The Sunday News
Dr Davidzoyashe Makosa
“My people perish for lack of knowledge . . .” (Part of Hosea 4 v 6-Holy Bible)
SOMETIMES the difference between life and death or good health and disease is applied knowledge. One of the first things we learn in school is the alphabet. As such I thought it befitting that we start off this column, with some of the basics of reproductive health in alphabetical order.
A — Ask a qualified health provider before using any products around your genitals.
B — Bathing: – 1) Use clean running water or clean water cupped from a bucket. Avoid using very cold or very hot water. (For men, very hot water may affect sperm production.) Do not douche (wash or insert your fingers inside the vaginal canal). This may alter the chemical environment of the vagina leading to overgrowth of fungus resulting in an uncomfortable, itchy condition known as thrush. Thrush may be associated with a thick discharge which may look like sour milk or lacto. In addition as a woman cleans herself she may injure herself resulting in increased risk of infection by viruses of the exposed tissue. The vaginal canal has its own natural cleaning chemicals just as the eyes have tears (we don’t routinely wash out our eyes underneath the shower)
C — Cleanliness:-1) Avoid using scented products on your genitals (scented products may cause allergic reactions leading to itchiness and discharge).
2) Use plain white tissue paper compared to dyed products.
3) After use of the toilet, wipe the genital area from front to back (wiping from back to front may lead to transfer of harmful bacteria from the anus to the genital area leading to infection of the genital system and urinary system).
4) For monthly periods use only designated sanitary wear. Change sanitary wear at least once every four hours even if it’s not fully soaked.
D — Drugs and Diet:-1) Always inform the health worker if you know or suspect you may be pregnant (some medicinal drugs can cause harm to an unborn baby).
2) Disclose your method of family planning to the health provider (some prescribed medicines may interfere with hormonal family planning methods such as the pill).
3) Eat a balanced diet inclusive of vegetables and fresh fruit and drink at least 2 litres of water a day (being over or under weight may affect reproductive health leading to irregular periods and may also have a negative impact on fertility).
4) Smoking may also be detrimental to genital health. It is a contributing factor to cervical cancer. Excessive consumption of alcohol may affect fertility especially in males. Smoking (including passive smoking — exposure to smoking even when not a smoker) and alcohol consumption in pregnancy is detrimental to the health of the unborn baby).
E — Exercise: 1) Establish and maintain an exercise routine (consider it an investment into a healthy strong body for the inevitable menopause). After exercise, remove the exercise gear promptly as the warmth and sweat is good breeding ground for harmful organisms.
F — Fashion and Fabrics: Loose, 100 percent cotton underwear is ideal as it allows free air circulation, which minimises accumulation of moisture and warmth. The minimum recommended is underwear with at least a cotton gusset. Shop for pantyhose with at least a cotton gusset.Tight trousers are not recommended for both male and female genital health (for males this may affect fertility). LOOSE AND COTTON ARE THE BUZZ WORDS FOR GENITAL FASHION & FABRICS.
G — Grooming: Great care should be taken when shaving or trimming pubic hair. Some people may be allergic to hair removers. Complete shaving with a blade may result in some people developing a condition known as folliculitis which is inflammation of the hair follicles.
These usually appear as small boils around the pubic area. If this is a constant problem it may be advisable to trim the hair with a scissors without completely shaving it off the skin and to desist from sharing shaving blades.
H — Herbs and other products: Women should desist from using herbs and other unregistered products in and around their genital areas. The side effects are not always known and some may be detrimental to health both in the short and long term.
Always ask a health provider before using any product around the genitals. Ideally any product used around the genital area should be purchased from a registered pharmacy and preferably prescribed by a medical doctor or nurse.
Dr Davidzoyashe Makosa Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Disclaimer: The above information is strictly meant for informative purposes. It may not be used to treat or diagnose disease. For any symptoms medical advice should be sought with a health provider or health institution.
