Table of contents:
- 1. Wash the vagina properly
- 2. Wear condoms
- 3. Wearing cotton underwear
- 4. See a gynecologist for preventive care
- 5. Lubricate the vagina
- 6. Be careful when cycling
- 7. Maintain good vaginal hygiene
Caring for reproductive organs is a must for every woman. A healthy vagina is naturally acidic and contains many beneficial bacteria to fend off infection and maintain a normal pH (acidity) level. A healthy vagina will also secrete a certain amount of fluid to keep it clean, much like saliva is produced to help clean your mouth. Any disturbance in the normal V area can cause irritation and infection of the vagina. Therefore, here are ways to keep your vagina healthy.
1. Wash the vagina properly
Avoid using scented soaps, gels, and antiseptics as this can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and the pH level in the vagina which will cause irritation.
Use a plain, unscented soap to gently wash the V area every day. The vagina will clean itself using natural vaginal fluids.
According to Dr. Suzy Elneil, a consultant urogynecologist at University College Hospital London, when you are menstruating, cleaning the vagina more than once a day can help you to treat the V area.
Professor Ronnie Lamont, a spokesman for Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, saying that every woman is different. Some may have no problem washing the vagina with scented soaps. However, if a woman has vulvar irritation or symptoms, one of the first things you can do is use a non-allergic soap or plain soap to see if it helps.
2. Wear condoms
You must be familiar with contraceptives that act as protection against STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and pregnancy. But it turns out that apart from that, condoms also function as a guard against the pH level of the vagina, which means that good bacteria like lactobacilli can survive there. These bacteria are very important because they are bacteria that can help prevent yeast infections, UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), and bacterial vaginosis.
3. Wearing cotton underwear
Choose underwear with cotton fabric to protect the V area. You may notice that most underwear comes with a thin strip of cotton fabric at the crotch. According to Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale University, cotton is an ideal material for women's underwear, because it absorbs moisture and allows the skin to breathe.
4. See a gynecologist for preventive care
Checking yourself regularly every year is very important to maintain the health of your vagina. Every woman should have her first gynecological test at the age of 21 or within three years of being sexually active. Gynecologists and many family doctors are trained to diagnose diseases and disorders that can harm your vagina or reproductive system as a whole. The gynecologist also performs a Pap smear (examination of the cervix) which can detect cervical cancer.
5. Lubricate the vagina
Dry vaginal discharge is sometimes caused by taking certain medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or birth control pills. It can also appear after pregnancy or just before menopause. When this happens, communicate with your partner so he or she doesn't move forward until you get completely lubricated, because if it's not lubricated, it can be painful and can cause blisters, according to Minkin.
Avoid petroleum jelly and other oil-based products, as they can break the latex of the condom and can also lead to infection.
6. Be careful when cycling
The unexpected thing that can interfere with the health of your vagina is cycling. If you ride a bicycle a lot, you could be at risk of genital numbness, pain, and tingling while cycling.
Even a study of female cyclists in Journal of Sexual Medicine found that the majority of cyclists experienced this. If you like cycling, especially in the studio, try wearing fluffy shorts to keep your vagina pain-free during exercise.
7. Maintain good vaginal hygiene
After a bowel movement, clean the area from front to back, not back to front, to avoid contaminating vaginal bacteria and lowering the risk of bladder infections. Change pads or tampons regularly during menstruation. If you are not menstruating, do not use pads or panty liner to absorb normal vaginal discharge, as this will actually make the vagina moist and facilitate yeast infection.
