Caring for one’s pelvis can be awkward, yet essential to maintaining good vulvovaginal health. Proper hygiene practices, comfortable underwear and eating foods rich in probiotics all help prevent infection from spreading further down below.
Daily washing with warm water and mild soap should suffice, though any excessive cleansing could disrupt the natural pH balance in that area and lead to irritation.
Hygiene
Intimate feminine hygiene is often underestimated when it comes to women’s health, yet it remains extremely vital. The easiest way to keep your vulva healthy is simply washing it correctly – many products claim otherwise, but less is more when it comes to cleaning vulvas. Your natural acidic environment contains bacteria which work to keep it balanced; any disruption could cause irritation and infection symptoms like itchiness, pain or discharge which should appear clear or white and turn yellow when dry with no unpleasant odor.
External topical washes should be carefully designed for gentle cleansing without disrupting the natural vaginal microflora, with mild surfactants and low pH levels to avoid drying of the vulva. An emollient such as an unscented body lotion or oil may also be applied after washing to add extra moisture; vaginal lubricants may be useful in increasing sexual stimulation while decreasing dryness and itching.
Nutrition
The vagina is a closed muscular canal connecting the outside of the genitals (called the vulva ) to the neck of the uterus (known as the cervix ). It contains natural bacteria and yeast colonies known as “flora,” which help maintain a healthy pH balance (usually around 3.8-5), but many factors can upset that balance: antibiotics, douching tight pants vaginal sprays lubricants menstrual periods over-the-counter douches smoking pregnancy etc
Eating more whole, unprocessed foods and drinking plenty of water is one way to achieve health. Also beneficial: replacing animal proteins with plant-based proteins which tend to contain less saturated fat.
Avoiding scented products in favor of non-scented vaginal moisturizing creams, gels or vulvar melts can also help avoid irritation and infection. Furthermore, some women find keeping or even shaving pubic hair can reduce itching, odor and the moisture that leads to bacterial infections – it’s ultimately up to each woman to decide what she feels comfortable doing.
Probiotics
An effective microbiota has been associated with relieving many gynecological diseases, including bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infection, while also helping protect against cervical cancer and strengthening local immunity.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when introduced in adequate amounts to the body. Probiotics play an essential role in intestinal and vaginal health and contribute to creating a safe microenvironment with low pH levels that helps prevent infections.
Vaginal probiotics promise to introduce good bacteria into the vagina, maintaining balanced pH levels while decreasing odor and yeast production. Many dietary supplements and over-the-counter products make similar promises; however, many remain unclear as to what works and how best to utilize these products.
Probiotics, also known as Lactobacillus bacteria, are among the most widely-used probiotic products. You may take these either orally through digestion or vaginally through vaginal suppositories; before starting any regimen it’s wise to consult a gynecologist or vulvar specialist, particularly if suffering from chronic autoimmune conditions like lichen sclerosus/planus or taking long-term antibiotic therapy or postmenopausal women on hormone therapy.
Routine gynecological check-ups
Women can often save themselves a great deal of discomfort and worry by scheduling regular gynecological check-ups with their physician. These appointments offer them the chance to openly communicate any symptoms or concerns related to sexual and reproductive health in an open forum; additionally, such exams can detect cancerous cells before becoming more serious health issues.
Gynecological exams provide women with an invaluable opportunity for education about their sexual health. Routine gynecological exams often include screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STI), which can help protect them against long-term health issues if left untreated. Common STIs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis often show no noticeable symptoms but may lead to long-term issues later. Regular STI screenings use swabs or blood tests that help detect them early; additionally pap smears are performed regularly to screen against cancer as well as precancerous cells in cervical cancer screening exams.
