How To Ensure Good Vaginal Hygiene?

Date 02 Jan 2024  

Table of Contents

• Vaginal Health in Females
• How to Practice Good Vaginal Hygiene?
• Maintaining Cleanliness
• Good and Clean Sex
• Dress to Succeed
• Pubic Hair: To Shave or Not to Shave
• A Healthy Diet Equals a Healthy Vagina
• Supplements can Promote Vaginal Health
• General Vaginal Hygiene

Vaginal Health in Females

A vital component of general health is vaginal health. Ongoing vaginal difficulties have an impact on the sexual life, as well as fertility, stress levels, self-confidence, and relationships. But knowing how to keep the vagina healthy isn't always easy, especially with the large array of hygiene products and supplements available nowadays. From menstruation and sex to childbirth and menopause, the vagina suffers a lot. Fortunately, the vagina is one of those areas of the body that is most content when left alone.

Many women mix up the terms vulva and vagina. They are two separate parts of the female genitalia. The vulva surrounds and protects the external genitalia, including the pubic mound, clitoris, labia, and vaginal entrance, as well as the urethra, or urinary opening. The vaginal canal connects the vulva to the cervix and, ultimately, to the uterus. It is the canal that allows for monthly menstruation and delivery. It is important to keep the vagina and vulva clean since it can help avoid infections, inflammation, and foul odours. So in this guide, a cosmetic gynaecologist in Hyderabad at Eternelle Aesthetics is sharing the healthy tips and practises that one must follow to ensure good vaginal hygiene. 

How to Practice Good Vaginal Hygiene?

Here are some general suggestions to keep the vagina clean and healthy:

1. Maintaining Cleanliness

It is simple to clean the vulvovaginal area: 

• Washing with warm water regularly-soap is not necessary, but choose a mild soap. Instead of using a washcloth, use your fingers.
• Do not clean the vagina. This could disrupt its sensitive pH balance, causing discomfort and infection. The vaginal discharge normally cleans itself up.
• Avoid using special scrubs, perfumed soaps, and douching, especially if they claim to be for vaginal care. These can also disrupt the normal pH balance and lead to infection. If a woman is worried about vaginal odours, keep in mind that the vagina isn't a flower, nor was it ever designed to be.
• After using the restrooms, wipe in front and back. If you do the opposite, bacteria may enter the urethra and cause a urinary tract infection.

2. Good and Clean Sex

As the vulva is an essential part of pleasure, it must be protected from toxic substances and bacteria.

Before

Check the labels of any lubricants you want to use. Some may contain harmful chemicals that can disrupt the pH balance. Avoid lubricants containing:

• Glycerin
• Petroleum-based products
• Parabens
• Scents
• Flavours
• Dyes.

Check the ingredients of condoms as well. Many products contain spermicides, which can destroy the vaginal beneficial bacteria, disrupt the pH balance, and cause irritation and infection.

During

Use a new condom each time couples switch between anal and vaginal sex, or vice versa. Bacterial strains in the anus can irritate or infect the vagina, and bacteria in the vagina can irritate the anus.

After

Bacteria can enter the urethra during intercourse, so urinate afterwards to flush out bacteria and avoid acquiring a urinary tract infection. 

Warm water should be used to shower or clean the vulva, and the area should be completely dried.

3. Dress to Succeed

• Choose clothing that allows the vulvovaginal area to breathe and stay dry. Moisture may foster bacterial growth, which can lead to a yeast infection.
• Undergarments made of cotton are better than those made of silk or polyester. Cotton is less likely to hold onto moisture, which hinders the growth of bacteria that cause odours. Women's boyshorts provide a more open fit around the legs.
• Tight-fitting clothing, particularly thongs, can collect faeces, which can enter the vagina and cause infections and odours.
• Change your underwear after working out. 
• Change your underwear twice a day if a woman has a lot of vaginal discharge.

4. Pubic Hair: To Shave or Not to Shave

• Pubic hair protects the vulva against bacteria and viruses. It protects the sensitive skin it covers by covering and cushioning it during intercourse. Pubic hair poses no health risk as long as it is washed regularly.
• Some women believe that pubic hair causes more wetness and odour and prefer to get rid of it completely through shaving, waxing, or electrolysis. Others believe that keeping it trimmed and cutting hair with scissors helps to alleviate those issues. Others, on the other hand, prefer to leave things alone. The decision is entirely yours.
• Shaving can result in razor burns, redness, itching when hair grows back, and infection from ingrown hairs. Cuts and nicks can potentially introduce bacteria. 
• Avoid using hair removal cream, which burns off hair and can be especially harsh on the vulva's delicate skin.

5. A Healthy Diet Equals a Healthy Vagina

One of the most effective ways to keep the vagina healthy is to eat a balanced diet rich in fluids, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Furthermore, it is critical to feed the vagina's natural immunological defences with beneficial bacteria. Consuming meals containing prebiotics and probiotics can help with this.

One more way to keep the vagina healthy is to limit the sugar intake, as too much sugar in the body can contribute to yeast infections, added the best cosmetic gynaecologist in Hyderabad at Eternelle Aesthetics.

6. Supplements can Promote Vaginal Health

While eating can provide some nutrients, taking supplements is another option for maintaining good vaginal health. If a woman is looking for a probiotic supplement, look for one labelled "cold chain," which means it must be refrigerated. Additionally, search for probiotics that contain the three types of bacteria that are unique to vaginal health: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus reuteri.

7. General Vaginal Hygiene

Here are some additional vulvovaginal health tips: 

• Tampons, pads, and liners with fragrances should be avoided.
• Change the tampon 4 to 5 times a day during your menstruation. This also goes for pads and liners. 
• During your period, wash or wipe the area regularly. 
• Consuming probiotics, such as yoghurt, can help prevent yeast infections and reduce vaginal odour by maintaining proper pH levels in the vaginal area. (Never put yoghurt in the vagina. Its sugars can promote yeast growth.)
• Staying hydrated helps control bacterial overgrowth and stress-related sweating.

Vaginal concerns must not be neglected, and one must seek the help of a gynaecologist to manage the issues. At Eternelle Aesthetics, all these concerns are addressed, and diverse cosmetic gynaecology procedures in Hyderabad like vaginoplasty, labiaplasty, hymenoplasty, V-area lightening, and O-shot are offered.

Do visit the clinic to learn more!