10 Sexual Hygiene Practices: Keep it Safe and Sizzling!

Sex might be casually referred to as “doing the nasty,” but that doesn’t mean you should skip out on hygiene before and after. Keeping up with good sexual hygiene is essential for maintaining intimacy and overall health—not just for you but for your partner, too. That said, here are some hygiene practices to keep your sexcapades fun and safe.

Importance of Sexual Hygiene

Sexual hygiene refers to the activities that should be done before, during, and after a sexual activity. These aren’t some casual add-ons to the activity; they’re essential for ensuring a safe and comfortable experience, whether you’re going solo or with a partner.

When you don’t follow sexual hygiene practices, you’re putting yourself and possibly your partner at risk with various infections, such as:

• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Balanitis
• Chlamydia
• Genital Herpes
• Genital Warts or Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gonorrhoea
• Hepatitis B
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Syphilis
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Trichomoniasis
• Vaginal Yeast Infection

These infections are often spread through unprotected sharing of sex toys, not washing your genitals after sex, or using sex toys and other sexual wellness products from sketchy sources. That said, you’ve got to protect yourself— learn more about the steps you should take in the next section.

Sexual Hygiene Practices

Maintaining sexual hygiene only requires a few simple steps, but some peeps might find it inconvenient at times, especially for certain practices that must be done before and after sex. But trust us, it’s totally worth it!

Below are a few things you should do to keep your sex life healthy and fulfilling.

1Clean your genitals before and after sex.

Sometimes, you get so caught up in the moment that washing your genitals before sex slips your mind, but it’s actually a crucial part of sexual hygiene. Genital contact is one of the fastest ways bacteria can spread, so you must wash your private parts before and after the deed.

When it comes to cleaning your genitals, keep it simple. You don’t need to buy many feminine hygiene products like washes, douches, or sprays. In fact, all you really need is unscented antibacterial soap. Start by rinsing your vulva or penis with warm or room-temperature water, gently apply the soap, and then rinse it off.

For those with vaginas, remember—it’s a self-cleaning organ. You don’t have to apply any product inside to clean it up. Let it do its thing.

2Pee after sex.

You’ve probably heard this from countless sexual wellness resources, but we really can’t stress it enough— for our vagina-having girlies, you need to pee after sex.

Here’s why: the female urethra (the tube connecting the bladder to the urethral opening) is much shorter than the male urethra. So, when lube, semen, and other organic debris come into contact with your urethral opening, bacteria can easily travel to the bladder, leading to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

UTI often manifests through frequent urination, burning sensations while peeing, pelvic pain, strong-smelling urine, and other related symptoms. Though mild cases can clear up on their own, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be proactive in preventing it. That’s why it’s best to pee within 30 minutes after sex, allowing your urine to flush out any lingering bacteria. This allows you to wash up and further eliminate potential risks.

3Properly clean your sex toys.

Cleaning your sex toys is a must, and that includes using quick, surface, and deep cleaning methods.

Quick cleaning is for sex toys you haven’t used in a while. Even if it’s stored safely in a sex toy pouch, it’s still better to clean it up to ensure there’s no accumulated dust inside. As for the process, it usually involves using a sex toy cleaner, damp cloth, or unscented wipes. Just wipe it down, then dry it off with a towel.

On the other hand, surface cleaning is typically washing off the sex toy with water and antibacterial soap or sex toy cleanser. This is usually done after using the sex toy. Once rinsed, wipe it down with a dry towel, then let it air dry for a few minutes or hours, depending on how many ridges and nubs your toy has. For example, if you’re using a masturbator, the inner sleeve often has lots of compartments, nubs, and openings that may take a little longer to fully dry.

Meanwhile, deep cleaning is typically done once or twice a month, depending on how often you use a particular toy. You’ll either use a bleach solution, boil the toy, or place it on the top rack of your dishwasher (make sure you’re the only one using it for this purpose).

Keep in mind, though, that not every sex toy can be deep cleaned— you check out our sex toy cleaning guide for more deets. Make sure to verify if your toy is suitable for this method.

4Buy non-porous sex toys from reputable shops.

Here’s an open secret about sex toys: some can’t be fully cleaned, no matter how often you wash them. This means some bacteria might linger in the toy.

