Accra, Aug 6, GNA - Women must not use soap, detergents and herbal douching as a means of cleaning the vagina since the organ has a "self cleansing" mechanism, a pharmacist on Wednesday told a ladies association in Accra.

Speaking at a health lecture organized by the Ghana News Agency Ladies Association in Accra, Mr. Divine Akaba, a Pharmacist advised women to rather report any change or transformation to qualified health officials when they detect symptoms of vaginal infections. He said, "applying concoctions and other forms of cleansing agents in the vaginal area would only predispose women to vaginal infections and these and other forms of Sexually Transmitted Infections, especially due to chlamydia, are responsible for more than 30 percent of infertility in women.

"Every woman has a normal discharge which is not excessive, offensive, irritating or itchy. Anything otherwise must be reported for the correct medication", Mr Akaba said.

The lecture was the second in a series of health programmes embarked on by the GNA Ladies Association at educating women.

Mr Akaba advised women to wear loose cotton panties, and dry their underwear in the sun in a bid to repel any bacteria or fungi. Mr. Akaba urged women to avoid vaginal infections since it was the cause of numerous marital discords, stress and sexual dysfunction.