The Sunday Mail
The methods of creating a dry environment for the organ on their own can causes several infections such as thrush or vaginal candidiasis, cervical cancer and inflammation of the vagina.
Health experts have warned women against creating dry environments inside their reproductive tracts as this exposes them to higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.
Traditionally, it is believed that sexual pleasure is enhanced when women’s reproductive organs are dry. As such, women have adapted several bizarre practices to dry their reproductive tracts. In the process, they expose themselves to a lot of infections.
Some insert traditional herbs such as ‘weti yegudo’, or ‘madororo ehanga’ in their reproductive organs to drain all the moisture. Others insert newspapers, lemons, cloths, dry cotton with salt or soda.
Listeners of local controversial radio programme, ‘Pamubhedha’ which is aired on Radio Zimbabwe, phone in and comment on intimacy issues. Basing on their comments, a lot of women think that dry reproductive tracts enhance sexual pleasure and satisfies men.
“Men enjoy dry sex more compared to when our sexual organs are wet. They actually call wet sex ‘majabwajabwa’ (wet, muddy lands),” said one caller who only identified herself as Juliet.
“I date married men in exchange for money and the main reason why they leave their wives coming to me is because I always make sure that my reproductive system is dry, creating a conducive environment for a man to be excited during intercourse. Most men say dry sexual intercourse creates a grip that enhances the act.”
Most women are supporting the idea on social media, local radio and even social gatherings.
However, National Aids Council (NAC) monitoring and evaluation director, Mr Amon Mpofu said, “Dryness of the female reproductive tract wears away the epithelial tissues or the lining of the vagina walls. This can cause the inner walls of the female sexual organ to develop some cracks which allows easy penetration of HIV virus into the system when one sleeps with an infected partner.
“The transmission can be in a two way, either from the male to the female or from the female to the male because the friction on such a dry environment can cause cuts or bruises on the male sexual organ.”
He said dry intercourse also increase chances of transmitting other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital herpes.
HPV is the causative agent of cervical cancer which is responsible for killing thousands of women annually in Africa. In Zimbabwe it is one of the leading cancers.
Mr Mpofu said lubrication is essential for people involved in a sexual act to avert some of these infections.
He said if lubrication is a problem, the use of lubricators is advised. However, he also insisted on condom use.
“Dryness in the female sexual organ before intercourse can be a biological problem which can cause a woman to experience pain during the act. Therefore, we also urge women not to be shy to consult medical practitioners if they experience such pains,” he added.
The methods of creating a dry environment for the organ on their own can causes several infections such as thrush or vaginal candidiasis, cervical cancer and inflammation of the vagina.
A local sexuality, reproductive health, HIV and Aids consultant, Dr Caroline Maposhere added: “Most methods being used by women to deliberately dry their reproductive system changes the environment and biological make-up of the organ.
“This has lead to many cases of vaginal candidiasis or fungi where the organ develops some rash and makes a woman experience pain when urinating. Under such a condition, the infected person may have discharges that are cloudy white, but odourless. Vaginal candidiasis can mislead a person into thinking that she has an STI when, in actual fact, it is not.”
Estimates from the Ministry of Health and Child Care are that last year, at least 80 percent of women in Zimbabwe experienced vaginal candidiasis knowingly or unknowingly.
The ministry also suggested that vaginal candidiasis is common in pregnant or immune suppressed women and it is mainly triggered by the change of the natural make-up of the female reproductive system.
“Women should desist from all activities that dry up their female sexual organs because eventually they may end up failing to lubricate before sexual intercourse. The condition can become permanent and require medical treatment because female lubrications and hormones such as oestrogen are essential in facilitating fertilisation,” Dr Maposhere said.
However, there are some cases where female reproductive tracts dry due to certain drugs or treatments that cause hormonal imbalances.
“Women under diabetic treatment, chemotherapy, anti-retroviral treatment and anti-biotics, among other medication are at a higher risk of failing to lubricate before intimacy. This is due to the side effects of the treatment which decreases the level of oestrogen in a female body,” explained Dr Maposhere.
She said any condition that influence hormonal changes can contribute to the dryness. This can be heart diseases, stress and menopause, among others.
