I Used to Get a UTI Every Time I Had Sex — Until I Found This Magic Salve
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I spent much of my life as a chronic UTI-haver. I was the young girl who got a UTI at least once a month before I knew to wipe front to back (why did no one teach me this earlier?!). Starting in my teens, I got a UTI with every period. When I entered adulthood, things got a lotworse, especiallywhen I started having sex regularly. By the time I was 28, I was up to two to three per month.
Nothing helped. I’d jump in the shower before sex to wash up with the latest gynecologist-approved, vulva-safe wash,Foria’s Everyday Body Wash. I switched out my lace Victoria’s Secret underwear for cotton. I’d clean all of my toys extra-thoroughly before and after. But I still reached a point where I wasn’t even able to enjoy sex because I was so worried about getting a UTI.
As it turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My late mother also suffered from this relentless hellfire-pee problem. But since she isn’t exactly around to ask for motherly advice from, I had to take matters into my own hands. After a particularly painful experience of spending an entire Harry Styles concert crying on a public restroom toilet seat, I searched, “Ways to naturally prevent a UTI.”
That’s when I foundMomotaro Apotheca’s salve, an organic balm designed to instantly comfort vulvovaginal dryness, itching, and irritation from yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and … UTIs. This botanical salve seemed like a miracle, so I started reading the reviews. One woman said she hadn’t had any infections since she started using it. Another said it not only helped keep UTIs away but also helped her manage her vulvodynia symptoms for the first time in her adult life. The cherry on top, though, was seeing someone describe the salve as magical skin care for their cunt.
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All thisandowned by a queer woman? I was sold. The ingredients — Oregon grape, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and echinacea, among others — were supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties, help soothe irritation and redness, and protect delicate skin. I was curious if those claims were true, so I asked board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Dympna Weil. “Generally speaking, coconut oil is considered safe for both vulvar and vaginal use,”Weilsaid. “It is even offered as a suggestion to people with vaginas for lubrication during sexual activity and in general. And jojoba oil is generally considered safe for external use on the vulva, as it is relatively close in composition to the natural oils found in our skin.”Of course, Weil adds that each person’s vulva and sensitivities vary, so what works for one person may not work for another.
I was willing to try based on the reviews alone. When I opened the clear jar, I noticed an herbaceous smell: a pleasant scent, like tea-tree oil and coconut oil combined. I took a shower and then applied a dollop of the salve on my vulva. It felt thick but not sticky, and right away, I noticed a kind of soothing sensation.Oooh, that’s nice,I thought.Then I went about my day.
I began using the salve every day like clockwork. A month passed, and then two, and I realized I hadn’t had my regular UTI.
That was three years ago, and I still religiously use the salve.I haven’t had a UTI since. I apply it after having sex, and sometimes before, to add a little moisture back to my vulva. It’s soothing, so occasionally I put it on just because it feels nice.
Of course, I still do standard UTI-prevention things, like peeing before and after sex, showering, and wearing cotton panties, but I know that the jar of salve is what has changed my life (and sex life) for the better. Now, instead of worrying about UTIs, I can have connected, steamy, and present sexual experiences again.
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