Additionally, the nozzle surface and splay water of bidet toilets may be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, rendering them a potential vehicle for cross-infection.
Of course, if you use a bidet that has any type of bacteria in the nozzle, it's not a guarantee that you'll develop an infection or a virus. However, it is possible.
Luckily, bidets are safe for female genitalia. The guideline for wiping — go front to back — applies here, too. Use the bidet's front wash feature (sometimes called “feminine wash”) to spray water from front to back. This helps prevent anything travelling from the anus to the vagina, which is what causes infections.
Con #1: Bidets may pose health concern for people with vaginas. Although some benefits are clear, as noted, there are potential downsides, especially if you have a vagina. “Bidets may mess with the health ecosystem of bacteria called Lactobacillus microflora in your vagina,” Dr. Rea said.
Position yourself onto the bidet by either sitting on the rim or squatting over it. (Unlike toilets, freestanding bidets do not have a seat you sit on.) Depending on which area you need cleaned, select the setting or mode that will get the job done. To clean after urinating, select our feminine wash setting.
Even if your bidet seat has a nozzle wash feature, it's still a good idea to manually clean it once a month.
There's limited research on bidets, but a few studies suggest potential health benefits. Using one might make sense for those with hemorrhoids and anal fissures, since it reduces pressure in the rectum and is a relatively gentle experience.
When it comes to benefits, bidets are a no-brainer. They're cleaner, gentler, and more eco-friendly than toilet paper. And wiping less means you'll be saving money on your shopping bill, as well.
Well, bathrooms in the US aren't really built for bidets. There's no space or additional plumbing setup for bidet fixtures. But the biggest reason it hasn't caught on comes down to habit. Most Americans grew up using toilet paper.
This is because the water pressure will adequately clean your bottom without the need for toilet paper. Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference. The bidet should do a good job at cleaning your bottom, so toilet paper isn't necessary.
Conclusion: Habitual use of bidet toilets aggravates vaginal microflora, either by depriving normal microflora or facilitating opportunistic infection of fecal bacteria and other microorganisms.
Let the water do the work and wash your rear free of every schmear. Spray away for 30-60 seconds.
Wipe the nozzle with an antibacterial wipe and then brush it gently with your soft bristle toothbrush. Wipe with a dry rag or paper towel to dry the nozzle, then press and hold the same button for three seconds to send the nozzle back into the unit. Clean the remote.
Pat dry with toilet paper
Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
Either way, you might consider using your wet hands to "scrub" the area clean more quickly. You can always wash your hands afterwards! Consider combining the bidet with toilet paper. You can use the paper at the end, to finish the job, or you can dampen the toilet paper in the water and use it to wipe yourself clean.
Up to 43% of female bidet-users had altered vaginal microflora, with an increased risk of bacterial vaginitis.
Straddle the bidet, sitting on the rim and align the anus with the column of spray water. Note that most bidets don't have seats, but are still meant to be sat upon; you just sit directly on the rim. Gradually open the spray valve until adequate pressure is achieved to flush the remaining feces from the anus.
This should correct the problem, but most people will not have to worry about this, and will experience a full clean in about 30 seconds. A few people will get a full clean in less time than that.
They make all the sense in the world - the bidet shooting a stream of water at our private bits to wash them after we relieve ourselves. But, like in the US and UK, bidets aren't commonly used here in Australia. We've never developed a culture of using them, instead opting for multi-ply toilet paper instead.
While households in the U.S favor dry toilet paper to this day, bidets are the dominant cleaning method in places like France, Japan, Italy, and Portugal. In many Asian countries, you will find bidet attachments fixed to the toilet bowl in public restrooms and the same can be said in Western Europe.
If you are using the bidet properly, and if your bidet is of high quality, you should not have to use toilet paper to wipe yourself clean. A high-quality bidet will clean your backside more thoroughly than any amount of wiping. However, you may want to use a small amount of toilet paper to dry yourself.
Women should also watch the water pressure and angle of the water to avoid forcing water into the vagina. “A bidet is meant to clean the outside of your body, not the inside,” says Dr. Lee. “Don't point it up into the vagina. Douching is not only unnecessary, but it can cause infections.”
One of the best, easiest ways to help prevent UTIs is to use a bidet toilet seat. It's the most convenient, comfortable way to clean yourself thoroughly any time you visit the bathroom.
Generally speaking, these infections aren't contagious. It's highly unlikely for anyone to contract a UTI from a toilet seat, because the urethra in males and females wouldn't touch the toilet seat.
Europeans think it's unsanitary to use a restroom without a bidet. Conversely, many Americans think of bidets as unsanitary. There's a lack of information and knowledge around bidets and their use — and it's likely to remain that way for many years to come.