As with the rest of your body, the vagina is home to an abundant ecosystem of bacteria. While this typically poses no threats, occasionally certain types of bacteria become out-of-balance and cause issues like BV.
Cleaning from front to back with warm water and avoiding harsh cleansers is the optimal way to care for your vulva. Other effective strategies for supporting healthy bacteria include probiotics and eating foods rich in fiber.
Diet
Food can play an essential role in vaginal health. Your vagina relies on natural secretions, immune defenses, and beneficial bacteria for proper functioning; but an unhealthy diet may destroy these organisms and lead to bacterial or yeast infections.
A balanced diet helps keep a slightly acidic pH balance, decreasing risk of infection. Be sure to include probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir and kombucha as part of a nutritious eating regimen.
Foods that promote vaginal health include folate-rich vegetables and dairy, calcium-rich dairy, iron-rich foods and sources of vitamin C such as lemons and citrus fruits. Regularly eating these foods reduces your chances of infection while strengthening overall gynecological wellbeing; specifically vitamin C increases white blood cell counts that fight bacteria and viruses as well as strengthening immune systems.
Exercise
As more women discuss vaginal health openly, more are taking care of their intimate areas – which is great news because proper hygiene, better sex practices and healthier diets can all contribute to keeping pH levels balanced in this crucial area of health.
Exercise can make a significant difference. A low-impact strength-training routine may be enough to prevent pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when weak muscles cause one or more pelvic organs such as bladders or uteruses to dislodge from their original positions and bulge into vagina.
Don’t overdo it though – too much sweat or tight clothing can lead to vestibulodynia, or pain at the junction between your vulva and vagina. Cleansers designed for vagina help, while drinking lots of water during exercise is important in avoiding dehydration and overstimulating your bladder.
Hygiene
As you walk down the feminine hygiene aisle at your local drugstore, it can be easy to be distracted by its eye-catching pink packaging and fragrant floral fragrances. But these products may actually disrupt the natural vulva ecosystem and lead to health complications if overused.
The vulva naturally contains an acidic environment that provides protection from bacteria. When adding soap, shower gel or deodorant products they may alter this balance and promote the growth of bacteria that produce unpleasant odors.
To maintain an acidic environment, take regular showers or baths with warm water and wear clothing that allows your vulva to breathe, such as cotton underwear. When experiencing menstruation, change your pad or tampon often to reduce bacteria buildup; additionally, after sexual contact it’s important to urinate to flush away any bacteria that might have entered via your partner’s penis and into your urethra.
Hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers found throughout our bodies that control many bodily processes, from controlling our blood sugar to our blood pressure, growth and fertility, sexual drive and even metabolism. When they become imbalanced–for example during puberty, pregnancy or menopause–they can produce unpleasant symptoms which are less than desirable.
As women reach perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels begin to decline – leading to dry, irritated tissue with decreased lubrication and diminished moisture.
Low-dose estrogen cream, rings or tablets such as Osphena or DHEA can provide relief. These medications work by replacing natural estrogen found in your body with synthetic versions; simply apply or place the ring into your vagina two to three times weekly and follow any instructions from your healthcare provider for use. In addition to alleviating symptoms during sex sessions, this treatment can reduce pain while having fun!
See Your Doctor
Vaginal health can be a delicate topic to broach with healthcare providers, yet it’s crucial for overall reproductive wellbeing that women feel free to discuss this with them openly. They will help maintain an optimal environment with balanced microbiome populations and healthy pH balance as well as help ensure overall reproductive wellbeing.
Your doctor will likely want to inspect both your vulva and cervix, using a speculum to gently open up your vagina and check for infection or other problems. They may ask someone else in the room as a chaperone should you wish.
Regular visits with your gynecologist are vitally important to keeping up with your symptoms, and can help protect you against infection or serious conditions such as endometritis or endometriosis. Proper hygiene practices, healthy diet, safe sexual practices and the elimination of scented products all play a part in having a happy and healthy vagina!
