A cautionary medical case shared by urologist Dr Varinder Virdi highlights a hidden danger many women are unaware of. A 40-year-old corporate professional, with no history of diabetes or kidney stones, suffered from repeated urinary tract infections for six months. Her disciplined and health-conscious lifestyle made the situation even more puzzling, until a simple habit, adopted for better hygiene, nearly cost her life.
From Routine Discomfort to Medical Emergency
For half a year, the woman battled the familiar symptoms of UTIs: burning sensation, urgency, and discomfort. Each episode was temporarily eased by antibiotics, but the infection kept returning. Attributing it to long office hours and stress, and believing UTIs were a normal part of being a woman, she persisted through the pain. There was no single dramatic event, just a gradual, quiet worsening that seemed easy to ignore.
The situation turned critical one night when she developed a high fever, severe chills, vomiting, and profound weakness. Rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered the infection had ascended from her bladder to her kidneys and entered her bloodstream. She was diagnosed with urosepsis, a life-threatening condition that can lead to organ failure and requires urgent ICU care. Her timely arrival at the hospital was what ultimately saved her.
The Shocking Culprit: A Well-Intentioned Hygiene Routine
Dr Virdi and his team were initially confounded. The patient was a non-smoker, did not consume alcohol heavily, and had no obvious major risk factors. The breakthrough came when they meticulously reviewed her daily habits. The trigger was not her job, diet, or poor hygiene. It was a routine she had adopted six months prior on a friend's advice: using an intimate wash every three to four days.
She believed this was a modern, hygienic step to stay fresh and odour-free. She was unaware that over-cleaning the intimate area can strip away the body's natural protective barrier. The vagina and surrounding skin maintain a delicate ecosystem of friendly bacteria and a slightly acidic pH, acting as a built-in defence system. Harsh cleansers and frequent washing disrupt this balance, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive and increasing the risk of both vaginal infections and UTIs.
Rethinking 'Clean': Healthy Intimate Hygiene Practices
This case underscores a critical message: more cleaning is not always better. Many women feel a silent guilt when they get a UTI, assuming they weren't clean enough. Ironically, the problem can sometimes be the opposite. Scented washes, harsh soaps, and frequent use of intimate cleansers can dry the skin, destroy protective bacteria, and make it easier for pathogens to travel up the urinary tract.
Healthy intimate hygiene is simple and gentle. Specialists generally recommend:
- Washing the external genital area with lukewarm water.
- Using a mild, unscented soap on the outside only if necessary.
- Wearing breathable cotton underwear.
- Changing out of damp clothes, like workout wear or swimsuits, promptly.
Internal douching and routine use of perfumed products are not recommended as they offer no health benefit and can subtly increase infection risk. Clean should feel comfortable, not stripped, dry, or irritated.
Dr Varinder Virdi shared this story to clarify that clean does not always mean safe, and UTIs are not solely caused by dirt. Sometimes, they stem from well-intentioned habits influenced more by marketing or peer advice than medical guidance. This woman was responsible and trying to care for herself, yet she almost landed in the ICU because no one warned her that "extra clean" could be harmful.
If your body sends repeated signals like burning during urination, a frequent urge to pee, pelvic discomfort, or cloudy, foul-smelling urine, do not dismiss them as normal. Recurrent UTIs warrant a proper medical evaluation from a urologist or gynaecologist. A consultation can help identify personal triggers, review hygiene habits, and establish a safe, simple routine that respects the body's own natural defences.
