Keeping a Healthy Vagina- What Women Should Know

Women are usually concerned with their outer physical beauty which is not a bad thing but they should also be concerned with their vagina’s health. Unhealthy vagina could not only harm you physically but it can also affect your sex life with your partner. The vaginal area is a sensitive part of a woman’s body that is prone to infections. Keeping a healthy vagina will save you from the uncomfortable symptoms of vaginal infection.

So how to keep your vagina healthy?

Keep your vaginal bacteria balanced.  Bacteria normally resides in the vagina but they are there for a reason. The presence of bacteria in the vagina is not harmful but keeps the vagina healthy and protects it from infections if they are kept in check. The vagina’s pH balance must be kept in good condition to keep the balance of bacteria in the vagina. It is important to maintain the balance of bacteria in the vagina because any imbalance could lead to infections. If the good bacteria is outnumbered by bad bacteria, infections may likely to happen. Common vaginal infections include bacterial vaginosis and thrush or yeast infection. The bacterial balance can be disturbed by many factors like the use of scented feminine hygiene products, taking antibiotics, taking contraceptive pills, pregnancy and wearing tight underwear. While factors like pregnancy is sometimes inevitable, for other contributing factors, there are ways to maintain the vaginal bacterial balance. If you are taking antibiotics or contraceptive pills and experiencing vaginal infection, talk to your doctor. Avoid using perfumed feminine hygiene products and go for unscented products. Avoid tight-fitting clothes and underwear made from synthetic. Prevent sweating and let your vagina breathe by wearing cotton underwear and loose pants or skirts.. Keeping a healthy vagina is not that hard if the bacterial balance is always kept in check.

Properly wash your vagina. Keeping a healthy vagina includes practicing vaginal hygiene.  Although the vagina has the ability to clean itself through its natural secretion or discharge it is also important to wash your vagina once a day or more than once if you have your monthly period. It is best to use unscented mild soap because perfumed feminine hygiene products can disrupt the natural pH of the vagina that may result to overgrowth of bacteria or infections. Gently wash the vagina and its surrounding area including the vulva and perineal area with mild unscented soap and warm water. After using the toilet, it best to wash from vagina to the anus or from front to back to avoid the fecal bacteria from transferring to the vagina. Avoid vaginal douches to clean the vagina because it can disrupt the normal balance of the vaginal bacteria.

Make it a conscious effort to be more hygienic during your monthly period. Women are more prone to vaginal infections when they have their monthly period. Keeping a healthy vagina means exerting more effort to take care of your vagina during monthly period. Change sanitary pads or tampons more frequently. It is better to use unscented sanitary pads. If it is possible, avoid using tampon as it is more likely to cause vaginal irritation.

Practice healthy habits. Keeping a healthy vagina requires living a healthy lifestyle. Sweating promotes the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the vagina so go for underwear made from organic cotton fabrics. Wear underwear made from cotton and not made from synthetic materials. Cotton fabrics prevent sweating and allows air to flow freely giving your vagina the opportunity to breathe. Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants and skinny jeans because the moisture can be trapped and this will encourage fungus growth. Wear loose pants made from breathable fabrics. Do not let wet clothing rest in your body for hours, make sure to immediately change into clean dry clothes. Fungus or unhealthy bacteria thrives in moist and warm environment so do not give them that breeding environment. Pubic hair can also promote sweating and can be a breeding spot for bacteria so it is best to have them trimmed or waxed.

Safe sex. Keeping a healthy vagina includes practicing safe sex. The vagina can get infected from sexual activities so it is best to practice safe sex. It is best to have only one sex partner.  The use of condom can protect you from getting bacteria or viruses from an infected partner. It is also a good idea to ask your partner to practice not only good body hygiene but also genital hygiene especially before sex. Wash your vagina with warm water after sex to wash away dirt. Urinate after sex to flush out whatever bacteria you have captured during sexual activities.

Keeping a healthy vagina is a part of a woman’s overall health. Vaginal health is important to keep you away from vaginal infections and diseases. Practicing proper vaginal hygiene can save you from the uncomfortable symptoms of vaginal infections. But if you are already infected by yeast infection visit Natural Yeast Infection Cure