During female peri care, which sequence is used when washing around the urinary meatus?

• A. Separate the labia and wash around the urinary meatus first, wiping downward, front to back, inside to outside.
• B. Wash the rest of the perineal area first, then around the urinary meatus.
• C. Wash around the anus first.
• D. Wash the labia last.

Answer: (A)

Cleaning around the urinary meatus first is the key idea here. For female peri-care, you start by separating the labia to expose the urethral opening, then wash around the meatus before touching other areas. Do this in a front-to-back and inside-to-outside direction, moving from the cleanest area (the urethral opening) toward the outer labia. This clean-to-dirty, front-to-back sequence helps prevent pushing bacteria from the genital or anal areas toward the urethra, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. After the area around the meatus is cleaned, continue with the rest of the perineal area using the same order. Washing other areas first or starting near the anus increases infection risk, which is why those approaches aren’t appropriate.