Madeeha Syed

Keep yourself healthy and clean after intimacy with these effective post-coitus practices. Learn how to take care of yourself and your partner. Read on

Post-Coitus Practices To Adopt For Good Health And Hygiene

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How To Practice Safe Sex

Overview

We all think about it, talk about it, partake in it, see it everywhere but not always in the right ways. What makes sex pleasurable is not the next wildly creative idea but perhaps the most basic aspect of being made to feel safe. 
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Practice Safe Sex

Originally, the term was coined to indicate using contraceptive methods or devices in order to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases. It has now been expanded to include practices that prevent pregnancy as well. We call it safer sex or protected sex to highlight the fact that practicing these methods also doesn&rsquo;t completely eradicate the risks that come with this act.&nbsp; 
 
This term first came to light during the <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/hiv-61">HIV/AIDs</a> epidemic and is now a crucial part of sex education where the very real risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD or STI) is a major topic of discussion. Strategies for preventing STIs such as gonorrhea or syphilis had existed long before this too. Locally we don&rsquo;t have much formal education or discussion available on these topics. 
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Abstinence, monogamy, polyfidelity, low-risk sexual behavior, limiting the number of sexual partners, avoiding substances that lead to high-risk behavior, being aware of your partner&rsquo;s sexual history, phone sex/cyber-sex, non-penetrative sex are all valid and useful practices that lead to a reduction of risks associated with sex.&nbsp; 
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Other methods

Some other, more commonly used methods are:

STDs can be passed by exchanging sexual fluids and from skin-to-skin contact as well. This is why barrier methods are so effective. These include condoms, internal condoms (female condoms), dental dams for orals sex and latex or nitrile gloves.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Condoms: This is the most accessible and easy to use option. These are made out of latex. For those with latex allergies there are synthetic non-latex condoms available as well, although they are more prone to breakage. There are female condoms (internal condoms) as well which can be inserted into the vagina or anus to practice safe sex. These come in different styles (ribbed, ultra-thin etc) and flavors as well.&nbsp; 
	 
	It&rsquo;s important to remember that oil-based lubricants degrade the latex material and lead to breakage. This also happens with double gloving which causes friction and tears. Water based or silicone-based lubricants work much better with latex condoms. Remember using lube also makes sex safer as there are fewer chances of getting tears due to too much friction, for example, with anal sex. The effectivity of condoms is no more than 95 percent in preventing STI transmission.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Birth Control Pills: Thee are of two types 
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</ul>

1. Combined Oral Contraceptive (COCP): This has two hormones in it &mdash; oestrogen and progestin. These come in different formulations hence different doses can be prescribed according to personal needs and preferences. For instance, there are pills that give you your period every month as well as pills that can stop your period for 3 months on end. 
 
These work by suppressing ovulation, making the endometrium unsuitable for implantation and thickening cervical mucous which hinders sperm mobility. With typical use, COCPs can be 93-95 percent effective, while with perfect use they are up to 99 percent effective. By perfect use we mean taking it every single day at the exact same time. There is a margin of human error in this hence the lower numbers of effectivity as compared to other methods. 
 
Nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, headaches, irregular bleeding are just some of the side effects one experiences on combined hormonal pill. If you still have severe side effects for three months in a row, it means that you need a dose adjustment, but feeling a little nauseous in the first couple months is completely normal. Some non-contraceptive benefits of this are reduced risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, helps manage PCOS, helps with acne and treats endometriosis-related pain, painful periods, menstrual migraines and PMS. 
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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2. Progestin-only pill (POP): There are two kinds of progestin-only pills. One is Norethindrone, in which you take a pill pack that is continuous&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;(28 days). And the other is Drospirenone, in which you get hormone free intervals (24 active tablets and 4 inactive tablets) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;This works by two methods; it thickens cervical mucous which makes it harder for sperm to travel and stops ovulation. It&rsquo;s 92-95 percent&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; effective with perfect use and you have to take it at the same time every single day. You get some protective effects such as decreased risk of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; uterine cancer. Some adverse effects include irregular bleeding, acne, moodiness, weight gain, and increase in follicular ovarian cysts. 
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<ul>
	<li>Depo Provera Shot: This is another form of Progestin-only birth control in which you get injected every three months. Its effectiveness profile is 93-95 percent. You can get unscheduled bleeding with this that might last for more than seven days and is usually the reason why most people don&rsquo;t prefer it. It has a similar side effect profile as the progestin-only pill.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Nexplanon: This is a tiny (4cm) plastic rod that gets placed between your bicep and triceps muscles. It can stay in for three years and is another progestin-only form of birth control. The biggest reason people don&rsquo;t like it is unscheduled bleeding, along with all of the side effects normally associated with hormonal contraception.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Hormonal IUD: This also contains progestin and is an intra-uterine device which means it sits inside your uterus. The foreign body effect causes inflammation that is toxic to the sperm while the progestin performs its usual functions. These can be inserted from three to five and up to seven years and come in different doses as well. Its 99 percent effective, rapidly reversible, helps manage heavy painful periods, anaemia and endometriosis-related pain. With this form of IUD, you can either experience prolonged bleeding or your period may stop completely. There is some risk of spotting or unscheduled bleeding as well along with the usual hormonal effects. Device expulsion and IUD perforation (very rare, around 1 in 1,000) may happen.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Non-Hormonal IUD: Paragard IUD is another intra-uterine contraceptive method which can stay in for up to 10 years and contains no hormones. This may make your periods heavier and longer with worsened cramps but it has a 99 percent effectivity rate. The best part about this option is that you can pull it out anytime if it doesn&rsquo;t suit you.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Birth Control Ring: This can be inserted into the vagina and kept there for three weeks, once it is removed on week four you can get your period. It has the same benefits as the birth control pill except you don&rsquo;t have to remember taking it every single day. It&rsquo;s 93-96 percent effective and with perfect use, this goes up to 99 percent. Since it contains oestrogen and progestin, it works by similar mechanism as the COCP and has the same benefits and side effects. You might notice an increase in discharge or vaginal infections with this option but it&rsquo;s not very common.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Birth Control Patch: This falls in the same category as the pill and the ring and contains oestrogen and progestin. It works by similar method as the COCP and is 93-96 percent effective with typical use. Perfect use can raise this number up to 98 percent. It can help with painful periods as well as endometriosis related pain while also decreasing risk of endometrial cancer.</li>
</ul>

