Why you should clean up, down there

Health they say is wealth. But some people do not place much premium on this dictum until something goes wrong within the body system. In this piece, Toyin Akinola highlights vital hygiene tips for total well-being. 

A person’s lifestyle has a direct influence on his/her physical well-being. It is extremely important that care should be taken on personal hygiene, because it keeps the human body clean and free from infections. Similarly, genital hygiene is a must. There are questions about the genital health and hygiene that require answers, but most people are usually shy to ask friends and even doctors  questions pertaining to genital hygiene. 

A woman needs to pay proper attention to her genital hygiene as the vagina has several microscopic organisms.  Maintaining genital hygiene prevents bad odour from the genital area and keeps the area clean and well-groomed, giving one a fresh feeling that is pleasing to oneself and one’s  partner.

Genital care for females: Menstruation is an important factor when talking about personal hygiene in women. Although the blood flowing to the outside is clean, it is necessary to change the sanitary towel several times a day. According to Health Care journal, to maintain proper hygiene in women, the external genital area should be washed with water alone, or with a mild soap twice daily, morning and evening. Cleaning should include the vulva, as well as the folds of the labia, and the clitoris.

Dr Olujimi Odutola, Medical Director, Ibadan Central Hospital, Ibadan Oyo State, said, the genital hygiene of a woman has  implications on both her sexual life and reproduction. The clitoris, labia, vagina and anus of a woman must be cleaned properly. Though the anus is not part of the genital system, if not cleaned properly it might have a far reaching implication on the genital system, he said. 

A woman needs to clean her clitoris properly because she urinates from there, which makes it an entry point for infection. The urethra is very close to the surface, so this can cause infection to travel fast into it.  The genital area must be kept dry also the folds between the legs, so that there is no irritation or moisture left. 

Hands and nails must also be kept clean and neat to avoid problems of transmission of infection during sex play. The vagina cleans itself because its wall produces a fluid that carries the dead cells and other microorganisms outside. Therefore, vaginal deodorants, talcum powder, or spray are not recommended, as they can irritate the vagina and cause infections.

Studies show that the development of infections can be facilitated by the use of tight underwears. It is, therefore, adviseable to replace them with loose garments.

The external genital area of the woman, by its  location in the body, as well as its features and  functions, is continually exposed to a series of  aggressive factors, which make it susceptible to alteration, that is why it is considered one of the most delicate organs which require greater care. Because the genital area is a conducive environment to develop various diseases, the bacteria that normally live in the genital area; vaginal secretions, sweat, menses, urine, faecal waste and bacteria transmitted during sexual intercourse when there is poor aeration, favour the development of micro-organisms. 

Dr Odutola said women urinate more than men  because their bladder has a smaller neck and this  makes it possible for them to want to urinate  in inappropriate places, where they may acquire infections more and makes them more prone to infection than men. Therefore, a woman needs to clean up her genital area properly after using the toilet, so that there won’t be any urine left in her genital area for bacteria to feast on.

Dr Adesina Adeyemi, Consultant, University College Hospital, (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State said although genital hygiene concerns both men and women but attention is always placed on women, because they have a very sensitive organ. Women need to pay more attention to their hygiene by washing up regularly, wiping up their genital area gently after urinating and cleaning of their underwears. To prevent bad odour and infection.

How to avoid contamination of the genital area Clean the clitoris and urethra area while taking a bath because they have secretions.

•Wear pure cotton or silk garments. Avoid wearing synthetic or polyester undergarments, as they become wet easily, take time to dry and  therefore builds bacteria.

• Before an intercourse, wash the genital area. This not only ensures vaginal hygiene, but also helps to get rid of vaginal odour;

• After a bath, try to dry the genital area. Moisture makes bacteria breed faster. If the lingerie becomes wet due to secretions, change them twice in a day, when the genital area is clean, it prevents vaginal smell;

• During menstruation, change the pad or napkin after three to four hours, or when it becomes moist. 

• Change wet clothes immediately. Try to keep the genital area dry when possible.

• Don’t sit on unclean public toilet. Vaginal infections are more commonly contracted from  public toilets. Also, don’t flush while sitting on the toilet seat as the germs from the toilet flies after flushing.

• “Douching is a don’t”. It changes the natural acidic balance of the vagina and that balance is what keeps it healthy, according to the journal Feminine Hygiene.

• Wipe the vaginal area after urinating and after defeacating wipe from front to back, i.e. from the genital area to the anus.

 According to Dr Odutola, though a woman needs to clean up properly,  it must not be overdone because excess cleaning can be counterproductive, especially with the use of soaps. Excessive use of soaps destroys the normal body flora of the vagina by changing the pH of the vagina from its usual alkaline nature, making it acidic, and this has a lot of negative implications, especially for a woman who is interested in having children and it also exposes her to the risk of vaginal ulcer. 

He also advised that women should use their hand to examine their vagina every morning while washing to see if there is any lump, cyst or cancer growth. 

Genital care for male: It is necessaryfor the male to pay attention to the health of their genital area. However, like women, men contend with societal pressures not to talk about their genitals. They are often embarrassed to speak to anyone about any problems or questions they may have about their genitals. 

It is important for both male and female to learn about their genitals, ask questions, and practise good hygiene, in order to maintain good health.

Men should wash their genitals everyday and  these includes the penis, the scrotum which holds the testicles, the anus, and pubic hair (if puberty has been reached) with water and mild soap. For cleanliness after urinating, the penis should be shaken gently until the remaining drops of urine are expelled. It may be wiped as well. After a bowel movement, the anus should be wiped. 

Washing hands after urinating is a must; otherwise, bacteria will be spread via the hands. Apart from the need to wash and wipe the genitals, men should be concerned with the kind of underwear and pants they wear.

 Underwear or pants should not be too tight, and they should be well ventilated to help prevent bacteria growth. If underwear gets wet or soiled, it should be changed.

Dr Odutola said that although men are at a lesser risk of infection than women, it is wrong for men to put on underwear more than once. He said the underwear should be changed everyday. 

According to Personal Care and Hygiene journal, groin ringworm, a fungal infection that usually occurs in warm weather, is caused by wearing tight clothes that are not well ventilated. The symptoms include redness, blisters, itchiness, and pain of the groin and upper, inner thigh area. This type of infection can easily reoccur, if not properly taken care of.