Health
PT Health Watch: Tissue paper is safe for intimate hygiene, but these common habits may trigger infections- Expert
Conflicting advice circulating on social media has left many women questioning whether using toilet tissue after urinating could increase their risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), irritation or other intimate health problems.
Some online posts even claim that wiping with tissue paper is unsafe.
However, medical experts say there is no scientific evidence that using clean, plain, unscented tissue paper after urinating causes infections when used correctly.
Instead, they warn that practices such as douching, using scented feminine wipes, cleaning inside the vagina and wiping from back to front are far more likely to upset the natural balance of the genital area and increase the risk of infections.
Speaking with PT Health Watch, Yahya Mohammed, a medical doctor at the National Hospital, Abuja, said maintaining intimate hygiene does not require expensive products or excessive cleaning.
According to him, the real concern is not tissue paper itself but hygiene habits that introduce bacteria into the urinary tract or interfere with the body’s natural protective mechanisms.
Plain tissue paper is safe
Mr Mohammed said gently drying the genital area with clean, unscented toilet tissue after urinating is safe for most women and may even help reduce prolonged moisture that can contribute to skin irritation.
He explained that while wet wipes are generally safe if they are mild and fragrance-free, products containing perfumes, alcohol or harsh chemicals can irritate the delicate skin around the vulva.
Such irritation, he noted, is sometimes mistaken for an infection.
He stressed that routine use of feminine wipes is unnecessary.
According to him, washing the external genital area, the vulva, with clean water is sufficient for everyday hygiene. Women who prefer soap should use only mild, fragrance-free cleansers.
“Clean tissue paper is generally safe, while wet wipes are usually safe if they are non irritating,” he said.
What really causes UTIs?
Mr Mohammed explained that UTIs are most commonly caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, particularly Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally live in the bowel.
He said clean toilet tissue does not cause UTIs.
Although wet wipes may offer additional comfort during menstruation or for women experiencing diarrhoea or haemorrhoids, he said they should not replace routine washing with clean water.
Rather than worrying about tissue paper, he said women should focus on hygiene practices that prevent harmful bacteria from reaching the urinary tract.
Hygiene habits to avoid
Mr Mohammed identified several common practices that increase the risk of irritation and infection.
According to him, wiping from back to front after using the toilet can transfer bacteria from the anus to the urinary tract.
He also cautioned against using coloured, scented or antibacterial wipes for intimate hygiene, saying these products can irritate sensitive skin and may contribute to recurrent vaginal infections or allergic reactions.
Other habits women should avoid include wiping too aggressively, cleaning inside the vagina, douching after urinating, remaining in wet underwear for long periods, wearing very tight non breathable underwear and washing the vulva with harsh soaps.
He explained that douching can wash away the protective bacteria that help maintain the vagina’s normal pH, increasing the risk of infections.
The best way to clean after using the toilet
According to Mr Mohammed, the best hygiene method often depends on personal preference, skin sensitivity and what is readily available.
He recommended using plain, unscented toilet tissue to gently blot or wipe dry after urinating.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: From symptoms to risks, how UTIs differ from vaginal infections
After a bowel movement, women should wipe until the tissue is clean.
He added that rinsing the vulva with clean water is also an excellent option, while combining water with gentle drying using plain tissue provides additional comfort for many women.
Less is more
Mr Mohammed emphasised that women do not need elaborate intimate hygiene routines.
He explained that the vagina is naturally self-cleaning through normal secretions, while the vulva only requires gentle external cleaning.
He said excessive washing or using multiple intimate hygiene products can do more harm than good.
He advised women experiencing persistent itching, unusual vaginal discharge, pain during urination, foul odour or recurrent infections to seek medical attention rather than rely on social media advice or self-medication.
“The vulva cleans itself through its natural secretions,” he said.
He added that maintaining simple hygiene practices and seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms remain the best ways to protect intimate health.
The federal government has called for increased African-led research, stronger partnerships and sustainable financing to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary cancers.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made the call at the fifth Africa Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC) Conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Salako, who was represented by Ali Gombe, director of clinical services, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), said African countries needed evidence that reflected their populations, disease patterns and health system realities to guide effective cancer interventions.
He called for greater investment in research covering epidemiology, risk factors, genetics, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, supported by cancer registries, clinical trials and collaborative research networks.
He also advocated the use of digital health, genomics, and artificial intelligence to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance.
“Research should translate into affordable, accessible, sustainable interventions for African populations,” Mr Salako said, describing AHPBCC as a valuable platform for multidisciplinary collaboration.
He said Nigeria was strengthening cancer prevention and early detection while expanding diagnostic and treatment capacity under the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan.
According to him, cancer control required an integrated continuum covering risk reduction, health education, early diagnosis, referral, surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, palliative care and survivorship.
