Intimate care products can help maintain healthy pH levels, promote balanced microbiomes, and prevent infections or irritations. Unfortunately, many feminine hygiene products contain irritating substances like SLES or glycerin that could disrupt vulva skin equilibrium and cause further issues.
Vaginas don’t necessarily require feminine hygiene products for proper functioning, but having access to some helpful options could make your V-Zone happier and healthier! A few simple switches could keep it that way!
1. Intimate Wash
Your vulva is designed to clean itself effectively, but additional TLC may still be beneficial. A gentle, natural, pH balanced wash free from fragrance or additives is an excellent way to ensure everything stays tidy.
Avoid soaps and shower gels not designed specifically for this area as these could upset the delicate balance of your vulva’s microflora. A gynecologist told Verywell that “soap can lead to vaginal skin conditions like Vulvar Dermatitis; intimate wash products therefore need to be designed carefully before being clinically approved for use”.
Douching should also be avoided as it’s uncomfortable and linked to both BV and urinary tract infections (UTIs). One study demonstrated this link by finding that those using feminine washes or wipes had three and two times higher odds of reporting BV respectively compared with those who didn’t (see our Spotlight feature for further discussion of its harmful effects.)
2. Intimate Liners
Women often view liners as an essential element of intimate hygiene. Liners help absorb everyday vaginal discharge, light menstrual flow, spotting between periods or on heavy days and panty staining from panty stains, making them great for use on hot days when sweat production increases significantly.
Liners should never be used as a replacement for pads on days with heavier menstrual flow and should be changed every 3 to 4 hours if possible. Be sure to do it in an intimate and private place, never flushing it down the toilet! Instead place it in the bin.
As these can irritate the vulva and skin, be wary of products containing SLES (sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate) and glycerin liners that contain SLES/glycerin combinations as these may also contain fragrance chemicals which irritate and can trigger allergies; Natura Aeropack offers natural coco-functional ingredients such as coconut oil and surfactants to replace these irritating fragrances in their liners.
3. After-Sex Wipes
intimate wipes provide an easier, sanitary option for pre-sex hygiene (if that is your thing) than towels can due to being single use and can be used without needing to be washed after each use.
Promescent and other sexual wellness brands provide women with wet wipes specifically tailored for sexual wellness, such as Promescent wipes that offer benefits like odor control and protecting against yeast infections. When looking for such products, look for ones that are hypoallergenic as well as free of fragrance, alcohol, glycerin lotions and dyes so as to not disturb or disrupt the natural pH balance of your vulva or disrupt its natural pH balance.
These intimate wipes, for instance, are gynecologist-recommended options comprised of 99 percent water and packed with aloe vera to moisturize vulva skin and grapefruit extract to combat unwanted odor. Furthermore, they’re flushable and biodegradable – making them an ideal travel-friendly alternative to traditional sex towels; additionally their discreet packaging makes it great for keeping handy during periods or just any time you feel you need a refreshment boost!
4. Lubricants
No matter if it be at the drugstore or an online shopping cart, when browsing intimate care aisles or sexual health products it can be overwhelming to choose what suits best! With so many offerings promising to lubricate and smooth your way towards sensuality it can be challenging knowing where to begin your search for products to ensure maximum sexiness!
Intimate care products (soaps, wet wipes, washes, sprays, powder and lubricants) for women’s sexual and genital health can be delicate products to choose. Their purpose is to protect sensitive vulvae against irritation while relieving itching, maintaining an ideal pH level in vaginal fluid and increasing sexual comfort during intercourse – they play an essential part in women’s overall gynaecological and sexual health and finding the ideal product is key!
Two randomised trials showed that using lubricants reduced pain during receptive intercourse and increased sexual pleasure (moderate certainty evidence). Values and preferences studies demonstrated that most people support using lubricants for reasons such as comfort/reduced pain, enjoyment during sex, sexual protection or comfort/reduced pain; water-based, silicone, aloe vera-based and oil based lubricants are among those available on the market today.
