In every girl talk session, ladies are always advised to wipe themselves with tissue paper after peeing. The main reason is to keep the urine smell at bay and also to keep dry while counting the many bacterial infections one can get if they choose to stay dump.
Now, a urogynecologist has issued a warning against using tissue paper to wipe yourself down. “Toilet paper can irritate your vulva and your vagina, especially if you have sensitive skin,” says board-certified ob-gyn Pari Ghodsi, M.D.
Experts agree that toilet paper can actually cause medical issues. Toilet paper actually can cause all kinds of infections if you don’t use it properly. Experts shared with Glamour the various ways toilet paper can actually cause injury or infection and what to do to prevent it. Don’t freak out—odds are you’re already using toilet paper in a very safe, effective way—but you should be aware of the conditions.
Microcuts
Yeah, wiping too roughly or with a harsh toilet paper can create little cuts on your vulva. You must ensure that you are not being too rough when you wipe yourself. These microcuts can lead to irritation, swelling, and even an infection if they’re not treated appropriately, Ingber says. That’s why experts also recommend that you dab instead of wiping whenever you can.
UTIs
It might seem weird that the stuff you use to clean urine off can also cause a UTI, but here’s the deal, per Ingber: The female urethra (the spot where pee comes out) is short, and bacteria don’t have to travel far to get into your bladder. When you wipe from back to front, you can push fecal particles, which can contribute to a UTI, forward and into your urethra where they can travel up to your bladder and cause an infection. That’s why Ingber (and most doctors) recommend wiping from front to back, which keeps that bacteria in the back where it should stay.
Puffiness
A lot of toilet papers have fragrances, dyes, and other chemicals that can irritate your skin and cause you to puff up or notice a swelling, says Ingber. And, he points out, if your toilet paper is white, it may contain bleach, which can bother your vagina. If you notice vaginal swelling, one option is to try a softer toilet paper.
Yeast Infections
Yet another reason to avoid scented toilet paper: the chemicals in them can also disrupt the normal pH of your vagina and lead to a yeast infection, Shepherd says. If you think your toilet paper might be the cause of repeat infections, switch to a hypoallergenic type, Ghodsi recommends.
If you notice your vagina is having issues like any of the above and you recently changed toilet paper brands, if the problems persist, it might be time to visit your doctor.