“Can I Masturbate with a Yeast Infection?” and Other Burning Questions

September is Sexual Health Awareness Month! To celebrate, Wisp is turning up the volume on conversations about sexual health by featuring some of our favorite topics and the sexperts who know them best.

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So you’ve gotten treatment and are on the mend from some unpleasant vaginal symptoms due to bacterial vaginosis, UTI, or a yeast infection. You’re taking your prescription meds as directed, but now you’re starting to feel a different kind of tingle and you’re wondering, “When can I get back to orgasms??” If you’re asking yourself this question you certainly aren’t alone—most of us aren’t thinking about getting down when we’re in the middle of itchy, painful, or plain uncomfortable symptoms. But once you start feeling a little better you’re ready to get back to your life, including masturbation. Let’s get into some of your most common sex-related vaginal health questions.

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“Can I masturbate…?”

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The short answer? Most likely, yes. But let’s explore a few specific scenarios so you can feel relaxed and secure during your next self-pleasure session.

Can I masturbate with a UTI?

If you’ve been treated for UTIs in the past, you know that UTI antibiotics work fast—like, same-day fast. Taking a dose in the morning probably means you’ll be feeling much better by dinner time and maybe even ready for a little fun before bed. While masturbation during your UTI treatment is perfectly safe, you may want to err on the side of caution while you’re recovering. Very often UTIs happen when bacteria are pushed into the urethra during intercourse and your risk can increase during anal play or rougher sex. If you decide to masturbate, you may want to avoid activities that could cause irritation, like using toys meant to be inserted, and stick to external fun, like clitoral stimulation. Once you’ve finished your round of antibiotics, you’ll be all set to return to your regularly scheduled programming (always remember to pee after sex and masturbation to prevent UTIs)!

Can I masturbate with a yeast infection or with BV?

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Yes, it’s definitely safe to masturbate when you have a yeast infection or BV, as long as you take steps not to further irritate your genitals or make your symptoms worse. Both of these infections are caused by imbalances in your vaginal environment—typically this means a disruption of your vaginal pH (possibly by sex or lifestyle factors) led to an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria. When you’re masturbating you’ll want to keep things clean (while you’re getting dirty 😉):

Wash your hands and any toys you use before and after your session (wash your genitals afterward, too).
Make sure any lube or washes you use are fragrance-free and body safe—fragrances and flavored lubes and condoms tend to include ingredients that can be irritating and make infections worse.
If you’re using a gel or cream treatment, give it time to work before inserting anything else into your vagina.
Stay dry once you’re done! Moist environments trap bacteria so once you clean up and dry off, throw on a pair of cotton undies to let things breathe.

Is it ok to masturbate while pregnant?

Ok, this one’s a little bit different, but we couldn’t let it go unanswered! You should always follow the advice of your OBGYN, but yes, masturbation during a healthy, low-risk pregnancy can be a great way to relieve stress and break through some of pregnancy’s unpleasant side effects. Orgasm is even one popular method of attempting to kickstart labor for a baby who’s overstayed their welcome!