Introduction: Should women wipe with toilet paper after urinating? A message titled "Warning! Using toilet paper after urinating can easily lead to vaginitis" has turned this everyday matter into a big problem.
Rumor: [Warning! Using toilet paper after urination can easily lead to vaginitis] Most women rely on toilet paper when using the restroom. However, this seemingly hygienic habit is actually a potential risk factor for gynecological diseases. Many toilet papers are now made from recycled paper, which contains a large number of bacteria. Excessive and frequent wiping with toilet paper allows bacteria to easily remain and multiply in the vagina. The best approach is to use nothing after urination and simply change your underwear daily.
The truth is: Wiping properly with clean toilet paper after urinating will not cause gynecological infections in women. In fact, not wiping may lead to vulvar and urinary tract infections. Therefore, wiping dry with clean toilet paper promptly after urination is the correct practice. Of course, changing underwear frequently is also encouraged.
Survey 1: Applying vaginal ointment will not cause vaginitis.
The vagina is a structure connected to the outside world, making absolute sterility impossible. However, the vagina, through its self-cleaning mechanism, can inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and ensure vaginal health. In a normal vaginal flora, lactobacilli are a dominant species. Estrogen makes the vaginal tissue structure conducive to the growth of vaginal lactobacilli, and the metabolic products of vaginal lactobacilli maintain a slightly acidic environment with a pH between 3.8 and 4.4, thereby inhibiting the growth of other bacteria. This is the vagina's self-cleaning function. Under these conditions, even Gardnerella vaginalis, which can cause bacterial vaginosis, is not pathogenic due to its small number and slow reproduction. Because of this self-cleaning function, small amounts of bacteria in the environment, or those picked up from the vaginal opening by toilet paper during wiping, do not pose a significant threat to vaginal health.
So what usually causes vaginitis? When the ecological balance of the vaginal flora is disrupted, or when a large number of exogenous pathogens (such as Trichomonas vaginalis) invade, vaginitis may occur. Decreased estrogen levels (such as after menopause) or disruption of the vagina's slightly acidic environment (such as through vaginal douching) can create an environment unfavorable for lactobacilli growth, thus impairing the vagina's self-cleaning function. Furthermore, long-term use of antibiotics that inhibit lactobacillus growth, or weakened immunity (such as in diabetic patients and those using hormones or immunosuppressants long-term), can allow other pathogenic bacteria to become dominant, causing vaginitis. It should be noted that the vagina's slightly acidic environment is disrupted after sexual intercourse, with the pH rising to 7.2 and remaining elevated for 6-8 hours. Therefore, frequent sexual activity can disrupt the growth environment of lactobacilli and become a risk factor for vaginitis.
Survey 2: Wiping is beneficial for preventing urinary tract infections .
Because women's urethras are shorter and straighter than men's, and because the skin of the female perineum has deeper and more numerous folds, bacteria that multiply at the urethral opening can easily ascend and cause inflammation of the urethra and bladder. According to foreign data, women aged 20-50 are 50 times more likely to develop urinary tract infections than men. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 50%-60% of urinary tract and reproductive tract inflammations in women are caused by poor hygiene.
The most effective way to prevent urinary tract infections is proper hygiene. If you don't dry yourself promptly after urinating, residual urine will leave your underwear damp, providing a suitable breeding ground for bacteria. This bacterial growth can actually increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
my country's national standard for toilet paper (GBT20810-2006) also considers the importance of hygiene and sets clear requirements for the microorganisms in toilet paper: coliform bacteria (a common pathogen causing urethritis in women), Staphylococcus aureus, and hemolytic streptococci (common pathogens causing skin infections) must not be detected; it also requires that the total number of microbial colonies must be less than 600 CFU/g. If qualified toilet paper is used, it is unlikely to cause a urinary tract infection.
Furthermore, if the vulva is not wiped clean after urination, in addition to the urinary tract being prone to infection, local maceration from urine can also cause vulvitis and vulvar eczema. Therefore, drying oneself promptly after urination is a good hygiene habit, and the key is to choose qualified and safe toilet paper.
Survey 3: What should women pay attention to in their daily genital hygiene?
1. Avoid holding your urine and develop the habit of drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently. The flow of urine to flush the urethra helps prevent urethritis.
2. Wipe the perineum clean promptly after urinating, and use qualified, clean toilet paper.
3. Use the correct wiping method: Since the urethra, vagina, and anus have increasing defenses against bacteria and decreasing cleanliness in that order, the perineum should be wiped from front to back.
4. Pay attention to hygiene during sexual activity. When having sex with a stranger, use condoms or other protective measures. If your partner has an infectious disease, seek treatment promptly.
5. Avoid tub baths and shower instead. Avoid vaginal douching unless absolutely necessary.
6. Change your underwear frequently, and choose loose-fitting, breathable fabrics such as pure cotton or breathable, quick-drying functional fabrics. Tight-fitting, non-breathable synthetic fiber underwear can compress the vulva, leading to impaired blood circulation and local dampness, causing nonspecific vulvitis and other diseases.
7. If you experience any discomfort in the vulva, seek medical attention promptly.
Conclusion: Myth debunked. After urinating, the genital area should be dried promptly with clean, qualified toilet paper. From a hygiene perspective, the practice of "not wiping" is not advisable.
