Understand how to care for the right vagina at every age level

Just as skin and hair change with age, so are the female sex organs. Gradually, you may notice that the vagina is not the same shape as it was a few years earlier. So, for how to care for the vagina itself, are there any differences that must be considered?

How to care for the vagina according to age level?

Vaginal changes usually begin when a woman has entered her puberty period. Stepping on this time, you are advised to be more careful in maintaining the health of the vagina as a whole. Come on, find out about how to care for your personal organs!

How to care for your vagina in your 20s

The peak of female sex hormones - such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone - is on the rise at this age. Especially for those of you who are married and sexually active, the vagina is at risk of being attacked by various disease-causing microbes.

In order to keep the vagina healthy, it is recommended that you urinate regularly after having sex. The goal is to prevent bacteria, which can come and stick anywhere, such as hands, condoms, or the penis. So, any bacteria that may stick to it will be excreted through the urinary tract. Moreover, the location of the vagina is close to the urethra, making it easier for bacteria to spread to other parts of the body.

In addition, as much as possible avoid vaginal douches and clean the vagina using betel leaf soap.

Instead, just wash it with water. Even though it can be refreshing, there is still a risk of harm that follows afterwards. Because it will make the vaginal pH unbalanced, which later increases your risk of getting an infection.

There is no need to worry because the vagina actually has the natural ability to clean itself. This process involves vaginal discharge which is responsible for cleaning and protecting the vagina from irritation.

How to care for the vagina in the 30s

Entering this age, it is prone to hormonal changes that will cause the area of the labia minora to darken. The factor of having given birth also makes the vagina more stretched and loses some of its elasticity. In fact, not infrequently, the vagina sometimes feels dry as a sign of physical symptoms because the body begins to enter menopause temporarily.

Now, to work around this, try starting to apply a balanced diet to maintain the health of your vagina. A director of treatment for female sexual dysfunction at Stanford University Medical Center California, Leah Millheiser, MD, said that probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt can help prevent infections and other problems that can be experienced by the vagina.

On the other hand, Kegel exercises are believed to help tighten the vagina after giving birth. Exercise, which has a myriad of positive benefits, plays a role in strengthening your pelvic floor which can reduce problems in the intestines and bladder, to make sex sessions more enjoyable.

How to care for the vagina in the 40s

Menopause in women usually occurs in the age range 45-55 years. Before entering the real menopause, women will experience pre-menopause first.

This condition is characterized by decreased levels of estrogen in the body, making the vaginal walls drier than usual. The labia in the vagina also appear looser due to reduced fat formation.

If this happens, you can talk to your doctor about using safe vaginal lubricants to treat dryness. In addition, try to put in more time for a warm-up session before having sex. You can also try new positions during sex that make movement easier for the joints and muscles of the body.

But don't forget to keep doing Kegel exercises in your 40s. Health experts also recommend that you have regular pap smears every three years. With the aim to detect if there is the development of cancer cells in the cervix so that prevention can be done immediately.

How to care for the vagina at the age of 50 years and over

After going through the transition period before menopause, now at the age of 50 years and over you may have really experienced menopause. This condition will affect the amount of estrogen in the body resulting in the size of the vulva, vagina, and cervix to become smaller and appear pale.

The production of vaginal fluid will also decrease as the level of estrogen decreases, making you less comfortable during sex. Vaginal care at this age is actually not much different from before, make sure you regularly do a balanced diet, exercise, check your health, especially those related to intimate organs, urinate after sex, and so on.

You can also add several types of foods that can help treat vaginal dryness, for example soybeans, edamame, tofu, and tempeh. Margaret Nachtigall, MD, as a gynecology lecturer at New York University, explains that these food sources contain isoflavones, which are compounds that resemble the hormone estrogen.

Regardless of changes in age level, you should further consult with your doctor regarding how to treat the right vagina if you experience complaints that are considered unusual in these genital organs.