Imagine you just had sex, you are not on contraception and you don't want to get pregnant. Then you remember something you heard from somebody. You head to the bathroom and pee. But you are not settled and you start questioning the rationale behind what you just did: Can peeing after sex really prevent pregnancy? There are many effective contraception methods that will help you enjoy sex without fear of unwanted pregnancy. But there are also lots of myths and misinformation on the subject of birth control. One of these is urinating after sexual intercourse.
Does Peeing After Sex Help Prevent Pregnancy?
Peeing after sex does not prevent pregnancy. The vaginal canal and the urethra are separate. For this reason, when you urinate, the urine does not get into the vagina and therefore cannot wash away the semen containing sperms. Also, peeing will not wash away any bacteria, fungus, virus or any other material that is within the vagina. Once sperms are deposited in the upper part of the vagina near the cervical opening, they quickly swim through the small opening in the cervix, into the uterus and further on into the fallopian tubes, seeking for an egg or ovum to fertilize.
Besides, even if you douche (wash the inside of the vagina), an unhealthy thing to do anyway, you will not wash away the fast-moving sperm. The douching liquid will not get as far as the cervix and even if it did, it wouldn't reach the sperms which by then will have passed through the tiny cervical opening into the uterus. The cervix design is such that the opening is very tiny to keep off anything that might endanger the health of the uterus. But the microscopic sperms will easily swim through. Neither douching fluid nor urine will get that far. So does peeing after sex help prevent pregnancy? No, it is just a myth, like many others.
More Myths About Birth Control
Myth 1: I can't get pregnant when I'm breastfeeding.
Truth: Breastfeeding can delay ovulation. However, there is no guarantee that ovulation will not begin while you are breastfeeding. If you don't want to get pregnant, use contraception even when you are nursing a baby.
Myth 2: I won't use birth control because I only have sex on safe days. After all, ovulation happens once in a month.
Truth: While ovulation happens once in a month, pinpointing the exact time is always a challenge. A woman's menstrual cycle is dependent on four hormones: estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. The delicate hormonal balance that determines the timing of ovulation can be disrupted by factors such as stress, illness, medication and weight. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the exact time that ovulation occurs. Those who use the rhythm method of birth control will have to closely monitor the woman's cycle and abstain from sex for more days to compensate for possible error.
Myth 3: You can't get pregnant if you have sex while standing or you are on top when doing it.
Truth: The position or style that you use during sex cannot determine whether you get pregnant or not. The fact is that when you have sex and the man ejaculates, his semen, containing millions of sperms, is deposited in the upper part of the vagina at the cervical opening.
Myth 4: You can't get pregnant if your partner withdraws his penis before ejaculation.
Truth: Withdrawal is not a reliable birth control method. During the run-up to ejaculation, the man's penis releases some semen. This means that by the time he is about to ejaculate, some sperms will already be within your vagina. Another fact is that at this point, most men will not be willing to withdraw.
Myth 5: You can't get pregnant the first time you have sex.
Truth: It doesn't matter that you are having sex the first time. When a girl or woman is ovulating, she can get pregnant if she has sexual intercourse. And even when a girl has not received her first menses, her first ovulation could be happening at this time.
Myth 6: You won't get pregnant once you start taking the pill.
Truth: The pill does not become effective immediately and you are advised to use a second contraception method in your first month on the pill. This is because the oral pill contains specific hormonal composition designed to alter the way your natural hormones work in order to prevent pregnancy. The initial interaction usually takes a full menstrual cycle to become successful.
Birth Control Methods You Can Choose
If someone you know asks: "Does peeing after sex help prevent pregnancy?" You can tell them the truth and inform them on the many contraception methods available. Here they are:
1. Birth Control Pills
Most women use birth control pills and you will be in good company if you are considering using them. There are many types of birth control pills, but in the main they can be classified into combination pills and mini pills. Combination birth control pills are classified further into continuous dosing and conventional packs. It is advisable to seek information on different pills before picking one.
2. Long Acting Reversible Contraception
Do you plan to get pregnant a little later in the future? Then this could be your best choice. Long-acting reversible birth control method is effective and convenient as it frees you from the worries of missing a pill. You can choose long-lasting reversible contraception from three main groups:
- Injection such as Depo-Provera
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Implants
Long-lasting reversible contraception requires a doctor's prescription. Application and removal are normally done in health facility. When you are ready to get pregnant, all you have to do is to have the long-lasting contraception withdrawn and your body will readjust shortly thereafter.
3. Sterilization
Sterilization is a permanent birth control method that you may consider if you decide that you won't want to get a child (another child if you are already a parent). Sterilization involves cutting or blocking the tubes that carry the ovum into the uterus for women, or those that carry the sperms from the testicles for men.
4. Emergency Contraception
Emergency conception is not strictly an ordinary contraception method, but one that is used in case of contraception failure, unprotected sex or missing a pill.
The most common emergency conception methods are:
- Emergency contraception pill, also known as the morning after pill
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
For emergency contraception to work, it should be used as soon as possible and in any case within five days since the unprotected sexual intercourse.
5. Other Birth Control Options
Now that you know the answer to the question "does peeing after sex help prevent pregnancy", you may want to know more about other birth control methods. For most people, birth control is synonymous with the pill. However, there are many more methods of birth control to choose from. If you don't need to use contraception all the time, you can consider using female or male condoms. You can also opt for the contraception sponge or the vaginal ring birth control methods.