MUCH SEXUAL ACTIVITY takes place in the dark. Let us exclude as unorthodox people like a woman who confessed that her husband of ten years had never seen her naked in the light of day. Each time was in dark. Most married folks are not like this. It just happens that many sexual encounters take place in the dark or in dimly lit areas.
Many are awakened to a pleasant intrusion in the middle of the night or drift off to sleep having had fun with the lights off.
Others are grabbing a quickie in the early hours of the morning before the kids come from their rooms to take up residence in the middle of the bed.
Might I suggest that whatever the circumstances, the absence of light should cause other senses like smell and touch to kick in.
The feminine odour of a healthy woman can be very alluring and defies proper description as each woman has her own essence. So too can the musk of a healthy man.
However, the scent of a woman or man can also give cues that they may be infected with a sexually transmitted infection.
Knowing how to keep private parts healthy and how to recognise possible signs of infection by smell is important knowledge as persons often do not explore by sight. They are in the dark literally and figuratively.
A woman’s vagina is as interesting as it is complicated.
It really desires to be kept cool, clean and dry and is desperate for women to avoid disposable douches and other creams, sprays and feminine hygiene products that purport to keep a woman clean and smelling fresh. It really prefers to be kept neat and trim and to clean itself internally. All it wants is mild unscented soap to be used on the outer areas. The habit of using antibacterial soap or putting soap inside the vagina during showers and baths causes the vagina more trouble than many women can imagine. This has to be taught to young girls who sometimes use perfumed soaps and creams on their vaginas.
If a vagina could scream no to the regular and long-term wearing of thongs it would lose its voice. Bacteria from the anus are sometimes transmitted by the thong into the vagina. Vaginas really want womenfolk to wear loose cotton granny panties and not those made of lycra, nylon or polyesters.
A healthy woman gives off a feminine scent before and during the intimate encounter that is designed to attract a partner. A woman’s natural odour is often a function of her diet and activity before and during sex. Being in the dark, it’s important to be attuned to the fact that a woman’s odour should not be strong and unpleasant. It should not smell fishy or like raw meat.
The three most common causes of unpleasant feminine odour are not sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections and poor feminine hygiene can cause women to have unpleasant odours. BV is a build up of bacteria in the vagina that is often the most common cause of unpleasant scent.
It can be embarrassing to share with your doctor a concern about your odour but BV needs to be properly diagnosed as it can be easily treated by antibiotics.
Do not rush and harass your doctor or pharmacist for antibiotics as it may be a yeast infection causing a slight smell, especially if accompanied by an itch and discharge. Some yeast infections have no smell but a thick curdled or cottage cheese-like discharge may be felt or tasted by a man. Only a doctor is best placed to give the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Self-treating incorrectly can result in worsening of symptoms or give false comfort.
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection that is associated with vaginal odour. So also is the more serious pelvic inflammatory disease which is caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
Embrace the darkness but do keep your head on. Where your eyes are compromised let your nose and fingers do the exploration.
Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland is the executive director at the BFPA. The health clinic can be reached at 427-2027 or bfpa@caribsurf.com