It&rsquo;s important to note that it can&rsquo;t be given to patients with a BMI of 30 or more and people with increased risk of blood clots since the amount of oestrogen your body is exposed to by this method is fairly high. Common side effects include irregular bleeding, nausea, moodiness, breast tenderness and skin irritation at the site of application.&nbsp; 
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Ensure safety

Some other ways you can ensure safety of both you and your partners:

Immunization

Making sure you are vaccinated against STIs such as HPV and Hepatitis B is of prime importance. These are more effective when done before the onset of sexual activity. The CDC recommends getting the HPV vaccine for all pre-teens (ages 11 or 12) and people below 26 years of age. It’s not recommended after 26 as most people have been exposed to the virus by then, however, for people 27-45 years of age you can consult your doctor and proceed according to their instructions.&nbsp;

Get tested

If you are someone who regularly engages in sexual activity, make sure you’re also getting regularly tested for STDs. This applies even if you are 100 percent safe every single time.

Dr. Safia Mehmood

Usually after engaging in intercourse, many people experience a feeling of relaxation and contentment known as the &ldquo;afterglow&rdquo;. Your body releases a rush of hormones such as oxytocin, also known as the &ldquo;cuddle hormone&rdquo; and endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood elevators. It&rsquo;s natural to feel happy and lazy. Some even enjoy a quick snooze afterwards.

Don&rsquo;t. If you want to remain healthy, you have to engage in certain hygiene practices immediately after having sex. Not only will this be good for you, it will also keep your spouse/partner safe. 
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Hygiene After Intercourse

Hygiene is important for maintaining overall health and wellbeing, and this includes taking care of ourselves after sexual activity.

After intercourse, it is important to clean the genitals to remove any bacteria or other organisms that may have been introduced during sexual activity. This can help prevent infections such as <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/uti">Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)</a> and <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/vaginal-yeast-infection">yeast infections</a>, which are more common in women but can also occur in men.

Cleaning the genitals (women, do not use soap inside your body) can also help reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by removing any viral or bacterial organisms that may have been present in semen, vaginal fluids, or blood.

It&rsquo;s also worth noting that it&rsquo;s important to use safe and appropriate forms of contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and STIs. 
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Post-Coitus Hygiene

There are several steps that you can take for hygiene right after sex:

<ul>
	<li>Urinate: Urinating after sexual activity can help flush out any bacteria that may have entered the urethra during intercourse. This can help reduce the risk of UTIs. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Clean The Genitals: Gently clean the genitals with warm water and mild soap, paying special attention to the area around the urethra, anus, and the vaginal opening. This can help remove any bacteria or other organisms that may have been introduced during sexual activity and reduce the risk of infections. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Change Condoms: If you used a condom during intercourse, make sure to change it and properly dispose of it. 
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	<li>Hydrate: Drinking water after intercourse can help with hydration and it can also help flush out bacteria from the urinary tract. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Wipe From Front To Back: After cleaning the genitals, it&rsquo;s important to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the anus to the urethra or vagina. 
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	<li>Clean Sex Toys: If you used sex toys during intercourse, make sure to clean them properly with soap and water or according to the manufacturer&rsquo;s instructions before storing them. 
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	<li>Wear Loose Clothing: Wearing loose-fitting clothing after intercourse can help to keep the genitals clean and dry, which can help to reduce the risk of infection. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Bottom Line

It&rsquo;s important to remember that everyone&rsquo;s hygiene needs are different, and what works best for one person may not work for another. It&rsquo;s important to communicate with your partner about your hygiene needs and preferences and to make sure that you both feel comfortable discussing these topics. 
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