The feminine hygiene market is flourishing. From puberty through menopause, taking steps to learn about products and establish healthy feminine hygiene practices will help ensure a comfortable and healthy vulva.
The vulva is the external part of your genitals that includes pubic mount, inner and outer labia, clitoris and vestibule. It has its own natural pH balance with Lactobacilli bacteria that promote health; regular washing using warm water with gentle soap or pH-balanced wash can keep this delicate environment intact while remaining clean.
What Is Feminine Hygiene?
Feminine hygiene refers to a woman’s daily practice for maintaining cleanliness and health in her intimate areas, using products like tampons, pads, menstrual cups and sea sponges to do so. Access and affordability should always be available when choosing suitable feminine hygiene solutions – something which applies equally across ages and lifestyles.
To avoid irritation in the vulva region, shower after exercising and before engaging in sexual relations and refrain from douching or other vaginal massage techniques that could introduce bacteria. To keep yourself comfortable it is recommended that showering after each activity, as well as avoiding douching or other vaginal massage techniques which can introduce bacteria.
Even with these recommendations in place, some women don’t have access to enough feminine hygiene products for proper care and wellbeing. Without money to purchase essential necessities like these products, women may make risky decisions that endanger both their health and well-being.
Tampons
Women use tampons to temporarily absorb their menstrual blood and protect against vulva infections. Tampons are made of compressed, tightly compacted absorbent cotton that has been tightly compacted together as well as synthetic rayon fiber. Tampons usually take the shape of a small cylindrical bullet with an attached plastic applicator barrel and string, offering protection from infections in this vulnerable part of their bodies.
Numerous tampon manufacturers produce organic and unbleached tampons to meet consumer demand for more healthy and less toxic feminine hygiene products. These can be found at larger supermarket chains, drug and natural food stores as well as online.
Change tampons every 4-6 hours and follow all of the instructions for proper insertion and removal, to decrease your risk of toxic shock syndrome, which is rare but potentially life-threatening. Ensuring sufficient sleep and managing stress also help protect against toxic shock syndrome.
Pads
Feminine hygiene products can make all the difference for women’s comfort during their period, and women should take the time to find products that suit their personal needs and assess them periodically as comfort levels may change.
Pads come in various shapes, sizes, and absorbency levels to meet both light and heavy flow days. There are also panty liners for extra layer of protection; menstrual cups as an eco-friendly alternative; and wipes to clean-up on-the-go.
Pros of pads: They’re easy to use for first-time menstruators, particularly girls new to menstruation. Plus, there’s minimal risk of toxic shock syndrome from wearing too many tampons compared to wearing pads; plus you may not see them underneath certain clothing styles like with tampons!
Menstrual Cups
Menstrual cups are reusable funnel-shaped devices made of silicone or rubber that you insert into your vagina to collect menstrual blood. They may be smaller than pads and tampons and worn up to 12 hours; however, this solution might not be appropriate for everyone, particularly women with dropped uteri or severe fibroids.
Clinical studies showed that cup users consistently rated it superior or equal to their current method of sanitary protection for comfort, dryness/irritation, odor and normal vaginal flora. Reusable menstrual cups require proper cleaning and maintenance in order to avoid infections; it may take some effort but many women find the results worth the trouble.
Wipes
Feminine wipes can be great for on-the-go freshening up, eliminating odor-causing bacteria while being gentle on your skin and portable enough to fit in a purse or pocket. Unfortunately, however, their preservatives stay on your skin after each use and can disrupt its natural pH balance and be detrimental.
Many women can experience an allergic reaction when exposed to chemicals on the vulva. This condition, vulvar contact dermatitis, causes symptoms like rashes, itching, burning and scaling on the vulva.
Glycerin, a commonly found ingredient in feminine wipes, can encourage yeast overgrowth in your vaginal tract and lead to infections like candida. To decrease yeast overgrowth and prevent infections like candida, opt for one containing less glycerin or propanediol as a microbiome-friendly alternative.
