Midwife of Asokore Health Centre, Mrs Mavis Bentil has cautioned women and girls to desist from the acts of washing their vagina with their fingers, soaps, sponges and some scented items, but then they should ensure good feminine hygiene to keep them safe from infections.
Feminine hygiene is the regular cleaning and sanitizing of the private areas including the vagina, the breast, and others to avoid the spread of infections.
Using soap, sponge, gel, or spray to wash inside the vagina according to her can irritate the sensitive skin in and around the vulva because soaps that are made from chemicals like glycerol and added perfumes can disrupt the pH balance of the privates which can result in irritation and harmful bacteria infections such as yeast infection, and other irritation.
To ensure the proper cleaning, despite its self-cleaning system, it is essential to regularly and spotless the private parts using only clean water.
“Washing your vagina can also affect your vagina’s ability to clean itself. So if you want a clean vagina, leave it alone to clean itself,” she said.
Speaking with Abba Aggrey on Bryt FM Menkwa’s show Mrs Bentil explained that washing the hands is not the only way to keep healthy but then the other parts of the body need attention as well, hence ignoring any problems associated with genital health can lead to a number of complications in the future.
“Poor intimate hygiene can impact your sex drive, causes fertility issues and some infections begin from your privates but slowly spread to the entire body which can be fatal,” she said.
“Vagina is not meant for fingers or any other thing but rather meant for the penis alone thus those engaged in fingering should avoid such act,” said Mrs Bentil.
Miss Erica Adusei, a midwife at Dwumapo Health Centre on her part added that the vagina cleans itself and keeps itself healthy by maintaining the correct pH balance and cleaning itself with natural secretions therefore we should avoid washing inside the vagina instead we should wash the vulva.
According to her, Cleanliness is vital because of the various cycles women go through including menstruation.
Therefore, Irregular cleaning and poor hygiene during periods can lead to the growth and spread of bacteria in the genitals, with unfortunate repercussions.
In addition to washing the vulva, it’s a good idea to wash the anus and the area between your vulva and anus every day.
“It’s best to wash “front to back” in other words, wash your vulva first and then your anus. Otherwise, bacteria from the anus can spread to your vagina, which can cause infections,” said Miss Adusei.
“Using cotton underwear, changing your sanitary pads every 2-4 hours, avoiding tight-fitting clothes, using unscented vaginal wipes, consuming plenty of water, urinating and washing after sex, are some of the ways to maintain good feminine hygiene,” she added.
The most important thing to keep in mind when wiping after peeing and pooping is that you want to wipe your anus and vagina separately to keep your genitals healthy.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Abba Kwegyirba Aggrey
