Ladies, how do you wash yourselfs? - Herpes Message Board

preocupado · 03-23-2005, 12:33 PM

Hi all!
I have a question for the women: how do you wash yourselves? Do you use a soap of some kind or just water? Wash cloth or something?

I´m just finishing my first ob or could be having a second one, not sure. Since my first ob started I haven´t touched my genitals showering, just tried to get enough water down there to keep the area clean. I´m sort of scared to go down there with my hands and fingers and cause some damage. But I feel like I´m not getting completely clean. In graphical terms, I´m having a yeast infection right now too and the discharge doesn´t really come off unless I "scrub" my genital area or the area with pubic hair. The stuff can stick pretty hard, yack!

So should one be careful in the shower not to touch the genitals or can one wash with a little help from hands and fingers? Obviously not scrubbing blisters!

Also, does anyone use a cream or something to keep the genital skin healthy? Something to keep other kinds of iches from occuring?

I´m new to this and still don´t know if my ob is gone or not. I really have no clue these days what a healthy genital area is supposed to look like! I mean, there are always some bumps down there and the skin is never an even color. So what is what, still trying to figure out! My yeast infections have always been real bad, always before my period, so I´m not sure what is what now.

Any input appreciated!

Thanks

!

beaker24 · 03-23-2005, 01:06 PM

I just use soap. One thing I have found since the H is that the whole area is a bit more sensitive, although it has been improving. So, I have had to stop using any kind of scented bath oils, shower gel etc and just use a plain, unscented soap.

If you are concerned about touching your genitals, I find a good long soak in the bath helps to dislodge the discharge... sorry if that is too much information!!

preocupado · 03-23-2005, 01:18 PM

Thanks and no, that´s not too much info

. I don´t have a bath tub right now and the annoying part is that the shower head is fixed, so there´s no way of getting a good amount of water down there. You should see some of the positions I twist myself into to get enough water to my genital area

. I´ve also used one of those spray bottles that you use for ironing or watering your plants (makes me laugh just writing this!). But it doens´t really do the trick completely, but helps a bit.

Also haven´t shaved for a while, wondering when I can start doing that again. No brazilian but definitely trimming.

I just want to find out a good rutine to keep myself clean and cut down the posibilities for herpes ob´s and yeast infections.

Thanks again!

CALI_GURL413 · 03-23-2005, 01:29 PM

Im glad you asked this question, because I have been wondering the same thing. I have a pimply rash, no open lesions. But Im so scared of getting other parts of my skin infected, I have not touched my inner tighs or any area that has pimples with my hands in weeks. I do use a loofah with soap and clean my vagina, but thats it. Not sure if thats good or not...

Anyways, I dont mean to butt in on your posting, but was wondering if its still contagious to touch the areas even after lesions and/or pimples are gone? I have heard about shedding and wonder if I will always after to worry about touching my skin even if there isnt anything there. I have a son who I'm worried about. I dont share towels, blankets, glasses, or anything anymore...

Also I wanna know about trimming pubic hair too. Since my first ob, I havent done much to my area cause Im worried too. Maybe Im being to paranoid, but Im clueless about everything and its all new......

hsvmom · 03-23-2005, 01:43 PM

I use plain soap and water. I've never had an outbreak, but we know that I shed since my babies contracted herpes. The likelyhood of reinfecting yourself is pretty slim (although the chances ARE higher during a primary ob, but still slim). If you have a yeast infection, you should avoid the soap altogether, though. Soap will kill off the bacteria that needs to re-establish itself in your uro-genital tract. So it will allow the yeast to thrive even more. And, though I realize this is unsolicited advice, if you are having yeast infections monthly you should talk to your ob. That can be a sign of other problems.

Your spray bottle is a good idea, but it doesn't sound like it's doing the trick for you. I would try a different type of bottle. Look for one with a nozzle like the nozzle on dish washing soap. The kind you pull up to open and snap down to close. The hospitals give this style bottle to moms after vaginal deliveries to keep epesiotomy repairs clean. That will give you more control over the water. you can also take it to the restroom with you when you pee, to keep the discharge from building up in the first place.