As a woman, the line between reliable and unreliable information regarding the health of your vagina is quickly fading out. Too much information available but most of it is misleading. When it comes to the health of your lady bits, getting the correct information is vital. It’s what makes the difference between a healthy and unhealthy vagina.
Proper vaginal hygiene will make a world of difference to female reproductive health. This article breaks down a few ways which can help keep your lady bits healthy.
- Avoid Douching
There are many products in the market that promise to make you squeaky clean down there. Avoid them completely. “Your vagina cleans itself,” Dena Harris, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University, says.
Naturally, the vagina secretes a healthy amount of discharge that serves as ‘housekeeping.’ This is an essential function of the female reproductive system. It keeps the vagina clean and prevents infections. Your vagina has a natural PH of between 3.8 to 4.5, which is the healthy acidity that sustains your vaginal biome.
Douching disrupts the balance between the good and the harmful bacteria. Studies show that using intra-vaginal hygiene products can put you at an increased risk of infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and STDs.
Douching might be trendy now, but it is not worth your reproductive health. Do not douche. If your vagina has an unpleasant odor instead of douching, see a doctor immediately.
2. Maintain Good Hygiene During Your Monthly Period
Most women experience an increased rate of vaginal infections after menstruation. If left in the vagina for a long time, blood changes its pH and eventually throws things out of balance, which causes infections. It is essential to practice the following habits during your periods to stay healthy:
- Change your tampon every four hours. Tampons absorb blood, and if not changed frequently, the blood on the tampon can change the pH of your vagina. Ensure to change your tampon every four hours to prevent this from happening.
- Don’t use pads or panty liners for an extended period. Vaginal discharge can make you feel damp and uncomfortable, and it is advisable to use a panty liner to keep you fresh and clean. But wearing them for a long time can cause a lot of damage. Make sure to change your panty liner every 3 to 4 hours.
- Use a menstrual cup instead. A menstrual cup is a rubber cup inserted into the vagina to collect blood during your period. It is a small bell-shaped cup made of medical-grade silicone, plastic, and rubber. They are a chemical-free choice for handling your period, and they can be beneficial if you tend to get irritated by tampons and pads.
3. Wear cotton underwear
Cotton underwear allows air to flow freely through the material. This prevents yeast and unhealthy bacteria’s growth by the wetness of other synthetic fabrics like silk, lace, etc. Breathable underwear makes happy vaginas.
Therefore, if you do not like wearing underwear made from cotton, at least ensure that the underwear section that touches your vagina has a cotton liner; try picking underwear made of organic, undyed cotton that hasn’t been treated with any chemicals if you are someone who tends to get a lot of vaginal infections.
4. Proper Diet
Some foods keep your lady bits in top-shape and help maintain the right PH. Some are good at keeping away infections and help reduce cramps and improve vaginal lubrication.
- Plain Yoghurt: Yoghurt is probiotic. It contains the Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria that help your vagina keep a healthy PH and drive down the risk of infections. Other probiotic foods include; pickles, kombucha, kimchi, tempeh, etc.
- Cranberry juice: If you are prone to UTI’s, drink concentrated cranberry juice. It contains proanthocyanidins or PAC, a type of plant compound that makes the bladder more resistant to E-coli-the bacteria that causes Urinary Tract Infections. According to healthline.com, cranberry juice is not only useful for your vaginal health but also has a truckload of other benefits.
- Water: It is advisable to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day. This will keep you hydrate and reduce vaginal dryness.
Ginger tea, apples, sweet potatoes, soy, etc., are all good for your reproductive health. The list is endless, and it is advisable to keep researching and adding to your list for your benefits.
5. Do kegel exercises
Factors like age and childbirth contribute to the weakening of both the pelvic floor muscles and the pubococcygeus muscle. Both of these muscles help control urine flow and contract during an orgasm. Doing kegel excises help strengthen these muscles and keep them in top shape. This is essential and not only for your health but also for your self-esteem. To do kegel exercises, follow these steps:
- Imagine you are urinating and pretend like you are stopping urination midstream. The muscles you use to do this are the pelvic floor muscles and are the ones we are targeting.
- Hold it in for three seconds in that position, then release. Repeat this 10 to 15 times.
- Do this daily and each time, holding for longer, and add more repetitions as you gain control.
6. Enjoy Safe Sex
Condoms protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV) that are known to cause cancer. As you enjoy your sex life, remember always to use a condom. Your vagina and your health, in general, will thank you for it.
Also, it is advisable always to check the ingredients of the condoms. Some brands are made from spermicides, which are not very healthy for your vagina as they can kill the ‘good’ bacteria.
7. Visit your Gynaecologist when necessary
Some women don’t know how their vaginas look and feel, so they wouldn’t know when something changes. It’s essential to know every small detail of your vagina. How it looks, feels, and smells. This is important because you will know when something changes and immediately seek medical attention. Visit the doctor if you notice a change in color of your discharge, warts, or other bumps, foul or unpleasant smell, or if you have pain in your vagina.
Conclusion
Every woman should know how to take care of their lady bits. It is not a one-step process, but fortunately, you can do many simple things every day that will ensure that your vagina is healthy and happy.
