Our top 5 tips for healthy bits!

posted by: abbey

The genital area, including the surrounding skin is very delicate and can easily be damaged. Here are our top 5 tips for healthy genitals!

  1. Avoid irritants! Using soap, shower gel and feminine hygiene products can cause dryness, itching and irritation. Wash with plain water or an emollient instead!
  2. Don’t overwash! Washing once a day is enough! You run the risk of washing away good, healthy bacteria’s by washing too much, and douching is a no-no!
  3. Do allow your genitals some fresh air! – and this doesn’t have to mean walking around half naked! Sleeping underwear free allows air to circulate to the part of your body that is covered up the most! Wearing breathable cotton (or cotton gusset) undies is advised too, and you should wash these in non-bio!
  4. Don’t remove your pubic hair! Whilst it might be fashionable to have a brazilian or hollywood, pubic hair serves a purpose. It stops bacteria and dirt from getting into our genitals and causing problems!
  5. Do get regular sexual health check up’s to make sure you are free from infection. Most STIs don’t come with symptoms, so testing for them is important. We suggest, at the beginning AND end of a relationship, or at least once a year if you are having casual partners

Read more advice about keeping your genitals healthy here

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Accessing our service during the COVID pandemic

How to access our service:

We have now implemented a telephone triage system for all of our clinics. This system will be in place for the duration of the pandemic. Please contact our services to access this triage system. Our central telephone number is 0300 303 3989.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus please do not attend the clinic. Clear advice for people with symptoms of coronavirus is available at nhs.uk/coronavirus .

Advice from our service:

We have updated information on the provision of routine contraception during this pandemic here.

If you need the combined contraceptive pill please try (if you can) to get updated measurements of your height, weight and blood pressure before calling us.

We are currently prioritising these groups for coil and implant (LARC) fits:

  • Those with vulnerabilities including but not limited to those who are: <18, attending abortion and maternity services, homeless, sex workers, victims of sexual assault, people with language barriers, drug and alcohol problems, learning disability, serious mental illness
  • Those aged <30 years

More details on LARC fittings at our service are found here

There is also specific advice on coronavirus available for People Living with HIV here, and for pregnant women here. 

Self-requested Sexual Health screening by post is available for for under 25s only - more info here

For others with testing requirements please contact the service on 0300 303 3989.

Information is now also available to advise on sexual contact during a time of social distancing here.

Alternative provision:

Please be aware that we may have to cancel, rearrange or shut clinical services in response to changing clinical and staffing pressures created by the Coronavirus pandemic. 

If you are struggling to access sexual health services, alternatives may be available:

  • Emergency Contraception - at your local pharmacy - more info
  • Contraceptive pills and LARC procedures - obtained from your GP
  • HIV postal testing - available to at-risk groups for a small fee -  more info
  • HIV PEPSE - available via A+E departments - more info
  • Condoms by post (for gay and bisexual men only) - more info