A report by Swachh Bharat Mission says that 74.5 per cent of public places are equipped with toilets. Another report by the Ministry of Jal Shakti states that there are 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes built across all States and UTs under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) since October 2014. Over 92 lakh toilets have been constructed since the launch of SBM Gramin (SBM (G)) in April 2020.

While toilets are there, are they accessible? This is the question one should ask. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) focuses on 131 health indicators, but not until the NFHS 5 survey did they include the question of accessibility of toilets in the survey. This happened after the inputs from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare questioned the accessibility.

One might ask, why is the question of accessibility so important? The answer is quite simple. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need and is also included under the Sustainable Development Goals by the UN.

Are These Numbers Real?

This thought crossed my mind because back in 2021, I went on a solo trip, on a bus to Udaipur from Delhi. There, the bus made two stoppages. This was done so people could get a quick dinner and freshen up, relieve themselves and be prepared for the rest of the journey. This was a nightmare. The bus only stopped for 10 minutes. While some men used the washroom, others went to the bushes.

For the women, there were three cubicles. One of them was broken, and the other one did not have a light bulb, which meant only one was usable. There was a long queue for that cubicle, and time was short. There was no point in trying to find an isolated corner, because it was past midnight, in an unknown area.

I waited anxiously. When finally, my turn came, I saw an overused, dirty washroom. The toilet seat is in a horrible condition. I wanted to touch nothing there. But I had to pee. So, I used my mask to cover my nose from the odour, folded my pants so they did not touch the floor and squatted. It was quite a task to balance.

On my way back to Delhi, I made sure to not drink any water for over a 13-hour bus journey. I dehydrated myself so I did not have to use the washroom. When I did reach, I was severely dehydrated and was sick for three days.

I shared my experience with my friends only to realise that many women have faced the same. There are no washrooms for women.

A friend of mine told me that it is because these roads and dhabas are mainly designed to serve men. They are the ones who travel at night or are on the roads most of the time. As a result, the few women who do travel or are on the road suffer.

Health Risks Women Are Prone To

Well, it is true, but partially. While holding your pee for too long can lead to health risks, peeing on a dirty toilet seat cannot lead to infections unless your urethra is in contact with the bacteria present on that toilet seat. However, nobody wants to sit on a dirty toilet seat, even if you do not get an infection. A safe and hygienic toilet is a basic need.

One of the regular saleswomen, Usha, who visits my house shared her experience with me. “Being on the road constantly means I must use the dirty public washrooms. But I do not want to use them. So, sometimes I ask my regular customers to let me use their washrooms. Some say yes, and some say no. I understand they are also concerned about their safety and privacy,” she says. As a result, Usha spends most of her day not drinking enough water and holding her pee when she is at work. Due to this, she also suffered from a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

Her friend, Halima too faced similar problems and due to increased levels of uric acid in her body, she suffered from Hyperuricemia.

Other health risks are kidney stones and other kidney problems, headaches, dull skin, xerostomia or dry mouth, fatigue, and urinary incontinence, which means losing control over your pelvic floor muscles leading to uncontrolled leakage of urine, seizures and weakness.

What Can You Do?

Wear comfortable clothes and capris. Capri pants are comfortable and are short in length, which means this won’t touch the toilet floor when you squat or sit.

Carry Essentials

Even though you cannot get a UTI alone from sitting on a toilet seat, it is always safe to carry a toilet seat sanitiser. If nothing, it can help you get rid of the bad odour so you can use your stand and pee device inside the toilet. You can also use disposable toilet seat covers if your knees are weak, and you cannot squat. Always flush with your seat down.

Always keep disposable gloves, a portable bidet (fill it with water before use), a pocket liquid handwash, wet wipes, tissues and sanitiser handy. Do not forget to keep extra sanitary pads. It might sound a lot, but I promise that it all fits in one pouch. Use this travel-friendly pouch every time you are on the road, or using a public washroom.

What Can We Learn From Others?