What kinds of toys carry this risk? It’s for toys made with porous materials, specifically cyberskin, vinyl, PVC, latex, elastomer, and jelly rubber. This doesn’t mean all of these materials are inherently bad for you, and you’ll automatically get infections after using them, but they are definitely more challenging to clean and sanitize properly.

That said, we recommend just not taking that risk and getting yourself sex toys made with non-porous materials, like silicone, ABS plastic, pyrex or borosilicate glass, stainless steel, and wood with waterproof coating. After surface cleaning, these materials effectively wash off bacteria and other harmful elements.

5Avoid sharing sex toys as much as possible.

Sharing is caring, but that’s definitely not the case with sex toys. In fact, sharing them with your partner can bring some risks.

A 2014 study found that traces of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) remained on sex toys even after cleaning. In this study, participants used vaginally inserted toys made from TPE and silicone. After cleaning, researchers discovered that “56 percent of the TPE toys and 44 percent of the silicone toys had traces of HPV.”

While the HPV was completely removed from the silicone toys after 24 hours, traces of it persisted on the TPE toys. Now, the study only has about 21 participants, but it still goes to show the risk of unprotected sharing of pleasure toys.

That said, avoid sharing toys with anyone, specifically toys that are meant for solo plays, like dildos and g-spot vibrators. If you do choose to share with a trusted partner, make sure to wrap the toy in a condom for extra protection.

6Be careful when using lubes and stimulants.

Sexual lubricants and stimulants offer a lot of benefits—they reduce friction during penetrative sex and add extra pleasure. However, some can pose risks, especially those that (1) aren’t meant for genital use, and (2) come from sketchy brands or shops.

Let’s talk about the first point. A common misconception is that any lube can be used for penetrative sex. That’s not the case, though, as flavored lubes are meant for oral plays, while oil-based lubes are formulated for sensual massages and other sexual activities that don’t involve the genitals. Using these on your intimate areas can lead to infections or irritations because some ingredients aren’t suitable for those areas.

Regarding the second point, make sure to get lubricants and stimulants from reputable sex toy stores or pharmacies. These sources usually ensure high-quality products with proper instructions and labels. While some lubes might be cheaper, you might end up paying more if you experience irritation or other issues.

7For anal bottoms, consider a ‘bottom diet’ for less mess.

While contact with feces during anal play is common, there are risks involved, especially for activities like rimming (licking or sucking someone’s anus). The ingestion of pathogens from feces can lead to gastrointestinal infections, mpox, or other diseases.

So, for our power bottoms out there, it’s best to really give your bum a nice squeaky clean right before getting onto the deed. This can involve consuming a high-fiber diet or probiotic supplements to help form smooth, bulky stools. Opt for natural sources of fiber, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

8Freshen up your mouth before performing oral sex.

Before you go “bon appétit” on your partner’s genitals, make sure to give your mouth a quick rinse with mouthwash, especially if you’ve had sweet foods, oily meals, or spicy dishes. Skipping this step can increase your partner’s risk of yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and other related issues.

9Wear breathable underwear and loose clothing.

For our vulva-having folks, another important practice for genital health is making sure your genitals get to “breathe.” This means opting for loose clothing and underwear made from breathable materials like natural cotton.

It’s because undies that aren’t made with breathable material can trap moisture and bacteria, especially on days when there’s too much sweat and discharge. This could result in potential infections later on.

We also recommend going commando or underwear-free while you sleep to prevent moisture buildup. However, if you’re uncomfortable going without underwear, that’s perfectly fine! Just stick to undies made from breathable materials.

10Keep your pubic hair groomed.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having hair down there—as this viral video says, “Bush is normal!”

However, you must still trim your pubic hair regularly to prevent the clogging and buildup of moisture. Use fully disinfected scissors specifically for pubic hair trimming to avoid any risks of irritation or infection. Going for an au naturel cut is perfectly fine. However, you can explore other pubic hairstyles, such as a high bikini leg cut or martini glass.

You can also opt for shaving or waxing, but keep in mind that these methods can be painful and may come with risks like minor cuts or skin irritations. Be extra careful when doing these pubic hair grooming methods.

Takeaway

As we’ve covered, keeping up with sexual hygiene is key to keeping things fun and comfortable down there. But don’t forget that regular checkups with your healthcare provider are super important, too! If there’s something amiss with your sexual health, they can easily detect that and help you with the treatment options. May you have a safe and happy sex life!