A Guide to Washing Your Hands

Put simply, "hand washing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases" (Public Health). Although most people know that washing their hands is important, it is not always done correctly or often enough. Whether we are in a hurry, see no need, or simply forget, this simple practice is sometimes overlooked. Bacteria, viruses and other disease vectors are spread when we come into contact with them on surfaces in our environment, and then transport them into our bodies by touching our eyes, nose, or mouth. It is important to remember that many aspects of human sexuality involve very close encounters between two people, which often includes contact with mucous membranes (e.g. kissing, oral sex, sucking on fingers, etc.). These are fun ways for partners to enjoy each other, but they are also activities that carry the possibility of spreading viruses and bacteria. In such a close context with someone else, the potential for reducing this transmission is well worth the small precaution of hand washing.

Manual Stimulation and Hand Washing
Hand Jobs and Hand Washing
STIs and Hand Washing
A Step-By-Step Guide to Washing Your Hands
Liquid Hand Sanitizer
Some Neat (And Gross!) Facts About Germs
Long Enough, Hard Enough, Hot Enough

Manual Stimulation and Hand Washing

Just like the eyes, nose, and mouth, a woman's vagina too is a mucous membrane, so it is especially important that she take hand-washing precautions when manual stimulation is involved. For example, viruses and bacteria can be transferred from a woman's hand to her vagina during masturbation, or from her partner's hand during manual stimulation. For this reason, it is a good idea to make sure that any hand—whether it is her own or her partner's—is properly cleaned before is it used to stimulate the vagina and/or vulva. Also for males, an ounce of precaution is worth a pound of cure. Taking the time to ensure that hands are clean before masturbating or receiving a "hand job" is a small but wise measure that can reduce the spreading of diseases. Finally, for both males and females hepatitis B can be spread by manual stimulation of the anus. Hepatitis B is one form of viral hepatitis, and is a disease that hinders optimal liver function. "Chronic infections with hepatitis B or C are a major risk factor for developing cancer of the liver, one of the most common cancers in the world" (Crooks and Baur 2005). Because it is the orifice that comes into contact with feces, it is extremely wise to pay special attention to cleanliness when the anus is involved.

Hand Jobs and Hand Washing

It may also sometimes be wise for a man's partner to wash the hands after giving a hand job, especially if there has been semen or precum present. This is pertinent because a woman can transport living semen via her hand from a man's penis to her vagina if she touches herself after giving manual stimulation—which in turn could lead to pregnancy. For this reason, if she plans on also giving herself manual stimulation or touching any part of her vulva, it is crucial that she wash her hands if they have come in contact with semen or precum. Males also can be careful not to transport semen by touching their own ejaculate before manually stimulating their female partner. Although it might seem "unromantic" to be rushing off to the sink before and after being intimate with a partner, there can be fun and sexy ways to incorporate this hygienic behavior into a couple's play. One way to be smart and still sexy is to lather each other up in the shower, which can even be a passionate part of foreplay. Also, "washing the genitals before intercourse helps remove bacteria" (Crooks and Baur 2005).

STIs and Hand Washing

In relation to sexual health, proper hand washing is increasingly important with the risk of spreading sexually transmitted infections (STIs). One possibility is the spreading of STIs from one location to another on an individual who is already infected. Chlamydia—the most common bacterial STI in the United States—for example, "can be spread by fingers from one body site to another, such as from the genitals to the eyes" (Crooks and Baur 2005). Similarly, those with the Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (genital herpes) can spread it from one body part to another "by touching a sore and then scratching or rubbing somewhere else. [�Therefore] it is good practice for people with herpes to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching a sore" (Crooks and Baur 2005). Ectoparasites, such as pubic lice (also known as "crabs"), can be spread via the fingers around the pubic hair, armpits, and scalp. Finally, hepatitis A—the most common form of viral hepatitis in the United States—can be spread when "infected handlers of food do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom" (Crooks and Baur 2005). To reduce the length of time needed to recover from a curable STI or to reduce the chances of making an incurable STI worse, the practice of hand washing is paramount.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Washing Your Hands

Take off any jewelry (rings, bracelets, etc.)
Wet your hands with warm, running water
Use enough soap to make a foamy lather by rubbing your hands together away from the running water
Scrub vigorously for at least 15-20 seconds, not forgetting about the spaces between your fingers, the backs of your hands, wrists and fingernails
Rinse the soap off well with hot running water (warm water for children)
Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or paper towel, and avoid touching surfaces on the way out if you are in a public restroom

Liquid Hand Sanitizer

When water is not available, a liquid or gel hand sanitizer can be used. To be effective, the amount of alcohol (typically Ethyl alcohol or isopropanol) identified on the ingredient list of the product should be between 60-90%. Purell�, for example, contains 62% Ethyl alcohol. Liquid sanitizers should not be used as a permanent alternative to hand washing, but more as a temporary substitute when soap and warm water are unavailable. To use, squeeze a dime sized amount of the sanitizer into your palm, rub it in with the fingertips of the opposite hand, and then switch. Then, cover the remaining surfaces of your hands including the fingernails and between fingers. Rub in the liquid until it has completely evaporated, and your hands are dry. Since the main ingredient is alcohol, you might feel a slight tingling, which is perfectly normal. If you have any open cuts, they might burn a little bit when exposed to the alcohol.

You might also be interested in the article Can Hand Sanitizers Kill Sperm?

Some Neat (And Gross!) Facts About Germs

Despite their miniscule size, germs, viruses and bacteria are pretty hardy!

Some food-borne illnesses are spread through lack of hand cleaning. In fact, certain strains of E. coli, salmonella, and other bacteria can live on surfaces like cafeteria tables and doorknobs for up to two hours.
Rotavirus—a virus that causes gastrointestinal illness—can be transferred from a dry, smooth surface to a clean hand for as long as 20 minutes after the surface has been contaminated.
In one study, about 33% of adults using public restrooms didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom.
Bacteria populations double every 20 minutes.
Five bacteria in a sandwich at 12:00 noon will total over 10 million by 7 pm. After three days, if no bacteria had died, there would be enough to cover the earth.

American Society of Microbiology studies showed:
(It's A SNAP, 2003 and Minnesota Department of Health, 2007)

97% of females and 92% of males say they wash their hands
of these only 75% females and 58% males actually washed
50% of middle and high school students say they wash
of these 33% of females and only 8% of males used soap while washing hands

Long Enough, Hard Enough, Hot Enough

To help you remember the proper hand washing technique, remember to do it long enough, (at least 20 seconds), hard enough (scrub vigorously), and hot enough (warm water is important). To guarantee that you do scrub long enough, try singing the ABC's to yourself (or out loud!) while you wash, which will pass the correct amount of time. So just be sure the next time you sneeze, eat, prepare or handle food, handle animals, cough, use the restroom, handle garbage, spend time with someone who is sick, have sex, participate in manual stimulation or masturbation, remember to do it long enough, hard enough, and hot enough!

References:
Occupational Health and Safety
Public Health: Grey Bruce Health Unit
Proper Hand Washing Video
Clean Hand Statistics
Hand Hygiene
Crooks, Robert and Baur, Karla. (2005) Our Sexuality. Thomson Learning, Inc.

Created May 24, 2008

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