Will Bidets Cause UTIs?

Burning pain while peeing, blood in your urine, lower back pain, difficulty peeing, frequent urination or urinary incontinence, and pain during sex, have you ever experienced those, or do you know what is causing those symptoms? It is a urinary tract infection (UTI), the most common bacterial infection globally. 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for UTIs each year, and approximately 50% of women get UTIs in their lifetimes.

Poor bathroom hygiene is the primary cause of UTIs. A study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that 90 percent of UTI cases are caused by E. coli bacteria from feces. Therefore, it’s time to introduce changes to our bathroom routine.

One of the best and easiest ways to help prevent UTIs is to use a bidet. But it raises a question: will bidets cause UTIs, or do bidets help prevent UTIs? Let’s look into the connection between bidet use and UTI risk and see if a bidet sprayer is helpful for your urinary tract.

 

WHAT CAUSES A UTI?

To begin with, we need to understand how one contracts a UTI. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, urethra, ureter, and bladder. A UTI is an infection occurring in any part of the tract. As mentioned before, E. coli is the primary bacteria responsible for UTIs. Additionally, there are other non-bacterial causes of urinary tract infection.

Here are the most common ways that can cause a UTI:

• Introduction of bacteria, especially E. Coli.
• Not urinating frequently.
• Drinking too much soda or sweet tea.
• Kidney stones.

Anyone can get a urinary tract infection, but women make up 85%. Studies show between 40 and 60 percent of women will develop a UTI sometime in their life. A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s and closer to the anus. The urethra is also close to the vagina, which can collect bacteria during sex. So bacteria from both the anus and vagina have easy access to a female urinary tract.

 

WILL BIDETS CAUSE A UTI?

The answer is: No, using a bidet itself literally does not cause infection. Bidets are one of the safest ways to clean your genitals after using the bathroom. Unless you fail to clean your bidet seat properly or use public shared toilet accessories, you will not get a urinary tract infection from its use.

Bidets provide a more thorough clean. The device uses the same water as the sinks in your washroom and bathroom do. So, there is no need to worry about using contaminated water. The bidet spray cleans every part of your anus and groin area, eradicating all fecal matter or pee. Your hands won’t get into contact with fecal matter, which reduces the possibility of bacteria getting onto your hands and unfurl to nearby.

 

HOW TO PREVENT A UTI?

To avoid the pain of infection and the frustration of trying to treat it, you should take measures to prevent a UTI as much as possible.

 

1. WASH AFTER SEX

Sexual intercourse is one of the most common causes of UTIs because bacteria can enter the vagina during sex. You should pee within 15 minutes after sex to flush bacteria out of your urinary tract and prevent them from moving up into the bladder.

However, urination is not always enough to eliminate all the bacteria. A stream of water from a toilet washlet can help to remove any lingering bacteria, providing an extra level of protection against UTIs. Hibbent bidet toilet seats and bidet attachments are perfect choices for women of all ages. They are designed with the “feminine cleaning” feature to keep UTIs at bay.

 

2. WIPE FROM FRONT TO BACK

A golden rule is: Wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. It will vastly decrease the risk of bacteria getting into the vagina and urinary tract.

 

3. CLEAN BIDETS REGULARLY

The bidet should be cleaned regularly, at least once a month. To eliminate any E. coli or germs, remove the seat, you should dip a damp washcloth in dawn soap, diluted vinegar, or dish liquid and wipe the seat. For bidets with a nozzle, push the button or gently pull out the nozzle. Then, clean the interior with a toothbrush and wipe with a damp cloth. It is recommended to have an expert check your bidet annually for any plumbing issues and repairs.

Hibbent has developed self-cleaning bidet toilet combos that minimize your maintenance efforts. After each use, the nozzles will be rinsed thoroughly. This will greatly reduce your work and ensure your bidet stays more hygienic. And these models come with retractable wands. After using them, the bidet nozzle slides into a cover beneath the toilet seat and appears only when you press the button. Thus, the nozzles do not get dirty easily.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Since urinary tract infections are mainly caused by fecal germs contaminating the tract, you can’t miss a bidet that keeps you clean and avoid contracting a painful UTI. Try it out for yourselves, and who knows, you might love it!