Are bidets safe for women during pregnancy? Dr. Van Dis says that a bidet is indeed safe during pregnancy just as it's okay to take a shower to clean your anus and perineum.
However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI). Physicians are advised to instruct patients with anal pruritus to avoid excessive cleaning of the anus and those with AI to discontinue bidet use.
If your bidet gets contaminated, those germs can find a way into the urinary tract, vagina or cracks in your skin. “If bacteria or virus particles get into the water tank or on the nozzle, everyone who uses it can be exposed,” warns Dr. Lee.
Bidet toilet nozzle surfaces can occasionally become contaminated with bacteria without the user being aware every time a user uses the bidet to clean their private area after using the restroom, germs may spread to other users.
Yes, bidets do help with hemorrhoids!
They provide a soothing effect to the anal area, improve blood flow and promote healing, and offer a pain-free way to maintain good anal hygiene. If your existing toilet doesn't have a bidet, there are many easily available bidet attachments or handheld sprays you can use.
If you need to use toilet paper to clean yourself after using a bidet, there is a good chance you are not using the bidet properly. If that's the case, click the link to learn how to use a bidet. It's also quite possible that the bidet you're using is not of high quality.
Bidets are safe for female genitals. The general rule for wiping is to proceed from front to rear. To jet water from front to back, use the tool's front wash mode, also known as "feminine wash." It helps avoid infection by preventing anything from traveling from your anus to your vagina.
Luckily, bidets are safe for female genitalia. The guideline for wiping — go front to back — applies here, too. Use the bidet's front wash feature (sometimes called “feminine wash”) to spray water from front to back. This helps prevent anything travelling from the anus to the vagina, which is what causes infections.
Always-Clean Water for Your Bidet
The water that is used in a bidet wash does not come from your toilet bowl. It comes directly from your water supply and is sanitary – just like your drinking water. There is no need to worry whether the water that is washing your backside is safe.
Bidets haven't ever been widely embraced in American culture. A common origin story for this reluctance is that bidets were seen as lascivious because they were used in brothels as a form of emergency contraception.
This is a self-cleaning feature that gives the nozzles on your bidet a sanitary rinse at the touch of a button. That way, you can have confidence that the water in your bidet is completely safe and clean to wash with. Yes, in fact, bidets are sanitary.
Bidets are gentler and more hygienic than toilet paper, which just smears around your poo. Bidets spray a small stream of water onto your butthole, rinsing off leftover fecal matter.
Position yourself to use the bidet by straddling the bowl. It's acceptable to sit on the rim of the bowl, but many users will squat or “hover” over the bidet.
So sit on the toilet, push out blood, rinse your feminine area with a bidet, dry with a washcloth or toilet paper, then wear a fresh pad or tampon. Using a bidet can also help reduce the waste we produce during menstruation.
Bidet as feminine wash after giving birth
The Cleveland Clinic points out that after pooping, water is able to suitably remove fecal matter. Just make sure the water flows front-to-back (sometimes called “feminine wash”) like you'd wipe yourself—and you're good to go.
Pat dry with toilet paper
Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
It does have a faucet that you need to turn on so water flows out. Sit on the bidet with your legs over the sides and sit up straight so the water hits your bottom. You can use just the water pressure or wipe with your hands, too.
Wipe down the bidet regularly, at least once a week.
Use vinegar or a mild household detergent squirted onto a damp cleaning cloth. Wipe over the bidet with the cloth and leave to air dry. Rinse the cleaning cloth immediately after use with hot water to keep it clean.
Did you know that many high end electric bidet toilet seats have a deodorizer feature? This useful feature cuts down on any odors that may arise while you're doing your business on the toilet.
Once you find a setting that's comfortable for you, let the bidet spray somewhere between 30 seconds and a minute to get the job done. The control panels on an electric bidet might look more robust than your TV remote. Don't be afraid to experiment, but make sure you don't scald your butt with hot water.
There have already been reported water damage claims arising from bidets. If you're getting a bidet, it's important to install and maintain it correctly even though your insurer doesn't ask about it. Water damage is never good.