Sex & Sexuality | Smokin\' ain\'t sexy

Suman just could not understand why his wife Renu was making such a fuss.  She is refusing to have sex till he quits smoking. “Oh come on, you never objected to my smoking, drinking during courtship. In fact you thought it was manly,” Suman cajoled.

“That was the biggest blunder of my life. Your entire body reeks of tobacco and your mouth smells like a gutter.  How can you expect me to enjoy sex when I feel like throwing up?” was Renu’s retort.

Can malodour really have this kind of an impact? The answer is an emphatic yes. It is unfortunate that the person who is causing the malodour is completely oblivious to the impact it can have on others.

While Renu was put off by oral malodour, many others are put off by genital malodour. Personal hygiene is an integral part of sex.

Maintaining good hygiene is important for good health.  Since sexual health is an inseparable part of general health, attention to genital hygiene is all the more appropriate and all encompassing. It is the most basic of all forms of personal hygiene.

A woman’s vaginal fluids are usually odourless. But when they reach the air and are allowed to become stale they will start giving out an offensive smell. These also become breeding ground for germs.

Women while taking a bath should separate the vaginal lips and clean the clitoris, the urinary opening and the vaginal opening. Chemicals of any sort ought not to be used on the genitals without the doctor’s advice.

Strong chemicals are liable to damage the genitals by causing chemical burns.
In men, a white waxy secretion called smegma is produced under the skin of an uncircumcised penis.  

If the foreskin of the penis is not pulled back and washed with soap and water an unpleasant smell will emanate and the smegma can breed germs.

The undergarments should be changed every day. Preferably these should be cotton as it helps in absorption of sweat.  The used undergarments should be washed thoroughly and sun dried.  

The writer is a sexologist. You can mail him at dr.narayana@deccanmail.com