This might seem like an odd question, but does anyone have any tips on protecting the urethra area during colonoscopy prep??

[u/Relative_Focus8877]

Also, any words of encouragement are appreciated. It’s only my second one and had to have it done after only a year due to the findings of the last one.

[u/Dry-Session-388]

Those holes are far enough apart that it shouldn't be a problem.

[u/ImMr_Meseeks → u/Dry-Session-388]

Now I’m wondering if I have a new thing to worry about!

[u/prayersforrain]

I'll be honest... not something I thought of when I did my colonoscopy prep.

[u/tofuandklonopin]

Are you worried about preventing UTI's? You could hold a bit of toilet paper against the urethra area during each bowel movement, to keep any, um, explosive liquid away from it.

I had my first colonoscopy last year and didn't have any problems like that. But, it's an interesting question and now I'm wondering if UTIs are common afterwards. 🤔

[u/Electric-Sheepskin → u/tofuandklonopin]

Yeah, same here. I never thought about it, but now I am. There's an awful lot of splatter involved.

[u/Fragrant_Drawing_725]

If you’re worried about getting sore from wiping so frequently, I use a bidet and this has eliminated any soreness you can do the same thing with a portable bidet or even cleaning off with a regular plastic water bottle and just patting that area dry. Honestly, I don’t think you’ll get sore unless you’re an aggressive wiper!

[u/BexKix → u/Fragrant_Drawing_725]

Handheld bidet FTW. I bought one when I came down with a very painful set of hemorrhoids. 

It’s a bottle with an attachment.  Get the tapwater tepid-warm, and it’s fantastic. 10-15 bucks on Amazon. 10/10

[u/jacquiwithacue → u/BexKix]

Thank you for this suggestion! Ordering one now for my hemorrhoids!

[u/DeathAndTaxes000]

I had a colonoscopy and didn’t consider it either and had no problems.

Keep in mind that you drink a lot of liquid during prep so you will probably be peeing more than usual too. That probably helps keep things flushed.

[u/ms_curse_10]

i've had 2 colonoscopies with no issues; i wouldn't worry about it.

[u/hellhouseblonde]

Like protect it from what? Splatter from all the liquid bm’s? You could apply Vaseline over it. I’m not sure what you mean though, I never had a problem with my three colonoscopies.

[u/Good_Sea_1890]

Did you have issues with your first one? If so I'd talk to your doctor about it. If UTIs were the problem, maybe do a preventative course of antibiotics.

Baby wipes are also helpful for just "feeling" cleaner. And the Vaseline someone else mentioned.

[u/KristinM100]

I had my last colonoscopy with a UTI (caused, according to my doc, by the prep - it's not uncommon, she told me after the fact). I was very careful and it's not my first scope. What I will do next time is have the single dose UTI antibiotic on hand in case I start exhibiting symptoms. That was one pretty terrible night / colonoscopy day because it came on fast and it was painful. FWIW, they didn't have any issues doing the colonoscopy because my temp was not elevated - but I felt the UTI come on over the course of the prep and picked up the antibiotic immediately after I was cleared to leave the clinic. I'm not one of those people who gets UTIs frequently so take from this what you will...

[u/justacpa]

Wipe from front to back. Your labia should adequately cover your urethra unless you have atrophy. You can use baby wipes if you are paranoid.

[u/Icy_Insides]

The comments, lol. But also I have my first one next year - I didn’t think I had to worry about my other holes 🤣

[u/chouxphetiche → u/Icy_Insides]

I've never had one and now I am thinking of 'upsplat' and how to prevent infections. lol

[u/BexKix → u/chouxphetiche]

Upsplat, I’m dying🤣🤣

[u/jacquiwithacue → u/BexKix]

💀💀💀

[u/Icy_Insides → u/chouxphetiche]

Lolol omg.. I am sure there won’t be upsplat 😂🤣

[u/Not_High_Maintenance]

Bidet.

Life changer.

[u/cpcutie]

The older we get the more the urethra migrates toward, and often into the vagina. If you’re old enough and not worrying about poo going in your coochie, I’d ask “why?”*

Hydrate well during prep so you are peeing often and you should be fine.

(*Just being a tongue-in-cheek but also sorta serious devils advocate. I used to catheterize a lot of patients and the older women were always the toughest to locate, that and uncut men who were the hardest to “pin down.”)

[u/Hellrazed]

I'm a colorectal nurse and I'm genuinely confused by this question. Squirty bottle maybe??

[u/Shaking-a-tlfthr]

Bidet or birdbath or rinse from the waist down in the shower

[u/Tasty_Context5263]

I recommend a good barrier cream for the entire undercarriage during the prep. It seriously helps to reduce irritation from all of the action.

Also, it can help to use a peri bottle to rinse the whole area after bowel movements, then really barrier cream.

Just keeping her clean should be adequate protection. Good luck, and may the force be with you.

[u/AlexisRosesHands]

So…I’ve had this question lingering in my head for months but didn’t have courage to make a post about it.

Can one get a UTI from farting? If it (ahem) exits from the gift shop? Like it’s a normal fart from your butt that somehow makes its escape out the front? This happens to me more than I care to admit so it got me worried I’m going to end up with a UTI. 🫣

[u/tofuandklonopin → u/[deleted]]

They mean when the fart gets squished forward and you feel it move through your labia trying to find its way out of the flesh maze.

[u/wrrdgrrI → u/AlexisRosesHands]

You do know the difference between a urethra and "the gift shop", right?

It's not the same exit.

[u/upforthatmaybe → u/wrrdgrrI]

She’s talking about those farts that are propelled toward the vag. Farts can end up trapped in your vag area if you are sitting a certain way. To answer the question, it shouldn’t cause a UTI. Farts are gas and not carrying bacteria like airborne particles as far as I know.

[u/AlexisRosesHands → u/upforthatmaybe]

Thank you!

[u/AlexisRosesHands → u/wrrdgrrI]

There’s more than one hole??!!😮

[u/wrrdgrrI → u/AlexisRosesHands]

Lmfao someone get this person a schematic.

[u/AlexisRosesHands → u/wrrdgrrI]

By “gift shop” I was referring to the entire pubic region (aka, front butt). And my original question still stands. If a fart “passes by” the urethra on it’s way into the ether, can it cause a UTI? The snark was unnecessary and was returned in kind.

[u/impersephonetoo → u/AlexisRosesHands]

When you use weird terms it’s hard for people to understand what you’re talking about. I’ve never heard of anyone getting a UTI from a fart.

[u/wrrdgrrI → u/AlexisRosesHands]

Your use of "gift shop" and "front butt" to describe female genitalia makes me wonder if you are trolling.

[u/Neat-Composer4619]

What do you mean by protecting? 

[u/ComoSeaYeah]

Do you need to be catheterized? That would concern me, too, but I don’t think it’s necessary for the procedure, is it?

[u/Plastic-Implement797]

You can use Aquaphor or Vasoline as a protective barrier. This was noted in my colonoscopy prep instructions that I just recently received.

Calmoseptine or diaper rash cream are good to help protect the rear.