However, in case we do not get these technologically advanced toilets here, you can always pack a travel-friendly toilet kit!

For many men trying to conceive, testosterone sounds like an obvious answer. It is often linked with strength, vitality, and male health, so the assumption is that higher levels must also support fertility. In reality, the opposite is often true. Medical experts caution that using testosterone, especially without supervision, can interfere with sperm production and quietly lower the chances of becoming a father.

To know more about the same, we got in touch with Dr. Ambavarapu Divya Reddy, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, LB Nagar, Hyderabad.

Can Increasing Testosterone Help You Conceive?

Dr. Ambavarapu Divya Reddy said, the short answer is no. Testosterone is a male sex hormone, but it does not support fertility in the way many people assume. In fact, taking testosterone can work directly against sperm production. For men who want children, using testosterone without expert guidance can quietly reduce fertility rather than improve it. Here is what doctors want patients to understand.

Why Testosterone Does Not Boost Fertility?

Testosterone is fundamentally opposed to male fertility when taken from outside the body. Using testosterone injections, gels, patches, or pellets suppresses the natural communication between the brain and the testicles that keeps sperm production going. Dr Reddy said, “When this system is switched off, sperm counts fall and in some cases drop to zero. Fertility declines instead of improving.”

This is why men who plan to have children should never begin testosterone therapy without speaking to a specialist.

How Does Sperm Production Work?

Sperm are produced in the testicles with the help of testosterone that is made inside the testicles themselves. This internal testosterone is tightly controlled by the brain through a hormone called luteinizing hormone, or LH.

Dr Reddy told us, when external testosterone is introduced into the body, the brain senses enough hormone is present and stops releasing LH. As a result, the testicles reduce their own testosterone production and sperm production slows or stops altogether.

In real-world practice, many men on testosterone therapy develop extremely low sperm counts or complete absence of sperm, known as azoospermia, often without any obvious symptoms. This is a well-recognised cause of male infertility and one that is largely preventable.

Low Testosterone And Fertility: What Doctors Do Instead

If a man truly has hypogonadism, meaning he has symptoms along with low testosterone levels on blood tests, treatment is still possible but must be handled carefully. Current guidelines from the AUA, ASRM, and endocrine societies strongly advise against starting standard testosterone replacement in men who want children in the near future.

Instead, specialists use treatments that can raise testosterone levels while allowing sperm production to continue. These include clomiphene, human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG, and other targeted therapies that stimulate the testicles rather than shutting them down. Updated guidance for 2024 and 2025 stresses identifying the cause of low testosterone and choosing options that protect fertility.

If you think you have low testosterone but want children

a) Do not self-prescribe testosterone.

b) Consult a reproductive urologist or endocrinologist.

c) Ask about fertility-preserving treatments such as clomiphene or hCG and consider sperm banking if timing matters.

d) If you have already used testosterone, request a semen analysis and hormone tests. Acting early can help guide recovery or fertility treatment.

Testosterone may seem like an easy solution, but external testosterone is a common and avoidable cause of male infertility. If having children is important to you, proper testing and specialist care matter. The treatment that relieves symptoms is not always the one that protects your ability to become a father.

A little-known virus is spreading steadily across different parts of the world, prompting growing concern among health experts. Often described as “untreatable” because there is no targeted antiviral medicine available, adenovirus is drawing attention due to how tough it is and how quickly it can pass from person to person.

Eric Sachinwalla, medical director of infection prevention and control at Jefferson Health, has cautioned that while most healthy individuals develop only mild illness, people in high-risk groups may face more serious health problems. This raises an important question: just how contagious is this mystery illness that is spreading?

Adenovirus: How Contagious Is It?

Yes, adenovirus is highly contagious and spreads with ease in several ways. It can pass through respiratory droplets released during coughing or sneezing, close physical contact such as hugging or shaking hands, and contact with contaminated surfaces like toys and towels.

