Personal Hygiene

Tips for personal hygiene:

• When cleaning a penis, it is important to start at the head. If one is uncircumcised, they would still need to pull the foreskin back as far as it is possible without causing any discomfort. The pulled foreskin will expose both the glans which needs to be gently cleaned with lukewarm water. Ensure cleanliness of the glans and the inner side of the foreskin as a white substance called smegma gets formed here. Smegma consists of dead skin cells, oils, body fluids and bacteria. The presence of this substance can cause infections and foul smell.
  
  
• Circumcised persons too need to maintain hygiene as the absence of foreskin can cause the penis head to come in direct contact with sweat and bacteria. It is important to clean genitals before and after sexual activity to prevent infections.
  
  
• When washing a vagina, do not go overboard with vigorous washing, especially with scented liquids as it affects the pH balance of the vagina and can make you prone to infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis.
  
  
• Some, choose to douche (i.e. flush water or betadine up the vagina) in order to clear vaginal discharge. Douching removes the healthy bacteria that are necessary to maintain the right pH in the vagina. Douching also pre-disposes the person to infections such as Bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
• When on their menstrual cycle, tampons and sanitary pads should be changed after every three to six hours depending on the menstrual flow. Keeping them for a long time may let bacteria thrive causing bad odour and infections. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by strands of the Staphylococcus bacteria. It is caused by tampons that are worn for more than six hours at a time, menstruation, surgery or recently having a baby. Although there isn’t a test for it, it is diagnosed through the symptoms of fever, low blood pressure, problems with at least three organs and a rash that last up to 2 weeks. Other symptoms may include diarrhoea, headaches, chills, nausea, muscle aches, red eyes and throat, and in some cases seizures.
  
  
• Sweaty clothes and underwear after a workout should be changed quickly. Bacterial and fungal infections flourish in sweat conditions. Sweat, dust and shaving of genital hair can cause folliculitis, where the hair follicles get inflamed and infected.
  
  
• Never delay going to the bathroom to urinate, especially before practicing sex. Urinating causes your bladder to get rid of bacteria and toxins that thrive in the urinary tract. Delaying urination speeds up breeding of bacteria which leads to infections. A bladder full of urine makes your urethra prone to infection from your vagina or penis.
  
  
• Do not wear tight underwear or tight fitting jeans for a long time. Choose natural fabrics such as cotton instead of synthetics for your innerwear.
  
  
• It is also very important to properly clean your anus, especially when engaging in anal sex.
  
  
• Anal sex without a condom may also spread other infections, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella, and giardiasis. Cleaning up before and after anal sex will not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, it may reduce the chance of contracting such bacteria, viruses or parasites.