Why is instruction needed? - Page 3

[lacysmommy]

I was talking to my brother recently because I recently found out I'm having a boy, and DH and I disagree about circ, and I wanted to talk to an intact man about how it was growing up intact. I normally don't talk to my brother about his penis lol. Anyway. He told me that our mom said that he didn't have to do anything special with his penis, but he said that's not true! You have to wash underneath the fold. So, without specific instructions on how to clean his penis, he actually did have some problems with it (he didn't elaborate on the problems, but he wouldn't have mentioned it unless there had been some issues I'm sure). I'm not sure if she specifically told him don't retract it to clean, or if she just said just rinse it off and it'll be fine.

I never really received specific cleaning instructions on my vulva, but maybe because girls don't have retraction issues to deal with like boys do, I had automatically been washing mine a specific way since I was very little and didn't really need to be taught because I already knew how.

[Mommy2anangel]

I was actually having this discussion with my intact DH recently. He said to me no one ever taught me how to clean myself, I don't even realize I do it, I just do it, when I'm taking a shower. Sorry if this is TMI.

[mummy2jess]

I was told by the midwife when I left hospital never to pull back the foreskin but that it will be washed perfectly fine when he is in the bath with no special attention. My son has never had any kind of infection or problem and neither has his father who was also never "cleaned" like this. Surely in the bath the water washes up there anyway - I mean the foreskin is not water tight!
When my daughter had a UTI my doctor told me that it is much more common in girls and since most men here are not circumsized it cant be that much of a problem in terms of hygiene and UTIs!

sophie

[Marsupialmom]

Originally Posted by Mommy2anangel

I was actually having this discussion with my intact DH recently. He said to me no one ever taught me how to clean myself, I don't even realize I do it, I just do it, when I'm taking a shower. Sorry if this is TMI.

Could have have learned by watching others? Maybe his dad? or maybe his mom saying swish when he was a toddler?

[Erinz]

Well I can tell you that while it may be natural for some men, it isn't for all men. Just the same as basic grooming, the penis is no different. Some people have better grooming habits than others. Where does it come from? Really, who knows! The penis does need to be cleaned of course, and some men don't really "get it" until they have a partner who insists upon it. It does generate a smell and can cause irritation with a partner. My husband and I communicate to our 3yo that it must be cleaned not unlike his teeth and hair!

And as an aside... I've never ever considered not using soap on myself? Am I a complete anomoly? It's always been part of my routine and I'm 35 and have had no ill effects.

[Mommy2anangel]

Originally Posted by Marsupialmom

Could have have learned by watching others? Maybe his dad? or maybe his mom saying swish when he was a toddler?

While it is totally possible, he has no recollection of someone telling him what to do. And we've (he) has never had any problems and I've never had any problems because of that either.

[DocsNemesis]

Honestly, I was told to clean my parts as a kid because I wouldn't on my own and stuff would build up and get gross. My dd is the same way-I've seen (by accident, she has NO modesty) white gunk, basically just smegma, but built up because she wasn't washing. I teach all of my kids to wash their privates with plain water in the tub, just getting anything visable off. I don't see a problem with that. (And by teach, I mean I ask them if they washed their hair, scrubbed their feet-whcih are ALWAYS caked in dirt-and washed their privates. I don't show them what to do, I just feel that pointing it out gives them a good habit of cleaning ALL of their bodies).

[JollyGG]

Originally Posted by Erinz

And as an aside... I've never ever considered not using soap on myself? Am I a complete anomoly? It's always been part of my routine and I'm 35 and have had no ill effects.

If your are an anomaly so am I. I've always used soap. Since reading this thread I've tried not using soap a couple of times in the shower and I can't do it. I do however remember being taught by my mother to rinse really really well.

[robertandenith]

LOL true!!

I do tell my daughters to wash their genitals though. But do not remember my mom giving me instructions to do so.

[serendipity22]

I was brought up to wash behind my ears. I don't and my ears haven't fallen off.

What happens to other mammals? Do horses, sheep, bulls etc. get all these terrible infections because they aren't retracting and washing underneath?
I doubt it.

Having said that I think washing makes people smell better to others.

Do vets circumcise cats and dogs to prevent penile problems?

[4chunut1]

Originally Posted by serendipity22

I was brought up to wash behind my ears. I don't and my ears haven't fallen off.

What happens to other mammals? Do horses, sheep, bulls etc. get all these terrible infections because they aren't retracting and washing underneath?
I doubt it.

Having said that I think washing makes people smell better to others.

Do vets circumcise cats and dogs to prevent penile problems?

Good points... I don't wash for fear of infection or disease, but the reason you stated is more than enough for me...

[2xy]

Originally Posted by Erinz

And as an aside... I've never ever considered not using soap on myself? Am I a complete anomoly? It's always been part of my routine and I'm 35 and have had no ill effects.

I've considered it....mostly because I've heard others say how terrible it is to wash your genitals with soap. But then I think (like you) that after nearly 40 years, soap has never given me problems, and I dismiss it.

[MyBoysBlue]

I've accidentally gotten soap in my folds and boy does it burn. I can't imagine actually washing with soap. This is bar soap, most shampoos and body washes don't bother me as much, but I still avoid washing too thorough with them.

[Fellow Traveler]

I am not sure why instructions are needed. I know for me it was pretty obvious and as others have said it can be quite enjoyable. In any event I was at some point given the three Rs and that was about it. As an adult I don't even think about it, it just happens. I don't have a problem with soap I do tend to use a lot of it even on the penis and it's never irritated me but I can see how others might be. Incidentally, water works just fine too soap isn't necessary even though I use it.

As far as the long term situation goes, I've at times gone quite a while with out a shower, a few times longer than a week, and I can't say that it gets really bad down there. It doesn't irritate me or smell, so far as I've noticed. In those situations arm pits and feet seem to be the major sources of such things.

[2xy]

Originally Posted by MyBoysBlue

I've accidentally gotten soap in my folds and boy does it burn. I can't imagine actually washing with soap. This is bar soap, most shampoos and body washes don't bother me as much, but I still avoid washing too thorough with them.

Hmm. Maybe it depends on what type of soap you're using? I wouldn't use something like Irish Spring on any part of my body, let alone in the sensitive parts.

My family has always used mild soaps (even when I was a kid). If I buy mainstream soap at all, it's Dove (unscented/sensitive skin type).

[MyBoysBlue]

I buy natural hand made soaps. No artificial sents. Only natural oils and such. It's not like I want to find a soap to wash with. I am very happy with my sensitive areas being washed with just water. I have never had a yeast infection in my life and I am 32, so I must be doing something right, for me.

[circuitsndaisies]

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