Mr Salako said the government was strengthening financial protection through the National Cancer Health Fund, although hepatobiliary cancers were currently excluded, with plans to expand its coverage.
He also cited the Nigerian Cancer Access Partnership, which provides 50 to 60 per cent discounts on anti-cancer medicines, as well as plans for a catastrophic health fund.
He said prevention remained central, particularly through tobacco control, healthier lifestyles and control of viral infections associated with cancer.
“For liver cancer, particularly hepatitis, emphasis is placed on prevention and control of hepatitis B and C through vaccination, screening, diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
Mr Salako said Nigeria was also investing in specialists, laboratories, cancer treatment centres and research infrastructure, alongside mentorship, fellowships, specialised training and knowledge exchange.
He stressed that no country or institution could address the cancer burden alone, urging governments, researchers, academia, civil society, development partners and the private sector to work together.
Abdulfatai Olokoba, president, Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), said the conference exemplified such partnerships among organisations working across the cancer and digestive disease fields.
Mr Olokoba said the collaboration brought together oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses and other specialists to improve knowledge and skills.
He said hepatobiliary cancers remained particularly challenging in Africa because of late presentation, limited resources and capacity gaps, as well as inadequate awareness.
According to him, the three-day meeting would examine prevention, treatment, research, survivorship, public health education, vaccination, surgical innovations and approaches tailored to African realities.
Lewis Roberts, president, African Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD), said hepatobiliary cancers often occurred at younger ages in Africa, resulting in substantial years of life lost.
Mr Roberts said prevention and early detection should remain priorities, noting that cancers diagnosed early were generally more treatable and less costly to manage.
He said conference workshops were examining earlier detection of bile duct, pancreatic and liver cancers using advanced endoscopic procedures, endoscopic ultrasound, ultrasound and FibroScan.
He said research should also explore blood-based methods that could detect cancers earlier without requiring patients to undergo more demanding procedures.
For patients diagnosed at advanced stages, Mr Roberts said research into tumour biology could enable targeted chemical and immune-based treatments tailored to individual cancers.
ALSO READ: Four in 10 cancers worldwide could be prevented, WHO warns
He, however, noted that the cost of some advanced treatments, including monoclonal antibodies, remained beyond the reach of many African health systems.
“We have to start now, and we have to start here,” he said, urging African scientists to develop solutions suited to the continent’s realities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, attended by more than 300 delegates from over 30 countries, focuses on prevention, treatment, research and survivorship for cancers affecting the liver, pancreas and biliary tract.
The conference, which began on Wednesday and ends on Saturday, brought together experts from Africa, the United States, Europe, Asia and other regions. (NAN)
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a Phase III trial of an Ebola vaccine to test whether it can protect against Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in a video posted on his official X account on Thursday.
Ghebreyesus said two vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus had entered Phase I safety trials in humans. At the same time, new animal studies had shown promising evidence that Ervebo, an Ebola vaccine, could also provide cross-protection against the virus.
He said the findings prompted WHO to recommend Ervebo for inclusion in a Phase III trial, which the organisation hopes to begin as soon as possible.
However, it is not yet known whether Ervebo can protect humans against Bundibugyo virus disease.
Mr Ghebreyesus said the Phase III trial would help establish whether the vaccine is safe and effective and could provide evidence needed to make it available for the current outbreak and future outbreaks.
No licensed vaccines
The development comes as the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DRC has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
As of Thursday, the country had recorded 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones, according to the WHO.
The health agency said the outbreak was spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak at the same stage and could surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest on record, with more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Bundibugyo virus is one of the viruses in the Ebola family that can cause severe and often fatal disease in humans.
Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by the Ebola virus, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the prevention of Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO said in June that Ervebo, the only licensed and WHO-prequalified Ebola vaccine, is approved for Ebola virus disease but not for Bundibugyo virus disease.
The current outbreak was first detected in the DRC in May, following an unexplained cluster of deaths in Ituri Province that was investigated. Laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease, prompting the DRC government to declare its 17th Ebola outbreak.
Uganda also confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak in the DRC. WHO subsequently determined that the outbreak in the two countries constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks have had case fatality rates between 30 and 50 per cent, according to the WHO.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on 9 August that WHO had already recommended Ervebo for evaluation in a randomised clinical trial after reviewing evidence suggesting that it could provide some protection against Bundibugyo virus.
Treatment advancement
Mr Ghebreyesus also disclosed progress in research into treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease.
He said a WHO-sponsored partners trial had reached 100 patients.
The trial is assessing potential treatments for the disease and is intended to generate evidence on which therapies can improve outcomes for infected patients.
READ ALSO: DRC Ebola outbreak becomes second-largest on record WHO
Mr Ghebreyesus said the milestone showed that research could be mobilised rapidly and responsibly even during a difficult outbreak.
He called on partners to support and accelerate the vaccine trial, while emphasising that the response requires collaboration among the DRC government, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners.
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