Otp’s Guide to Keeping Your Genitals Healthy Abroad
When you’re living the backpacking dream, your daily itinerary can include things like cliff jumping, dive-bar crawling and hostel fornicating. The last thing on your mind is genital hygiene. But there comes a time when your junk could really use some personal attention and there’s more to protecting your goods than not touching your wiener with curry-hands. Put off that YouPorn procrasturbation another few minutes and let OTP educate you on how to keep those tools tidy.
Posted By: natalia777
The backpacking community is notorious for random hook-ups. With so many players in the game, it’s important to make sure your equipment is clean and odor-free. Keep the home runs coming with regular showers, just don’t wash yourself raw—scrubbing too hard can cause infection. While your inner-hippie might be tempted to let your pubes grow wild, bear in mind that longer hair means more bacterial growth which leads to funkier smells. In less developed countries, getting a wax can be insanely cheap. Take advantage of it and go for that lightning bolt landing strip you’ve always wanted.
Ladies: Wearing tight panties or pants increases the nasty chance of a yeast infection. Stick to cotton underwear or, if you’re feeling ballsy, go commando. Bidets are a norm in lots of countries, so use these magic inventions to give your kitty an extra good cleaning (or to make her purr if the water pressure’s good). Stay away from douches though—like over-scrubbing, these can also cause infection.
OTP Tip: Baby wipes are super handy for cleaning up more than babies.
Photo by: ChrisssG
Backpackers are an adventurous bunch—especially in the sack—but don’t get carried away and ride bareback. No matter how good your traveler’s insurance is, the only coverage for avoiding an STD is to always wrap it up. It takes two to screw; girls should carry condoms as well. Keep in mind that the risks are different across the world and that not all STDs are visible. Before getting on the plane at all, get tested. Not only is it good karma, but you can get properly treated for any infections at home instead of at some shady clinic in rural South America.
It’s not a bad idea to pick up a big box of condoms at home—it’ll be a hell of a lot lighter than the consequences of going without. If you opt to buy them abroad, pick a brand you’ve heard of and check the expiration date. You’ll be able to find them in just about any drugstore or, if you’re on a really tight budget, ask around for clinics or hostels that give them away free. In some countries, it’s frowned upon (or even illegal) for a lady to buy a condom, so look up condom laws before you go. In some cities in the Philippines, for example, no one can buy a condom without a prescription.
OTP Tip: For chicks who dig dental dams, don’t bother buying them. Instead, slice off the tip of a condom, then cut it down the middle hot-dog style. Use a flavored condom for a less latex-y taste.
Posted By: forwardstl
If you’re a pill-popper, get your prescription filled before leaving and make sure it’s enough for the whole trip. Keep an alarm set to the time back home so you know exactly when to take it upon arrival—it can get confusing with time zone changes and long-ass flights. Taking the pill can be a pain when you’re on the road, so consider switching to another form of birth control such as the NuvaRing, Depo Provera, or the patch*. Traveler’s antibiotics (like the anti-malarial Doxycycline) can make the pill less effective so bring rubber backup.
OTP Tip: If your doc is hesitant to write a prescription for more than a year’s supply, you can get up to 18 months by telling them you’re “extended cycling.”
Posted by: abbey*christine
Unless you’re on Depo or some other miracle birth control, there’s no escaping your pesky Aunt Flo. Like condoms, you can either lug supplies around with you or plan on buying them abroad. In ultra-conservative parts of the world, tampons are either ridiculously pricey or downright illegal (because of their ability to pop your cherry). If you don’t have room in either your pack or your budget for a year’s supply of tampons, consider a menstrual cup or washable pads. These tricks aren’t for the squeamish, but they’re super compact, have a one-time price tag AND they’re environmentally friendly.
Posted By: Paul McRae (Delta Niner)
Shit happens. Oral contraceptives can fail and condoms can slip or break, turning a sloppy one-night stand in Barcelona into a Knocked Up-style fiasco. Luckily, the morning-after pill (Emergency Contraception) is now available in over 140 countries. Check out what EC is available by country before you go, including what’s sold over the counter. Remember that EC is only effective for 120 hours (five days) after an accident, and the longer you wait the less powerful it is. If you’re too late for the morning-after pill and can’t handle a kid yet, look up the nearest family planning clinic and see what your options are for an abortion. Since abortion is illegal in many places, you may have to travel to another country or return home early.
As a backpacker, you’re going to spend lots of time in grimy train stations and dingy hostels. Don’t let all the dirt and germs build up in your pants or no one’s going to get near your wiener schnitzel or tuna taco. Keep your parts healthy with proper maintenance and frequent test drives.
*None of us are doctors. But we all definitely have genitalia.
A sassy, spunky, and spontaneous globetrottress taking the world, one passport stamp at a time.
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HA! Love the title. It’s really an appropriate subject to shed some light upon though. Having been abroad for 6 years myself I’ve witnessed others experience unwanted pregnancies & STDs. It’s well worth using a bit of common sense & discretion to keep the good times rolling
Ha, I doubt any backpacker in history has used a dental dam -That said, every traveler should read this before they shag and flag around the world…:)
Good advice. There’s no bigger turn-off then stinky junk!