Why is sexual hygiene so important?

This article first appeared on 11/03/2022. Last updated 04/04/2025.

Sexual hygiene plays a vital role in your overall health and well-being that often doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. It involves practices that help prevent infections, promote comfort, and support your reproductive health.

Let’s dive into the essentials of sexual hygiene and discover how it can contribute to a healthier, happier you.

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What is sexual hygiene?

Sexual hygiene refers to the practices and habits you can adopt to maintain cleanliness and health in your sex life. This encompasses a range of activities aimed at preventing infections, promoting overall well-being, and ensuring a healthy sexual experience. Good sexual hygiene involves both personal care and mutual respect between partners.

Understanding the importance of good sexual hygiene

Good sexual hygiene is crucial for overall well-being and plays a significant role in minimising the risk to your sexual organs and general reproductive health. By maintaining certain sexual hygiene practices, you can protect yourself from a variety of health issues.

Practicing good sexual hygiene doesn’t just benefit your physical health. It’s also great for your emotional health and mental well-being. Feeling clean and confident can enhance self-esteem and make intimate moments more enjoyable.

Here are some aspects of sexual hygiene you may want to consider.

Genital hygiene

Let’s be honest: when you think about sexual hygiene, you have to think about your bits.

Practising good sexual hygiene means keeping your penis or vagina clean. Doing so will prevent:

1. Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Regular cleaning helps prevent bacteria from entering the urinary tract, reducing the risk of UTIs. Washing the anus is very important, as fecal matter can easily migrate to the vagina, causing an infection. UTIs can lead to itching and burning around the vagina, an intense need to pee, pain during sex and urination, and pain in the lower abdomen, back and pelvis. In rare cases, UTIs can lead to digestive and kidney diseases. Get tested for UTIs at home with a discreet home test kit.
2. Yeast infections: Keeping the genital area clean and dry can prevent the overgrowth of yeast, which causes infections characterized by itching, burning, and discharge.
3. Skin irritations and rashes: Cleaning the genital area can prevent skin irritations and rashes caused by sweat, bacteria, and other irritants.
4. General discomfort and odor: Regular cleaning helps prevent discomfort and odor, promoting overall comfort and confidence.

There are some things to keep in mind when washing your genitals. Here are some tips to help you maintain your sexual hygiene.

• Use warm, soapy water: Warm water and soap are pretty much all you need to keep your genitals clean and healthy. Use a small towel for a more thorough clean.
• Avoid harsh chemicals: Your genitals are sensitive. Treat them well by avoiding harsh soaps and cleaning products, as doing so can cause irritation, rashes, and other conditions. Consult the instructions of the product you intend to use, and consult a doctor if you aren’t sure.
• Try not to over-wash: Washing your genital area too much can dry out your skin and lead to irritation and rashes. In women, it can disturb the natural balance of flora in the vagina, which can cause infections.

Sex toy hygiene

Most toys don’t need to be cleaned after you use them. But sex toys definitely do.

Cleaning sex toys after every use will prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause sexually transmitted diseases.

Here are some tips for safe sex toy use:

1. Use toys made of non-porous materials: Certain materials, like wood or some plastics, contain pores where bacteria and viruses can hide during cleaning, making flushing them out more difficult. If you can, try to use non-porous materials like silicone, glass, stainless steel, and ABS plastic. Read this blog for more information about STIs and sex toys.
2. Follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning: Each sex toy may require specific cleaning methods to ensure it’s safe to use a second time.
3. Use condoms if sharing: Sharing sex toys can easily spread STIs. Cover the toy with a condom for each use.

Does good sexual hygiene prevent STIs?

You might think that keeping clean down there might help prevent the spread of STIs. We wish this were true, but this isn’t the case.

STIs spread through direct contact between infected bodily fluids and your mucous membranes during sexual intercourse, like vaginal sex, anal sex, and oral sex. By the time you go to wash, pathogens have likely already entered your system.

With all that said, there are some things you can do to prevent the spread of STIs:

1. Practice safe sex: Use barrier methods of contraception like condoms and dental dams, especially if you are sexually active with a new sexual partner. While they don’t guarantee complete safety, they significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
2. Get vaccinated: Some STIs, like Hepatitis B and HPV, can be prevented with vaccines.
3. Get tested for STIs: Knowing your sexual health status can help you address any conditions you may have contracted during sexual activity.
4. Take medication: Some medications, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV exposure, can decrease the risk of contracting certain infections.

When to seek medical attention

Good sexual hygiene is something you can practice all on your own, but you may need to see your doctor in certain situations.

Here are some key signs and situations when you should get help:

1. Unusual symptoms: If you experience any unusual symptoms, such as persistent itching, burning, unusual discharge, or sores in the genital area, you should seek medical advice. These symptoms could indicate infections or other health issues that require professional evaluation and treatment.
2. Pain during intercourse: Experiencing pain during intercourse is not normal and should be addressed by a healthcare provider. Pain can be a sign of underlying conditions such as infections, hormonal imbalances, or other medical issues.
3. Changes in urination: Any changes in urination patterns, such as increased frequency, pain, or difficulty urinating, should be discussed with a doctor. These symptoms can be indicative of UTIs or other infections.
4. Irregular menstrual cycles: For women, irregular menstrual cycles or significant changes in menstrual flow can be a sign of underlying health issues.
5. Exposure to STIs: If you believe you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection, it’s important to get tested and seek medical advice. Early detection and treatment of STIs can prevent complications and reduce the risk of transmission to others.

Final thoughts

Maintaining good sexual hygiene is essential for overall health and well-being. By adopting proper hygiene practices, you can prevent infections, promote comfort, and support reproductive health.

At Better2Know, we’re committed to helping you maintain your sexual health. Our STI testing products are designed to provide accurate and reliable results, giving you peace of mind and the information you need to stay healthy.

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