Good hygiene is important to your wellness, as you were often told as a kid. But what about your sexual health? Were you ever taught about sexual hygiene? Sadly, we don’t often discuss sexual hygiene properly, but this can play a vital part in your overall wellbeing. Not only can poor sexual hygiene turn off your partner – creating an embarrassing situation for the both of you – but it can also increase your risks of infections. So, how do you keep yourself fresh and feeling good?
- Understand underwear. It is always recommended that you wear fresh and clean cotton undergarments – especially if you’ve just had a sweaty workout. Even if the sweat has dried on your undies, it can create a breeding ground for bacteria and make your private parts vulnerable to infection, as well as folliculitis, in which your hair follicles become are inflamed and infected. Guys, remember that you should always leave a good amount of space for breathing room and ventilation, so avoid tight briefs.
- Don’t hold it in. If you force yourself to delay urination, you allow bacteria growth, because urinating helps clean out bacteria in the urinary tract.
- Com-MAN-ds. For men specifically, you need to keep your sexual parts clean, as they are outside of your body and so are at greater risk of infection. Don’t ignore washing your penis as you could experience a build-up of smegma, which can cause irritation. If you haven’t been circumcised, you should wash the head of your penis with lukewarm water, gently pulling back your foreskin as far as possible without causing any discomfort, till the head of your penis reveals itself. Don’t even think of washing the urethra and/or urinary tract as you could damage it.
- Womanly wisdom. As a woman, you have the added hassle of periods, so you need to remember to change your tampons or sanitary pads every three to six hours when menstruating, depending on your flow. Otherwise, you could risk infections or, at the very least, an unpleasant smell. Remember to clean the external part of your vagina daily with soap and warm water, and pat it dry rather than rubbing it.
