Wipe front to back. Always wipe from the front to the back after using the bathroom. Do not try to reach from behind because germs from the rectum can be transferred to the hand and tissue. After bowel movements, clean the area around the anus gently, wiping from front to back.
This study looks at the incidence of urinary tract infections and the method of perineal hygiene used after urination. Wiping back to front is associated with a greater risk of developing urinary tract infection than wiping front to back.
Myth: Hygiene habits and clothing fit contribute to UTIs
But UTIs are not caused by how you wipe in the bathroom, by tampon use or by failing to empty your bladder after sexual intercourse. They're also not caused by wearing tight clothes. “A lot of women express concern about these,” said Dr. Dielubanza.
Easy ways to avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI) include simple changes like drinking more water, wiping from front to back, and peeing right after sex. People who have frequent UTIs can take antibiotics after sex to prevent a UTI. Dietary supplements like cranberry products or probiotics may help prevent UTIs.
What causes a lower urinary tract infection? Bubblebaths, perfumed soap, deodorant sprays, baby wipes and wet pants or pads may also irritate the urethra.
If you think you have a UTI, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your OBGYN or primary care physician. Many women will try to self-treat it, or worse, just hope it goes away on its own.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
Is it safe to treat UTIs without antibiotics? Antibiotics are effective treatments for UTIs. Sometimes, the body can resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own, without antibiotics. By some estimates, 25–42% of uncomplicated UTI infections clear on their own.
Having a suppressed immune system or chronic health condition can make you more prone to recurring infections, including UTIs. Diabetes increases your risk for a UTI, as does having certain autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases and kidney or bladder stones.
While some UTIs may go away without antibiotic treatment, Dr. Pitis cautions against foregoing antibiotics. “While it's possible for the body to clear a mild infection on its own in some cases, it can be very risky not to treat a confirmed UTI with antibiotics,” says Dr. Pitis.
Cleaning with tissue paper
It's important that you wipe front to back, as wiping the opposite way — back to front — can spread bacteria. “Every time one wipes after urination, the bacteria from the gut can get transferred to the vagina or the urethra if wiping from back to front,” said Dr.
Wiping with tissue paper has its benefits, but…
Women abroad have always been using toilet paper to clean themselves and it is a great way to absorb all the moisture post peeing. Since moist lady bits can be a hub for bacteria, toilet paper works brilliantly when it comes to keeping things downstairs dry and hygienic.
The Right Way to Wipe
Wipe backward from the perineum , the space between the genitals and anus, moving toward and past the anus. Use additional wads of toilet tissue as needed until the paper is mostly clean. Never scrub the skin around the anus, called the perianal area, as this can cause microtears in the skin.
Should you wipe standing up? In terms of cleanliness, it's a bit of a matter of personal preference. However you feel cleanest is likely ideal, though it's best to be thorough, no matter how exactly you choose to go about it.
UTIs in Women
Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.
Bladder infections are a type of UTI, but not all urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A UTI is defined as an infection in one or more places in the urinary tract—the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection is a UTI that's only located in the bladder.
According to a 2014 study published in JAMA, UTIs can resolve on their own within one week without antibiotics in 25% to 50% of women with these infections. “The body can fight a urinary tract infection on its own by recruiting white blood cells to kill the bacteria,” says Dr. Tharakan.
Sometimes your body's immune system can clear out the invading bacteria without any help from medications, said Courtenay Moore, MD, a urologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "If untreated, a UTI would typically take about three to seven days to fight off on your own," Dr. Moore told Health.
Dehydration will only increase the likelihood of getting a UTI and can worsen the pain felt for those who already have them. If you experience chronic UTIs, talk to your doctor about alternative remedies.
Yes, you can get a UTI from having sex, especially if you're a woman. “During sexual intercourse, thrusting can introduce bacteria up the urethra and into the bladder, increasing the risk of a UTI,” explains Dr. Lakeisha Richardson, MD, OB-GYN.
Again: sex is not a cause for UTI.
If the staining only happens occasionally and after you use dry tissue to clean yourself after a bowel movement, this may be due to inadequate cleaning. When you have a bowel movement, there will be faeces that stains the inner lining of the anus. We need to clean the anus of this faeces to prevent skidmarks.
Wipe backward from the perineum, toward and past the anus. “Wipe gently, and use additional toilet paper until the paper is clean and never scrub the skin around the perineum. If you cannot reach behind your back, reaching in between your legs from the front is fine as long as you wipe from front to back,” says Dr.