Here are some tips we recently read and wanted to share with our friends about having a healthy Vagina, from washing to sex.
#1 No Douches Allowed
Douching (french for “to wash”) is a common no-no that women believe helps them keep clean and fresh. But the health risks are greater than the benefits. So stop it. Douching can cause Vaginal Infections, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), Pregnancy complications, Cervical cancer, between others (according to WebMD). A simple wash with water and a mild soap is more than enough to wash your vagina. If there are any strong odors, it might be a sign of an infection, go see a doctor.
#2 Eating Good for What’s Under the Hood.
Like everything else in our healthy bodies, it all goes back to our diet. Not as in “i’m in a diet and want to lose weight”.Not that kind of diet. We are talking about our balanced and nutritious diet. There’s a couple of foods that help and can be effective in treating health problems with your vagina. For example, yogurt and cranberry juice are a good option to help prevent infections and also, could help relieve them.
#3 No Glove, no Love!
Use condoms to help protect against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, genital herpes, syphilis, genital warts, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both oral and vaginal. And if you are changing from one to the other, make sure to change the condom so harmful bacteria doesn’t travel from one place to the other . And if a guy says his “friend” (as in penis), is too big to fit in a condom, show him this picture.
#4 Doctor Knows Best
Doctors do know best. It’s always good to go see a gyno when you become sexually active. You want to make sure that everything is dandy down there and that you are being cautious when having the act of S-E-X. Also, they are very good at detecting and diagnosing diseases and disorders that can be harmful to the vagina and reproductive system. Pap smears are recommended for the yearly check up, which is a simple (yet sometimes uncomfortable but it doesn’t hurt) procedure where doctors take a sample of your cervix to check for any cancer cells.
#5 Treat Yo Self!
When it does happen, and most women get one in their lifetime, treat infections when they appear. The most common are: bacterial vaginosis (bacteria overgrowth in the vagina), trichomoniasis (sexually transmitted) and yeast infection (cause by several types of funghi). 75% of women have a yeast infection at one point in their lives, which makes it the most common. So don’t overlook it, go see a doctor because all three can be treated with either oral or topical medications.
#6 Love Shouldn’t Hurt
Lubricant makes everyone happy. Natural lubricant occurs during female arousal, but sometimes it’s not enough. It is very important for the days that women are a little dry to use lubricant so that the vagina doesn’t get irritated and chapped. Sexy time should be kept sexy, and not painful. Just make sure you don’t use things like Vaseline, which are based on petroleum jelly or any other oil-based products, because they can cause infections and might break down condoms. Best ones are the water based.
#7 Breathe in, Breathe out
Wear clothing that breathes and it’s not too tight. Certain types of fabric can keep the heat and moisture where we don’t want them, and could potentially lead to infections. Cotton underwear is a good option. Always try to change as quickly as possible after a sweaty workout and after a dip in the pool.
#8 Clean, Clean, Clean
Always wipe: front to back. We do not wish any poop bacteria to contaminate our healthy vaginas. Make sure to change tampons and pads after 3-4hrs during your period. And it’s not necessary nor recommended to use panty liners to protect your underwear from vaginal discharge.
These are just a couple of tips for a healthy and happy vagina. If you have more questions or notice a more serious problem, we always recommend to go see a doctor. The tips of this article where taken from the wonderful people at www.everdayhealth.com and www.webmd.com.
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