Step away from the soap: Three things women should never do after sex

Avoiding them could be vital to your health

There are some things you should never, ever do straight after a passionate liaison (Rex Features)

According to experts, if you want to keep your lady parts in tip-top health there are three things you should always avoid after doing the deed.

And, while checking off a list of things you should or shouldn’t be doing post-sex isn’t the most starry-eyed way to end a sack sesh apparently it’s vital to your well-being.

But why? Kansas-based gynaecologist Leslie E. F. Page told Women’s Health, “When the vaginal tissues have been lubricated, swollen, and rubbed against during intercourse, it changes how that tissue reacts to the environment. Primarily, you run a much greater risk of infection.”

Here are the three things you should never, ever do straight after a passionate liaison.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Lathering up

If you feel the need to freshen up post-sex make sure you don’t use soap. While it might sound like a good idea, lathering up your nether-regions can actually do more harm than good. Not only could you have an allergic reaction if your skin reacts differently to the chemicals in cleansers, but “using soap can lead to vaginal irritation and dryness,” says Robert Wool, M. D., ob-gyn.

If you do want to take a shower just make sure you use plan old water, “The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, and needs to be treated very, very gently—if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, you shouldn’t put it in or around your vagina,” Page says.

Forgetting to pee

It turns out that going to the loo after a bonk isn’t an old wives’ tale after all. During sex bacteria can get pushed into the bladder, “This can result in post-intercourse bladder infections,” says Wool, “You can have some snuggle time, just empty your bladder within an hour of sex.”

Having a hot tub sesh

A soak in some bubbles might sound like the perfect post-coital activity but it’s actually really bad news for your lady parts. Jumping in a hot tub with your partner means that you’re exposed to the bacteria on their skin and anus while extensive water exposure can reduce the efficiency of your skin’s antimicrobial barrier. “When your vulva swells in response to sexual stimulation, it reveals the opening of the vagina, which means you have a greater chance of infection,” Page says.