Maintaining healthy vulva and vagina is essential to overall wellness. Your vulva consists of the inner and outer lips of your labia (LAY-bee-uh).
Lactobacilli microbes provide an effective defense against pathogens by producing lactic acid that makes an environment less favorable to bacteria. Furthermore, they produce antimicrobial peptides to deter future pathogen attacks as well as taking up space that prevents colonization by pathogens.
Know Yours
Women should make vaginal health an equal priority during their healthcare appointments, just as breast exams, pap smears and bone density screenings are. By being aware of what’s typical in this area and noting any changes that arise over time.
Your vagina is home to its own microbiome with an ideal mix of bacteria that work together to maintain an acidic pH level and protect you from infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections. Antibiotic use, douching or changes in hormone levels may disrupt this balance and allow harmful bacteria to overgrow, leading to BV or yeast infection. A balanced diet, regular exercise and avoiding products such as scented soaps or deodorants or vaginal sprays may all help keep the area clean while an annual exam can detect potential issues early enough.
Avoid Douching
Douching can throw your natural pH balance off balance, leading to infections and irritations in both vulva and vagina. Washing with harsh soaps such as douches may further irritate delicate tissues in these areas, and douching may hide signs of infection like unusual discharge or odor, making it harder to detect issues that require treatment such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or bacterial vaginosis (BV).
A great way to protect the health of both vulva and vagina is to avoid douching, use mild soap or no soap when bathing or cleaning, wear cotton underwear and clothes that breathe easily, get plenty of fluids, consume foods rich in probiotics such as yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles or miso and ensure proper levels of bacteria in order to ward off BV and yeast infections.
Avoid Tight Pants
Many women are familiar with the discomfort caused by tight pants “down there”, yet many remain unaware as to why or how this discomfort occurs. Tight trousers create friction against the vulva and can irritate skin causing itching or irritation that could be mistaken for infection.
Tight clothing that doesn’t breathe can trap heat and moisture against the pelvic area, encouraging yeast overgrowth or urinary tract infections that are made worse by hormonal fluctuations during menopause. Unhealthy discharge may appear yellowish-greenish in color with strong odor; cotton fabrics allow skin breathing while simultaneously reducing moisture buildup – so looser-fitting jeans or pants might provide relief without sacrificing style.
Take a Probiotic Supplement
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help restore balance to your gut, mouth, lungs, digestive tract, vagina and urinary tract. You can find probiotics naturally in food products; however, most probiotic supplements come as capsules, liquids or powders and are available specifically tailored for specific uses – Cleveland Clinic providers can assist you with selecting an effective probiotic that fits your lifestyle needs and monitoring its progress over time.
Look for supplements with multiple strains and have been tested for viability and shelf life, such as those containing prebiotics – fibers which feed your good gut bacteria and promote optimal functioning – along with being intended for daily use.
Talk to Your Provider
Women may not give much thought to the millions of bacteria living inside their vaginas, yet this inner canal plays an essential role in our reproductive and sexual health. A healthy microbiome keeps the area free from inflammation or yeast infections according to Hayes; feeding your microbiome regularly with water, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and veggies will support its health as recommended by Hayes.
The vulva is essential in aiding us with both peeing and having sexual encounters, so it’s crucial that women understand how to take proper care in maintaining it and prevent potential STIs such as Chlamydia and HPV infections. Practice safe sexuality to minimize risks.
Women should consult their healthcare providers regarding vaginal odor, irritation, itching and discharge issues. A proper diagnosis is key to getting effective treatment and preventing future infections.
