A bidet can have an impact on the development of a urinary tract infection (UTI), but it typically isn’t the sole cause of this type of infection. The misuse of a bidet is typically what contributes to a UTI. On the other hand, when using a bidet appropriately and maintaining good hygiene, a bidet can actually be a part of protecting your health in regards to preventing UTIs.
In order to make sure your bidet never leads to you developing a UTI, it’s important to be completely aware of your bidet, how it functions, and how you can keep it clean.
What Causes A UTI?
A urinary tract infection can occur when a person’s urinary tract is invaded by some kind of foreign bacteria. This foreign bacteria could disrupt the pH balance needed to maintain a healthy urinary tract, leading to a UTI.
A UTI can be extremely uncomfortable, but it can also cause no symptoms at all; it typically impacts people differently.
When a UTI is not dealt with appropriately with antibiotics, it can continue to grow within the body. It can lead to other serious health complications, which is why it’s so important to prevent a UTI.
How Bidets Can Influence UTIs
A bidet in and of itself will not cause a UTI, but it can contribute to one for a couple of reasons. If you are not adequately cleaning your bidet, it’s possible that bacteria that can lead to a UTI can accumulate in your bidet system.
Should you be using one in public, you want to wipe down the bidet before and after use and run the water so you can target it appropriately when ready to use it. Be sure you’re only using toilet paper or a single-use wipe to dry off.
Are Bidets Safe For Female Anatomy?
A person with female anatomy knows (or should know) that it’s very important to be careful with what comes into contact with it. While water seems like it’s safe around sensitive areas, it is only safe when it’s clean.
There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that bidets aren’t safe for female genitalia, but they could potentially cause some discomfort if used inappropriately.
Should you find that after you’ve started using the bidet, you are experiencing frequent discomfort, itchiness, redness, or pain while going to the bathroom, you should stop using the bidet.
You should also see a doctor to figure out what’s occurring if it could be related to your bidet, and then get treatment as necessary.
How Bidets Can Prevent UTIs
When a bidet is kept clean and disinfected regularly, it can actually be a very sanitary way to maintain proper urinary hygiene. It helps to keep your nether regions clean after going to the bathroom without having to use toilet paper. However, they can only help prevent such issues if used correctly and cleaned well.
How To Position Bidets To Prevent UTIs
For people with female anatomy, it’s important to position the bidet nozzle appropriately so that water flow goes from the front to the back. This makes sure no water can enter the urinary tract upward, while also ensuring any bacteria cannot be pushed up into your urinary tract.
Since people with female anatomy are more at risk for developing UTIs, it’s especially important that any bidet used is positioned properly to make sure water flows from the front to the rear as it cleans.
Get A Feminine Wash Attachment
Should your bidet not only be used by people with female anatomy, one can consider having what’s called a female wash attachment. This attachment can be placed in the appropriate position to clean from front to back as needed.
It also allows you to keep the main bidet at the back of the toilet so it can be used at the rear for those who need it.
How To Clean Bidets To Prevent UTIs
Bidets will come with cleaning settings so you can flush water through it each day. Your chosen bidet model will come with instructions for how to deconstruct the nozzle appropriately to make sure you can clean it inside and out.
With water running through it constantly, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria if it’s not disinfected often. Wiping the entire area of your toilet down each day with some disinfectant is also a good idea. Just be sure you don’t forget your bidet as well.
While the self-cleaning features being run each day will help you avoid most build-up, going over your bidet and its accessories with disinfectant is never a bad idea just to be safe.
Don’t Forget To Change The Bidet Filter
Bidets also have filters that need to be changed at least once or twice a year, if not more often depending on how frequently you use them. Write down when your filters need to be changed on a calendar or somewhere that you consistently check so you won’t forget a filter change.
Are Bidets Sanitary?
Bidets can be a sanitary way to clean up after using the bathroom for anyone of any gender. They can also help you eliminate the need for toilet paper, which can be expensive and wasteful. Of course, its efficacy decreases the less frequently you stay on top of your bidet cleaning.
Bidets are also not a new thing, even though they are somewhat new to North America. They have been used for a very long time throughout Asian and European countries without any major health concerns being detected from their use.
That said, they have been tested and found with bacteria present within the nozzle, which is why the importance of cleaning your bidet cannot be overstated.
Conclusion
A bidet will not cause a UTI, but misuse can. There shouldn’t be any concern for UTIs or other infections when you stay on top of cleaning your bidet and use it properly based on your anatomy. A bidet is meant to keep you clean and free from things like irritation and infections, but you have to do your part as well.