An important foundation of good overall health lies within your vagina. It is crucial that you care for both the pubic mound and clitoris as well as internal genital organs like your cervix and uterus in order to keep them in optimal condition.
Jefferson Nurse Midwife Jessica Hayes provides advice for supporting feminine health, from eating well and practicing safe sexual practices, to using safe contraception methods.
Nutrition
The vagina is a muscular canal connecting the uterus to outside of the body that serves multiple functions including sexual intimacy, menstrual blood loss and childbirth. The vulva contains good bacteria as well as natural secretions and immune defenses which serve to keep it healthy; eating too many processed sugary foods may kill off these good bacteria leading to an imbalance that leads to yeast or bacterial infections in some individuals.
Culinary medicine – or food as therapy — has increasingly been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of various gynecologic diseases and conditions. A diet rich in plant-based whole foods rich in probiotics and vitamin D could benefit not only reproductive but overall health as well.
CVS offers a comprehensive selection of women’s hygiene items – from menstrual hygiene products that provide relief during menstruation to sexual intimacy-enhancing lubricants – that will meet every stage of women’s lives. Consider eco-friendly alternatives such as menstrual cups or reusable pads for lower waste solutions in feminine care.
Physical Activity
Exercise is a cornerstone of female health. Exercise can prevent heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and many other illnesses while simultaneously raising self-esteem and confidence levels. Unfortunately however, women face numerous obstacles to engaging in physical activity.
Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation may have an impactful influence on training, adaptation and performance of exercisers, making it challenging to comply with recommendations that promote aligning exercise training sessions with menstruation cycles.
Research suggests that sociopsychological constraints associated with female gender roles and socialization could contribute to these barriers, so FIF assists women in exploring these constraints and developing effective strategies to overcome them, leading to greater physical activity after the program has concluded. FIF uses awareness-raising methods so participants recognize physical activity regimens can serve as forms of self-care – making physical activity routines worthwhile choices in themselves and society alike.
Stress Management
Women and girls often feel anxious, worried about things beyond their control or experiencing problems that don’t go away. Therefore, it is crucial for females to prioritize stress-management techniques that promote healthy coping mechanisms, like regular exercise, social interactions and eating a well-balanced diet.
Long-term stress can cause health issues like depression, anxiety, digestive troubles, high blood pressure, heart disease and an impaired immune system – and may impact on fertility and gynecological health in women.
Stress hormones can disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in the vagina and contribute to bacterial vaginosis (BV). Effective prevention strategies include good hygiene practices, regular medical check-ups, protected sexual activity and proactive stress management techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation or yoga that will calm nervous systems while increasing energy.
Hygiene
Women and girls need access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities; affordable menstrual products; education on feminine health issues; as well as supportive environments in which they can manage menstruation without facing embarrassment or stigma.
Hygiene is an integral component of feminine health; however, its practice must be undertaken in such a way as to preserve and support vaginal bacteria balance and harmony. Our bodies were meant to self-clean themselves; using soap for washing could upset their delicate ecosystem and result in infections.
Respondents used both commercially manufactured and homemade health and hygiene products and practices around their genital area, including anti-itch creams, douches, shampoos/gels, douches/bathes, baby wipes, baby washes, washes, lubricants tablets suppositories suppositories as well as pubic hair removal methods. There were several associations between specific products used and adverse vulvovaginal symptoms identified.
