Cleanliness and Sexual Health

Filed in archive Sexual Health on March 11, 2007

Cleanliness is essential. I'll agree with that. But is it possible to overdo the washing and the use of chemical-filled products in the bath and elsewhere? Could they be damaging our health? Infertility at Suite 101 says feminine hygiene has gone mad:

There are so many soaps, perfumes, and chemical ridden body washes on the market that I sometimes wonder how we manage to stay healthy. It is known that douching can actually cause vaginal infection, yet many women do it. Harsh cleansers can also damage the delicate skin and upset the vagina's natural PH balance. It is an open portal into the body, which makes it particularly susceptible to chemicals.

I sometimes wonder if things like yeast infections, vaginal itch and even urinary tract infections might be caused by things we put in our bath water. The chemicals in those products not only enter the vagina, they also can be absorbed by the pores in our skin. It might be time to take a look at what we are introducing into our bodies.