So Which Direction Do You Wipe?? (Really TMI)

[Duckster]

Dr. Curtis Asbury, (Dr. Curtis Asbury, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine) says that the method of wiping your buttocks depends heavily on what companion equipment you have in the area. If you’re a guy, “do whatever feels right. It makes no difference. Heck, you can go side to side if you like!” But on the other hand, the conventional wisdom among women (which apparently isn’t so conventional for some) says that front-to-back is the way to go to avoid urinary tract infections.

How to Correctly Wipe Your Butt

The rest of the article offers detailed views from various doctors and the proper approach to wipe your nether region, be you male or female. Definitely TMI and possibly NSFW.

Private poll following.

[elfkin477]

I’ll confess: I’ve never actually understood what people mean when they say “front to back.” Does this mean wipe your vagina before your anus, or are they trying to talk about wiping in a specific direction? If it’s the later, where the hell is the “front”? From top to bottom or bottom to top (or simply wipe upward or downward) would make more sense.

[chacoguy]

Wiping from your belly button towards your spine moves feces away from your genitals.

Next Question?

[Yorikke]

I picked the wrong one, because I’m an idiot. For those who were worried, I’m really “male, front to back.”

Joe

[Nava]

Female: front goes to the front, back to the back, evidently. For those who need it spelled out, that means pee and menses get wiped to the front, anus to the back.

[NinetyWt]

I was taught that females should always wipe towards the back, in order to keep germs out of the genital area.

[Ferret_Herder]

@elfkin477

I’ll confess: I’ve never actually understood what people mean when they say “front to back.” Does this mean wipe your vagina before your anus, or are they trying to talk about wiping in a specific direction? If it’s the later, where the hell is the “front”? From top to bottom or bottom to top (or simply wipe upward or downward) would make more sense.

In women, the urethra is forward (towards your own front) of the vagina. The anatomy down there is arranged more horizontally rather than vertically, though there’s something of a diagonal slope when sitting. So start at the forward end of the inner labia and wipe going back. If preferred, do one wipe for the labial region and one for the anal region; this can be a good idea when you’re menstruating and don’t want to spread that around more or it’s too messy to deal with in one go.

[BigT]

I was expecting a new study on the best way for men, not being told that the specific way for women was wrong (yet to do it anyways, just in case.)

[silenus]

Male, and I go both ways.

Wait.

Down, then up.

[Little_Bird]

For urine I don’t wipe, I pat, otherwise things get irritated. Then, if I’ve one a twosie, I use that same TP to wipe the back end front to back–the extra moisture helps. If additional measures are necessary I’ll use dry TP to do a front to back on the back end, usually ending in TP dampened from the sink which I will use every which way upon the back end for a final clean.

So yeah, that’s pretty TMI.

[OpalCat]

I use a bidet and then blot dry, so no wiping for me.

[VunderBob]

Away from the wedding tackle.