PHYSICAL HYGIENE OF SEX: CLEANLINESS

THE hygiene of marriage is the central theme of this book, and it is to that end that each chapter seeks to contribute. But marriage in civilized life is the conclusion of a long and oftentimes precarious development of sexual experience. And certainly one needs hygiene in the earlier period as well as during the later. Indeed, sometimes the hygiene of marriage is greatly determined by the hygiene of the pre-marital period. Moreover, there are some matters of sexual hygiene of importance to us at every stage of sexual development. Therefore, we shall first devote some time to a few general aspects of sex hygiene, and later deal with those which particularly concern marriage.
CLEANLINESS
There is so much ignorance and superstition built around not only the genital organs but sex in general that even those habits which are essential to cleanliness are neglected. In fear of early stimulation of sex desire or undesirable practices, children are led to neglect the washing of the external genitals. In infancy, great care is given to these parts by the nurse or the mother, because it is well known that they are most susceptible to irritation. With the daily bath, the parts are cleansed carefully. The anus is kept clean and dusting powder is used between the thighs to prevent the irritation that is so easily produced by the wet diaper. The prevention of irritation in this region usually does away with the possibility of the development of infantile masturbation. In the girl baby cleanliness is especially important. Careful daily washing of the vulva, around the clitoris and urethra, is needed, because secretions accumulating in these parts from day to day are not only irritating but odoriferous. In addition, since the diapers and later the clothing rub on the vulva from anus to clitoris, it very frequently happens that the bacteria which are found in the stool wipe forward into the urethra, and an infection is started in the urethra and sometimes in the bladder as well. This infection leads not only to a consciousness of the parts, but to pain and burning during urination, and to frequency of urination.
Attention to these matters of local cleanliness is important throughout life. When children reach the age at which they are able to bathe themselves, they should be taught to cleanse the external genitals as well as other parts of the body. If parents have neglected to give such instructions, the boy or girl must learn from other sources how to care for the body properly. Physical examinations in schools are oftentimes useful in calling attention to points of hygiene which over-modest parents wrongfully neglect to mention.
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