Are there urinary tract infections linked to squirting after sex?
Executive summary
Squirting itself has not been shown in the medical literature to be a proven direct cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), while sexual activity in general is a well‑established risk factor for UTIs because it can move bacteria toward and into the urethra [1] [2]. Clinical guidance therefore treats squirting as an element of sexual activity with plausible, indirect links to bladder irritation or infection—but definitive studies isolating “squirting” as the causal variable are missing from the cited reporting [3] [4] [5].
1. Why clinicians connect sex — not the mechanics of squirting — to UTIs
Multiple mainstream medical outlets describe sex as a common trigger for UTIs, noting that genital bacterial flora can be mechanically pushed toward the urethral opening during intercourse and related intimate contact, which allows bacteria such as E. coli to enter and multiply in the urinary tract [1] [2] [6]. Authoritative patient‑focused sources recommend basic prevention strategies tied to sexual activity — for example urinating after sex to flush bacteria — which underscores that the mechanism clinicians worry about is bacterial transfer and urethral exposure rather than any single sexual phenomenon like squirting [7] [8].
2. What the reporting says specifically about squirting and bladder problems
Consumer Q&A and sexual‑health pieces say squirting involves fluid release from glands near the urethra and that, in isolation, this process “generally does not cause bladder issues,” though persistent urinary symptoms merit urological evaluation [3]. Sexual‑health guides mention UTIs in the same breath as squirting as a possible concern without asserting causation, reflecting the literature’s scarcity of direct evidence tying female ejaculation to increased infection risk [4].
3. A plausible pathway — but not proof — linking squirting to UTI symptoms
The plausible pathway by which squirting could be associated with a subsequent UTI is the same as for other sexual activities: movement of bacteria from perineal or rectal skin toward the urethra and bladder during vigorous activity, manipulation, or fluid exchange [9] [10]. If squirting occurs in conjunction with other exposures that raise bacterial load or cause microtrauma or irritation to the urethra, that combined context could elevate UTI risk, even though squirting per se isn’t isolated in the reporting as the singular cause [11] [12].
4. An alternate hypothesis: could female ejaculate be protective?
A small body of scientific conjecture raises the opposite possibility — that secretions from Skene’s (female “prostate”) glands might have antimicrobial properties and could even protect the urethra, with one review hypothesizing female ejaculation serves an antimicrobial purpose [5]. That hypothesis is exploratory and not widely confirmed; it illustrates that physiological roles of glandular secretions are not settled and that simple cause‑and‑effect claims about squirting increasing UTI risk are premature without targeted research [5].
5. Bottom line for clinicians and patients given current reporting
Given the sources, clinical advice should be: treat squirting as part of sexual activity that can occur alongside other behaviors known to promote UTIs; watch for classic UTI symptoms and seek evaluation if symptoms persist, because isolated claims that “squirting causes UTIs” are not substantiated by the cited reporting [1] [3] [7]. Preventive measures recommended after sexual activity — hydration, urination, genital hygiene when appropriate, and medical assessment for recurrent or severe symptoms — remain the practical response until specific research on squirting and infection risk appears [8] [7].