FOOD gives many of us the same amount of pleasure as sex – so there's no surprise that it's often brought into foreplay as randy Brits combine the two.
And while melted chocolate is a popular choice for couples looking to spice up the bedroom, one doctor has warned women against putting it inside their intimate areas.
As kinky couples look for new ways to excite their partner during foreplay, consultant gynaecologist Dr Shree Datta from MyHealthcare Clinic has warned against ladies taking a liking for chocolate.
While the expert notes it's safe to use bars of the stuff externally, even melted down, there are some dangers to look out for when delving a little deeper.
Most notably, if the chocolate is too hot – it could cause painful burns to intimate areas.
And if that isn't bad enough, the sweet treat could cause nasty reactions if it's left on your genitals for too long.
Dr Shree told the Daily Star: "Chocolate is not dangerous if used in intimate areas externally and not too hot, but it is important to wash it off fully to minimise the risk of irritation."
While putting chocolate inside your sexual orifices may seem like fun to some, the gynaecologist warns that it could lead to an infection.
"I would not recommend inserting foods into the vagina due to the risks," she explained, as the chocolate left behind could act as a feeding ground for harmful bacteria.
It's not the first time that women have been warned against inserting edible foreign objects into themselves for sexual pleasure.
How to prevent yeast infections
If you do think that you have a yeast infection, the best thing to do is go to your pharmacist or a GUM clinic.
They can help work out if you really do have something like thrush and which medications might work most effectively.
You'll often need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush.
This can be a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina or a cream to relieve the irritation.
It should clear up within a week or after you've finished your course of meds.
It's harder to get rid of an infection once you have it but there are various things you can do to prevent one in the first place:
- Only have sex when you're aroused. Having intercourse when your vagina is dry can cause irritation and in turn, trigger an infection
- Never douche or use "feminine hygiene" products – your vagina cleans itself
- Avoid strong soaps and body washes
- Avoid tight and synthetic underwear
- Try sleeping in the buff to give your vagina a little breathing space
Just weeks ago during Britain's summer heatwave, doctors warned women not to put ice lollies into their vaginas in order to cool down – as the sugar and additives are breeding grounds for infection.
GP and clinical director Dr Sarah Jarvis explained that the ice could also 'damage the lining of the vagina'.
She said: "The lining of your vagina is more delicate still, and ice or ice lollies can definitely damage the lining, leading to pain and even tearing of the lining."
Similarly, earlier this year, it was revealed that women were sticking garlic cloves up there in order to treat thrush.
It all came about thanks to an old wives' tale which detailed putting a clover in your vagina for three days can clear up even the most stubborn infection.
But in reality, it prompted gynaecologist Dr Jennifer Gunter to warn that the vagina is the "perfect" environment for botulism bacteria to grow – which can lead to paralysis and even death.
"My advice?" concluded Dr Shree. "It would be to avoid any foreign bodies in the vagina for risk of infection."
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