6 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR VAGINA HEALTHY

We always try to keep quiet about things that should be spoken about, we do not want to talk about women hygiene. It is important that you care for your vagina. The vagina is self-cleansing and therefore usually does not need special hygiene. Doctors generally discourage the practice of douching for maintaining vulvovaginal health. Since a healthy vagina is colonized by a mutually symbiotic flora of microorganisms that protect its host from disease-causing microbes, any attempt to upset this balance may cause many undesirable outcomes, including abnormal discharge and yeast infection. Below are few tips to help keep your vagina healthy.

1. WASH WITH HOT WATER

Washing your vagina with soap, whether it’s bar soap or liquid, isn’t the best way to keep clean. The vagina actually stays quite clean on its own without the help of outside cleansers. Like other parts of the body, it has a pH level that needs to be maintained within a certain range – 3.5 and 4.5, to be specific – in order to prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria and facilitate the growth of good bacteria. Using harsh cleansers can upset the balance, leading to infection, irritation, and even bad smells. 

If you do wash your vagina with soap, make sure to thoroughly rinse it with warm water so that no traces of soap are left behind. Soap left inside can cause irritation.

2. MAINTAIN A GOOD HYGIENE DURING YOUR PERIOD  

Many women experience an increased rate of vaginal infections when they’re menstruating.  Having blood in the vagina changes its pH and throws things out of balance. To stay healthy during your period; You should change your tampon frequently, make sure you change it every few hours. Don’t wear pads or panty liners for longer than necessary, wearing pads for longer period can cause skin irritation.

3. WIPE FROM FRONT TO BACK

It’s important to wipe from front to back, rather than the reverse, to keep fecal matter from entering your vagina and causing an infection. Use plain, unscented toilet paper to wipe. Avoid using wet wipes or any other product that contains perfumes and chemicals. Wash thoroughly with clean water.

4. WEAR COTTON UNDERWEAR

Cotton underwear dries quickly and allows air to flow freely through the fabric. This prevents the development of damp conditions that promote the growth of yeast and unhealthy bacteria that might lead to an infection. Underwear made from synthetic fabrics, silk, lace, or other materials doesn’t breathe as well.

If you like wearing underwear made from fabrics other than cotton, make sure the section of the underwear that will be touching your vagina has a cotton liner. If you tend to get a lot of infections, try picking underwear made from organic, undyed cotton that hasn’t been treated with any chemicals.

5. MAINTAIN A GOOD SEX HYGIENE

Wash after sex; When you have sex with a partner, you’re opening yourself up to bacteria and other microscopic substances that can end up irritating your vagina and causing an infection. Wash your vagina with hot water after sex, this will greatly minimize infections.

Ask your partner to wash before sex if you are not using condoms. The use gloves and dental dams are extra form of protection if you receive oral sex or are being fingered. It is advisable to use condoms because when semen is left in the vagina after sex, it upsets the balance and makes it prone to bacteria growth.

6. EAT HEALTHY

Good foods help to keep your vagina healthy. Eat lots of fruit like cranberries, pineapples, strawberries and other fruits. Fruits help to freshen the smell of the liquids secreted by the vagina. It can develop a more pleasant scent and the high water content of fruits help flush the body of toxins that can lead to bad smells. Eat plenty of yogurt. Yogurt has some kind of good bacteria that your vagina needs to stay healthy, also it prevents and treats yeast infections.

Eating garlic is also a great way of keeping your vaginal healthy. Garlic has properties that kill yeast, making it an effective tool for preventing and treating yeast infections. Eating raw or cooked garlic a few times a week is a great way to keep your vagina healthy. Garlic helps get rid of bad vaginal odour.

It is important that you treat STD anytime you have an unprotected sex and make an appointment with your doctor. Go to the doctor if you notice something out of the ordinary. Every vagina is different and it is important to know how your it normally looks, feels and smells. Once you notice a change, seek medical attention.