Hymenoplasty
Day 5 after hymenoplasty: pressurized water in the shower and when cleaning
Day 5 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
For the first 10 days, no pressurized water is directed at the area. You are on the fifth day, which means you are in the middle of this period, and the rule still applies today. That is why how you use water in the bathroom and at the toilet matters.
The rule does not ban showering; it is about how the water reaches the area. On this page we explain how to use the shower head and the bidet sprayer, how it is appropriate for water to reach the area, and the details you should ask your doctor about.
What does pressurized water mean?
Pressurized water is water that hits one spot strongly and directly. At home it has two sources: a shower head held close up and the bidet sprayer at the toilet. When either is pointed at the area, it sends water onto the healing tissue under pressure.
The rule targets the pressure, not the water itself. So it is enough to keep the source of the water away from the area: the water reaches the area by flowing down from above, under its own weight.
In the shower
- Leave the shower head in its holder, up high.
- Let the water run down over your shoulders and abdomen.
- Do not take the shower head in your hand and bring it close to between your legs.
- If the shower head has a strong-flow setting, do not choose it.
At the toilet
A bidet sprayer sends water directly at the area; that is why, for the first 10 days, do not turn it on aimed at the area. Your doctor will describe how to clean yourself after using the toilet; if you were given a solution, use it as instructed.
With a sprayer whose setting you do not know, for example at work or in a public toilet, it is better not to turn it on at all; some sprayers deliver a strong jet the moment they are opened.
Soap, drying and the bathtub
Whether to use soap or shower gel on the area, how to dry yourself after showering and whether sitting in a bathtub is suitable are not among the information the doctor provided. Your doctor will tell you about these three topics specifically.
The pool and the sea are subject to separate rules: the pool is not recommended until the follow-up examination, and the sea is not entered before day 20.
Do today
- Keep the shower head fixed up high.
- Let the water run down your body.
- If given, apply the solution as described.
Avoid today
- Do not turn the bidet sprayer towards the area.
- Do not hold the shower head in your hand close to the area.
- Do not increase the water pressure to get cleaner.
Call us if
- If in the shower or at the toilet you notice a recurring discharge that is yellowish, smells different or that you cannot make sense of, call for an examination.
- If you accidentally directed pressurized water at the area and you are not at ease, ask the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shower after hymenoplasty?
The rule is that no pressurized water is directed at the area for the first 10 days. If, when showering, you do not point the shower head at the area and let the water flow down from above, you are following this rule. Your doctor will tell you separately on which day you can take your first shower and whether to use soap on the area.
Can I use the bidet sprayer?
For the first 10 days, the water from the bidet sprayer must not come directly at the area, because this sprayer sends water under pressure to a single point. Your doctor will describe how to clean yourself after the toilet during this period. If you were given a solution, you also need to use it as instructed.
When does the pressurized water rule end?
The rule covers the first 10 days. Since today is the fifth day, you have five more days ahead of you. If your doctor gave you a longer period, what they said applies. The end of this period does not change anything for the pool and the sea; they have their own rules.
This page is for general information only; it does not replace an examination or your doctor's advice. Some patients may need additional restrictions. The durations and rules your doctor gives you always take priority over those on this page.
References
- A new surgical technique of hymenoplasty. Wei SY, et al. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2015.
- Hymenoplasty and Muslim Patients: Islamic Ethico-Legal Perspectives. Bawany MH, et al. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2017.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus, Obstetrician & Gynecologist · Last medical review: