DOH to women amid ‘tag-init’: Can’t go commando? Wear cotton panties
MANILA, Philippines — Women who are not comfortable going commando amid extremely hot weather may use cotton panties instead, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Senate panel on health’s hearing, Herbosa said Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin’s recent recommendation for women to “not wear underwear at home” has a basis.
Garin, a former health chief, earlier explained that her recommendation prevents women from experiencing itchiness in the areas around their genitals amid extreme heat.
Herbosa, however, has another recommendation for those who are uncomfortable with not wearing underwear even at home.
“Ang usual advice for women suffering from candidiasis is really to wear cotton underwear. It’s an option kung ayaw niyong mag-commando, mag-cotton underwear because it also does not trap moisture. Siguro ‘yung pawis — moisture kasi allows for fungal infection to proliferate. May basis ‘yun,” he explained.
(The usual advice for women suffering from candidiasis is really to wear cotton underwear. It’s an option if you don’t want to go commando; wear cotton underwear because it also doesn’t trap moisture. Maybe the sweat — because moisture allows for fungal infection to proliferate. There is a basis for that.)
Herbosa said itchiness in the areas around the genitals is usually “related to fungal infection and the heat.”
“’Di ba kapag mainit pinagpapawisan, may moisture sa private area of women. It can lead to candidiasis or itchiness sa kanilang genitalia. May basis naman ang hindi pagsuot [ng underwear],” he added.
(When it’s hot and sweaty, there is moisture in the private area of women. It can lead to candidiasis or itchiness in their genitalia. There is a basis for not wearing underwear.)
Is it also applicable to men?
Senator Bong Go, who was presiding over the hearing as committee chair, asked Herbosa if the same could be applied to men.
But Herbosa said cases such as this are mostly experienced by women.
“More sa women kasi yung PH [level] ng female genital iba sa male. Sa men hindi masyadong problema,” Herbosa explained.
(It’s more for women because the PH level of the female genitalia is different from the male. For men, it’s not too much of a problem.)
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on March 22 announced the onset of the hot and dry season in the country.
The state weather bureau likewise warned that this could be “one of the warmest” dry seasons ever recorded in the Philippines due to the ongoing effects of El Niño.
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