The care of genitals

 

The fear of genital infections or the presence of them makes up almost 50 per cent of the text messages I receive and the e-mails I get. This week, I thought it wise to explore the topic a bit and examine ways to prevent these infections.

Most of these infections are passed off as “toilet infections” but nothing can be further from the reality. Toilet infections commonly refer to a spectrum of diseases which include Candidiasis, Trichomoniasis and Vaginitis caused by bacterial vaginoses. Sometimes, these infections are mixed, meaning that more than one organism is involved in the disease process. None of these infections are contracted in the toilet and all are preventable. Of the three conditions mentioned above, only Trichomoniasis is sexually transmitted. The others are contracted as a result of certain wrong habits.

These infections are contracted as a result of a range of things we do or are engaged in during our life time. Some of the causes are the use of contraceptives, which because of their hormone base, are able to cause an alteration in the composition of organisms within the vagina. Similar alterations are caused by disease conditions like diabetes and HIV/ AIDS which depress the immune system to the extent that the body is no longer able to fight off such infections and problems result. Besides, people who are currently on treatment for cancer or for overwhelming tuberculosis are similarly prone to these infections. These four conditions make it abundantly clear that some of these infections come about from among organisms naturally living within the vagina. They overwhelm the ability of each person to keep them at bay.

Others include:

1) Excessive washing of the vagina also called douching, especially after sex, or the normal menstrual period or while bathing. This can alter the normal balance of organisms in the vagina and allow some bacteria to overgrow and cause disease. In the same way, pants which are washed with detergents and bleach and are not properly rinsed after washing pose similar problems when such underwear is put on.

2) The habit of wearing moist or wet pants and a habit of not keeping the genital area dry encourages the growth of fungi. This is also seen in men who wear pants repeatedly over several days thus resulting in the itchy, dry, scaly lesions that so many have asked about in this column. The art and practice of keeping the genital area is one that must be learned and practised to keep these problems at bay. The judicious use of powder following a bath is hereby endorsed.

3)      The excessive usage of creams, perfumes and soaps to remove the natural smell of the vagina and replace it with something which is believed to be more attractive is actually harmful in the long run because of their potential to promote these infections. They are able to do this because the chemical balance within the vagina becomes altered from a slightly alkaline medium to an acidic one thus promoting the growth of certain bacteria that will cause disease. Women in their period should routinely change their sanitary towels at intervals. For those who use tampons, never make the mistake of forgetting them; they have been known to cause life-threatening infections when that happens.

4)      As mentioned above, the use of contraceptive pills, the use of steroids, among sports-women, and even the period of pregnancy, are factors which promote the development of ‘toilet infections’. Toilet infections are not got from toilet seats or the toilet for that matter; they are got from organisms within our bodies which we encourage to overgrow and cause disease by some wrong health practices which we engage in or certain changes in condition that we are subjected to.

5) The rampant abuse of antibiotics serves the dubious purpose of eliminating some bacteria and allowing others to grow out of control with the result that infections are caused. Frequently, these antibiotics are powerful and used for prolonged periods for the wrong purposes and so the unintended consequences enumerated above are almost certain to result from such abuse.

6) The habit of cleaning from the anus to the vagina following defecation is wrong and women need to know that it should be in the reverse direction.

7) Finally, but perhaps most importantly, is the spectre of keeping multiple sexual partners. In addition to the now well known consequences of such risky behaviour is the equally important downside of causing genital infections and of encouraging their spread among the populace.

It is important to note that that these infections are not got from toilets despite the collusion of medical personnel in using the term. This has now been rested by very extensive research conducted in many centres around the world. It is also not possible to get them from swimming pools because the water is usually treated and adequately chlorinated. However, swimming in the rivers and streams present a different spectrum of the problem and because they are frequently dirty; it is reasonable to assume that such infections can be contracted by swimming in those waters.

Prevention is possible by avoiding the practices enumerated above.  In spite of the best efforts of everyone, some 75 per cent of all women for instance, will suffer from Candidiasis at some point in their lives. Similar percentages are not seen in men which explains why this article seems to focus centrally on women. Men spread the infections when they engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners. In the end, it all boils down to cleanliness and the ability to employ common sense and knowledge in the promotion of good health.

I advise everyone reading this piece to begin with the care of their underwear. Wash them after a day’s use and rinse them properly and dry them well too. Do not wear your pant for two or three days even if they look clean and dry. I have known some people in years past who would even iron their pants; this may be taken as extremism but it is prudent to do so in light of what we now know.