It can also spread through fecal matter, particularly during diaper changes, and in some cases through water. According to the CDC, the virus spreads quickly in crowded settings such as schools and daycare centres and can survive for long periods on surfaces, making good hygiene especially important for young children and people with weakened immune systems.

Who Do Adenoviruses Affect Most?

Adenoviruses can infect people of all age groups, but they are most commonly seen in children under the age of five. In babies and young children, the virus often spreads in daycare environments where close contact is common. Children are also more likely to put shared objects in their mouths and may not wash their hands as regularly.

Among adults, adenoviruses tend to spread in crowded living conditions. People staying in dormitories or military housing may have a higher risk of infection. The virus is also known to circulate in hospitals and nursing homes, as per CDC.

Those with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill from an adenovirus infection. This includes people who have undergone organ or stem cell transplants, as well as those living with cancer or HIV/AIDS. Individuals with existing heart or lung conditions may also face a higher risk of severe illness.

Adenovirus: What Are The Symptoms Of An Adenovirus Infection?

The symptoms of an adenovirus infection depend on the part of the body affected. Most commonly, the virus targets the respiratory system. When it infects the airways, it can cause symptoms similar to a cold or the flu. These may include:

• Cough.
• Fever.
• Runny nose.
• Sore throat (pharyngitis).
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis).
• Ear infection (otitis media).
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Chest cold (bronchitis).
• Pneumonia.

Adenoviruses can also infect the digestive system. When this happens, diarrhea may occur, along with gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach or intestines and can lead to stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

In rarer cases, adenoviruses can affect the bladder or the nervous system. Infection of the bladder may result in urinary tract infections. When the nervous system is involved, it can lead to serious conditions affecting the brain, including encephalitis and meningitis.

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. It is contagious, which means it passes easily from one person to another. Although influenza viruses can circulate throughout the year, infections are seen more often during the fall and winter months. This time is known as the flu season. As flu cases are rising across many parts of the US and UK, here are a few key points to understand, from the incubation period to how easily the virus spreads.

What Is The Flu (influenza)?

The flu is an infection caused by the influenza virus. It usually leads to symptoms such as body and head aches, sore throat, fever, and breathing-related discomfort, which can sometimes become serious. Flu cases tend to peak during the winter months, when large numbers of people may fall ill at the same time, a situation described as an epidemic, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Flu: What Is The Incubation Period Of The Flu?

The average incubation period of the flu is around 2 days, though it can vary from 1 to 4 days. In simple terms, this means most people begin to notice flu symptoms a few days after the virus enters the body.

When Does The Flu Become Contagious?

After catching the flu virus, a person can start passing it on to others about 1 dayTrusted Source before symptoms appear. Keep in mind that the usual incubation period is about 2 days. So, if someone is exposed to the virus on a Saturday morning, they may already be able to spread it by Sunday evening. By Monday afternoon, flu symptoms are likely to show up. These symptoms can be mild or severe.

Some people may not develop symptoms at all, but they can still spread the virus. The flu is usually most contagious during the first 3 days of illness. After symptoms begin, a person may continue to infect others for another 5 to 7 days. Children, older adults, and people with weaker immune systems may remain contagious for a longer time.

Flu Symptoms 2025: Early Symptoms You Need To Take Care Of

Unlike the common cold, which tends to develop slowly, flu symptoms often appear suddenly.

Common symptoms include:

• feeling extremely tired, exhausted, or weak
• headache
• blocked or runny nose
• sore throat
• dry cough
• muscle and body aches
• fever or chills, although not everyone gets these
• vomiting or diarrhoea, which is seen more often in children

Most people start to feel better within a few days to two weeks. However, some individuals may need antiviral medication, particularly those at higher risk of serious complications.

How Does The Flu Spread?

The flu mainly spreads through tiny respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In crowded places, these particles can be inhaled by others, leading to infection. The virus can also spread by touching objects or surfaces that carry the virus, such as door handles or shared personal items. Outside the body, the virus can survive on surfaces for up to one day.

If someone touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, the flu virus can enter the body and cause infection.