed within six months. One of the reasons for this is the heartless anatomy: bacteria living in the vagina can easily enter the urethra during sex – because these organs are very close.

Have you ever heard the advice of a gynecologist to go to the bathroom immediately after bedtime? It’s really very useful: doctors advise doing it so that the urine eliminates excess bacteria. But this method does not always help – sometimes during sex, microtraumas can appear in the urethra – and hello, infection!

After 45 years, the risks of such a scenario increase considerably. At this time, our body begins to change in anticipation of menopause, and one of the common “special effects” is the disappearance of lubrication, which makes the mucous membrane particularly vulnerable. (If you needed a reason to go to a sex shop, then here it is! Lube isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.)

However, experts believe that it is possible to reduce the risk of disease by approaching the choice of postures more thoughtfully. “The general rule is that positions where there’s too much friction between bodies correspond to a higher risk of developing UTIs,” says Ruby Rahr, sex educator and body positivity activist.

“The urethra is located between the clitoris and the entrance to the vagina,” explains Andrew Vallance-Owen, MD. “Therefore, there is a risk of contact of sexual fluids and bacteria with the urethra.” Here are some poses, experts say, you should pay attention to in order to avoid this.

The “classic” is bad because the woman’s penis and urethra are too close – this makes it easier for microorganisms to get in where they shouldn’t be. Want to reduce risk? The easiest way to do this is to put your feet on his shoulders.

This position that all men love (so lay down and have fun!) is dangerous for the same reason – the penis is next to the urethra, and the friction is very high and promotes the spread of bacteria.

“There’s a very persistent myth that UTIs only happen with penetrative sex,” says Ruby. “But that’s not the case – fingers can just as easily transmit an infection, especially considering the number of germs our hands come into contact with during the day.” The solution in this case is simple – wash them.

Bacteria that live near the anus and in the rectum certainly have no place in the vagina. Therefore, with anal sex, you have to be very careful and make sure to change condoms if the partner wants to return to “traditional” penetration.

Which posture is the best in terms of preventing urinary tract infections? Doggy style lovers rejoice – experts believe that in this position the likelihood of a UTI is minimal – the penis is as far away from the urethra as possible.

And finally, experts advise not to forget that not only sex can lead to infection, but also masturbation with unwashed hands or sex toys. Dr. Vallance-Owen also advises caution when using spermicide-treated condoms, which can upset the balance of bacteria in the vagina and urinary tract, increasing the risk of infection.