8 Safety Tips for a Healthy Vagina

The topic of vaginas seems to have reached a fever pitch recently, with everyone from celebrities and gossip columnists to authors and doctors and nerds discussing it. The vaginal dos and don'ts are getting extremely confusing these days. While there is no need for such a hysteria, since “Your vagina requires very little care, so less is more.” Maintaining a healthy vulva and vagina is simpler than you may believe. Most women intend to confuse between vulva and vagina.

A study indicates that millions of women do not know where their own vagina is located. An estimated ¼ of women in the United States do not know where their vagina is located, according to a new poll conducted by One Poll. Firstly, let us get on to know the difference between vulva and vagina.

The vulva is a flap of tissue (the part you can see), the outer portion that covers the external genitalia, including the pubic mound, clitoris, labia, and vaginal opening, as well as the urethra, the urinary opening. Whereas the vagina connects the vulva to the cervix and, eventually, to the uterus. It is the canal that lets a woman have her period every month and give birth.

When it comes to vaginal health, it is most important part for a woman’s overall health. Here is a list of factors that affect the health of the vagina such as, unprotected sex, birth control and feminine-hygiene products, pregnancy and childbirth, psychological issues, and change in hormone levels. 

Symptoms of Unhealthy Vagina:

• Vaginal dryness
• Change in the colour and odour of vaginal discharge
• urning sensation when urinating
• Bulge in the vagina
• Irregular bleeding
• Itching and irritation
• Continuous vaginal infection.

Simple Tips for a Healthy Vagina:

1. Say goodbye to chemical products:

“The vagina is a self-cleaning organ”

Do not use any scrubs, perfumed soaps, or any products even if they claim to be for vaginal care. It is also possible for them to cause illness by disrupting the body's normal pH balance. If you are worried about genital odour, keep in mind that the vagina is not a flower and is never meant to be treated as such. So, by just using water and a gentle soap to your external genitalia would be more than enough to maintain your vaginal odour.

2. Let your vagina breath:

Vaginas feel happier while wearing or using breathable materials. Underwear made of cotton is the best. It can wick away excess moisture, preventing the kind of dampness that encourages bacteria to flourish. In addition, getting out of damp clothes quickly can reduce the severity of any issues that may occur. Make sure to change your underwear every day, no matter what style you prefer.

Prefer to sleep in your birthday suit: The vaginal health benefits of going to sleep naked are of no joke. No matter what type of underwear you wear during the day, sleeping without them can improve vaginal aeration. However, those are not the only upsides. Evidence from the research records suggest that lower temperatures can be beneficial for a healthy vagina.

Bewildered how would it be? Just get naked and you will be surprised how relaxing and exhilarating it would feel once you have become used to it.

3. Practice safe sex:

Using condoms, whether they be male or female, during sexual activity might reduce the risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) such HIV, genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, and chlamydia. HIV and genital herpes are two that come to mind as they have no known treatment. 

When transitioning from oral or anal sex to vaginal sex, it is important to use a new condom to avoid introducing potentially harmful bacteria into the vagina. Millheiser adds that sharing sex objects can lead to the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly human papillomavirus (HPV).

4. Avoid douching:

The word “douche” means to wash. Douching refers to the practise of cleansing the vagina with water or other fluid combinations. Douching does not only let the healthy bacteria to enter, but also helps the bad bacteria to flourish, causing the vaginal infections. It increases the risk of bacteria entering the uterus or ovary.

5. Always wipe from front to back:

While it is hard to totally prevent gastrointestinal bacteria from spreading beyond the anus, you may lower this danger by not providing it with a free ride. The risk of transmitting bacteria can be reduced when you wipe from front to back, says Audra Williams, M.D., a clinical instructor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, tells SELF.

6. Practice Kegel exercise:

Kegel muscles, also called pelvic floor muscles, are the muscles in your vaginal area that play a significant role during childbirth. To keep your vagina strong and flexible, it's important to do exercises for your pelvic floor that involve tightening and relaxing the muscles around your hips.

7. Maintain a healthy diet:

Stay hydrated by drinking lot of water, eating lot of fruits and vegetables, and eating natural probiotics like curds and kefir (fermented milk drinks) to keep the healthy bacteria in balance and protect against infections. Avocados, apples, flaxseeds, dates, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and dark leafy vegetables are also good for vaginal health. It is vital that everyone gets educated and informed about the various health tips to maintain their health. 

8. Choose sanitary pads wisely:

Usually, sanitary pads can have lot of chemicals and fragrances in them. You should be aware what is in them. Scented sanitary napkins can upset the balance of good and bad bacteria and affect your vaginal health. It is best to use unscented or organic sanitary napkins and to change your sanitary napkins every 4 to 5 hours when you are having a heavy bleeding to maintain hygiene and a healthy vagina.

“The vagina is like a self-cleaning oven when it functions properly,” says Dr. Goje. Though your vagina does not need much maintenance, regular check-ups with gynaecologist can help identify the signs of infection and get treated as earlier as possible to maintain a healthy vagina.