VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3 • MARCH 2016
Refreshing Your Health
DAINTY DELICATES • Perineal hygiene • Female perineal hygiene • Male perineal hygiene • Vaginal discharge: normal
or infection?
Dainty delicates ARE YOU CLEAN DOWN THERE? WHETHER YOU ARE A GUY OR A GIRL, KEEP YOUR PRIVATES PRIM AND PRISTINE. As a people, Filipinos are near-obsessed with bodily cleanliness. Our elders taught us to bathe daily, to brush our teeth, keep our hair neat, and wear clean, well-
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pressed clothes. Garments must never be used twice. Fingernails must be kept short. And importantly, we were taught to wash our hands after going to the bathroom, because it is dirty down there.
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Well if it’s “dirty”, why don’t we wash it? How many of us have been taught the proper way to wash our privates? I dare say: not many.
Perineal hygiene Keeping our privates clean is called perineal hygiene. Hygiene pertains to the keeping of something well and neat. Perineal pertains to the perineum. This is the region conventionally called the “crotch”. Therefore, keeping your perineum clean means keeping your crotch, and everything around it (the anus and the genitals) clean. How “dirty” is the perineum, really? Here are some facts: • The healthy urinary tract, from the urethra to the kidneys, is typically void of bacteria. • True, the vagina is teeming with bacteria, but most of these are “good” bacteria that keep “bad” bacteria at bay by producing lactic acid that inhibits “bad” bacterial growth.
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3 • MARCH 2016
• However, the crotch, the skin folds near the crotch, and pubic hair can become sweaty. This trapped moisture can breed bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTI) and other types of infection. • The bacteria associated with feces can remain around the anus, and slowly encroach towards the vagina and urethra, causing UTI and vaginal infections. Based on these, it is not necessary to wash away all the bacteria in our perineum (in fact, this is impossible). However, it is important to keep bacteria from over-proliferating and causing UTI or malodor. In addition, it is just as important to prevent bacteria from the anus from encroaching to the urethra. Considering the difference between the male and female anatomy, male and female perineal hygiene differ slightly. We will discuss both, ladies first. Female perineal hygiene • When cleaning the female perineum, choose plain water or an acidic feminine wash. Avoid using soap. The skin and vagina are naturally acidic. This environment prevents bacterial overgrowth. Using plain soap will neutralize this acidity. • Wash from front to back. • Start by washing the skin surrounding the vagina (vulva). Do not wash deep into the vagina. This will only push bacteria from the environment into the vagina.
How many of us have been taught the proper way to wash our privates? I dare say: not many.
• Follow this by washing the anus. When doing this, do not touch the areas you have already cleaned. • Wash also the skin folds near your thighs and under and around the buttocks. • Make sure to rinse off all cleansers from your skin. • Gently pat dry. Avoid putting on under- wear while your skin is still damp. • Some women prefer to place talcum powder on their perineum. This is safe but not necessary unless excessive sweating is your personal problem. Avoid getting powder into the vagina, as it may irritate the delicate vaginal lining.
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Vaginal discharge: normal or infection?
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3 • MARCH 2016
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If you have limited access to ad equate clean water, you may use gentle baby wipes. Wash your hands afterwards.
Unlike the make urogenital tract, the female urogenital tract is more delicate. Therefore, here are additional tips for proper feminine hygiene:
All women have some vaginal discharge. Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear, cloudy white, and/or yellowish. Its characteristics may also change depending on one’s menstrual cycle, nutritional status, pregnancy, or the use of birth control pills However, the following are signs of abnormal discharge that warrants a visit to your doctor:
• Discharge with itching, rash or pain
• Persistent or increasing quantity
• Burning sensation during urination
• White, cheesy discharge
• Greyish, yellowish or greenish
discharge with a foul odor
• Wear loose, breathable undewear. Avoid wearing tight pants, shorts, or panties made from synthetic fabrics. These types of fabric can trap sweat and increase the risk of odor and infections. • Change damp or wet bottom wear and underwear promptly. • After urination, wipe off excess urine using dry, soft, clean tissue. • Change your panty liners, sanitary pads or tampons frequently. • Urinate and wash your perineum after sexual intercourse. • Do not use petroleum jelly or oil as a lubricant. These products trap in sweat and moisture, which can breed bacteria. • Do not douche. • In case of perineal or vaginal itching, see a doctor. Scratching the affected area can cause skin infections and UTI.
Male perineal hygiene • In men, clean the area around the perineum first. This includes the lower abdomen and upper thighs. Use plain water or a gentle skin cleanser. • After this step, you can now proceed to clean the penis, starting with the tip. In uncircumcised men, the foreskin should be retracted when cleaning the penis. • Clean the scrotum next, followed by the skin folds around the thighs. • Next, clean the buttocks and anus. • Make sure all cleanser has been rinsed off. • Gently pat dry. Avoid wearing underwear over damp skin. • If you have limited access to adequate clean water, you may use gentle baby wipes. • Wash your hands afterwards.
Helping Your People in the Path to Progress Benefits Made Better Email us at inquiries@activelinkbenefits.com or call us at 8174606, and let us know when we can share our strategy. Let us help you make your benefits better!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2015 ActiveLink
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A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD