Genitalia hygiene-the sacred talk

There are things that seem obvious and, yes, too ‘sacred’. Things that cringe you making you want to say, ‘Do you need to tell me that?!’… until you read, listen some more and change your thought pattern. Thus, we discuss a topic so obvious and ‘sacred’ telling of things that may just be very new to you.

Genital hygiene is imperative during pregnancy and especially the latter part of expecting. Believe it or not. your

Vaginal secretion
During pregnancy you have more vaginal secretion. As much as this extra secretion is not as a result of disease, it may have an irritating effect on the genital organs. This makes the area very moist most of the times—a condition ideal for breeding harmful germs. To avoid this, you need to wash the genital area two or three times a day with warm water and a non irritating soap. Vaginal douches are totally forbidden unless you have the doctor’s direction to do so: they can cause uterine contractions.

If you sweat more than usual you can use powder on the exterior part of the thighs and around the genitalia to avoid irritation.

Now, there are women who take this issue of genital hygiene so seriously that they obsess in the area being spic, span and odourless. As clean as you may want to be, over-cleaning of the vagina can be harmful. The inside of the vagina rarely needs cleaning with soap. It has a natural balance of substances that can become disturbed by washing with soap giving any bacteria that enters therein the potential of creating an infection.

In cases where the discharge is not heavy, the external part of the vagina, the labia, only needs a once-a-day cleaning using a mild soap and water. Other than that, the cleaning could also be done after sexual intercourse.

How to clean
Washing should be performed using a singular front to back motion to avoid bacteria around the anus from coming into contact with the vagina or urethra (the external opening to the bladder).

The anus should be the last part to be cleaned so the bath water or bathing flannel does not become contaminated with bacteria that would be spread to other parts of the body.

Bathing flannels and towels should never be shared. They should be washed immediately after use and preferably dried in the sunshine. The towels should be washed and dried in the sun as frequently as possible.

In cases of thrush and cystitis, all items should be used once, washed immediately and sunshine dried. Never leave the used items in the laundry basket as that makes the germs causing the infections to multiply.

What and how to wear
Use stockings instead of tights and cotton underwear with sufficient cover rather than thongs. Stocking and cotton underwear do not trap perspiration leaving the genitalia area dry and well ventilated thus free of harmful bacteria accumulation.

Thongs, on the other hand, transfer infection—causing bacteria from the anal region to the genital area. Perfumes and deodorants should not be directly applied to the genital region. Wear your perfume behind the knees. This will still bring the effect you are looking for.

Panty liners should be changed often, which includes after passing urine, as they become moist.

Tight pairs of trousers should be a no-no, since they too trap moisture, beginning the process of breeding harmful fungus that in turn cause candidiasis, a vaginal infection.

When to take action
Normal vaginal discharge is a colourless white discharge. If you see something that looks cheesy or curd like, something greyish, greenish or yellowish and with an unpleasant fishy smell, there is a big likelihood that you may be having bacterial vaginosis. Make sure you see a gynaecologist immediately so that the infection is curbed before it causes serious discomfort.

Go ahead and enjoy being feminine in the above fashion. As noted, it is very sacrilegious to your womanhood if you don’t.

END: PG21/12