Feminine health encompasses all aspects of women’s physical and emotional well-being. Although often disregarded or dismissed, feminine wellbeing is crucial to overall wellness.
Cranberry juice may help prevent urinary tract infections while apples can lubricate vaginally. A balanced diet and safe sexual practices are both key components of feminine hygiene.
Nutrition
Vaginal health depends on many factors, including nutrition. Your vagina is home to its own ecosystem of “good” bacteria and natural defense mechanisms that work to keep it hydrated and free from infections; for optimal vaginal wellness it’s best to consume a diet rich in whole foods rich in probiotics, Vitamin D and fiber; also cutting back on sugary treats or refined carbs can be helpful.
As well as eating healthily, women’s feminine hygiene needs can also be addressed through specialty products. From sanitary pads to menstrual cups, eco-friendly options exist that reduce waste while meeting all flow types. Organic cotton feminine care items offer natural solutions while hypoallergenic products cater specifically for sensitive areas. Pads and liners catch minor leaks to protect clothing while controlling odor and helping prevent yeast infections.
Exercise
Many women struggle to find the time and energy for regular exercise. Whether due to chronic fatigue, hormone imbalances (infertility, Endometriosis or PCOS) or mental health concerns like severe PMS/PMDD symptoms, exercising on a regular basis can greatly enhance quality of life.
Studies have demonstrated the power of regular physical activity to help balance female hormones, decreasing excess circulating estrogen and relieving symptoms associated with PMS or conditions where estrogen predominates such as PCOS. Recent research also suggests syncing exercise training with menstruation cycles so as to account for any hormonal fluctuations which might alter physical performance and body composition.
Women have different bodies and not all exercises are suitable for every woman. For instance, intense and repetitive exercise may reduce estrogen and progesterone while increasing stress hormone cortisol, potentially leading to anovulation, fatigue and in extreme cases amenorrhea.
Vaginal Care
Walking down any drugstore aisle these days seems to reveal more products for intimate hygiene than ever. Women can easily be misled into thinking they need to use feminine washes, wipes or douches too often in order to feel clean and healthy; however, doing this too frequently can throw off their balance of good bacteria in the vulvar area and cause irritation; douching may increase risks of BV, STIs and pelvic inflammatory disease so it is best to steer clear from these products and practices altogether.
Switch to using a gentle external wash that has been clinically-proven to provide effective protection from yeast infections and unpleasant odors, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, wear loose-fitting clothing for comfort, and practice safer sex to reduce your chances of STIs. By following these tips along with seeking guidance from an Axia Women’s Health provider, you can help ensure your vulva remains as happy and healthy as the rest of you – after all, sexual intimacy should always be enjoyable!
Checkups
Women may lower their risk of serious health issues through regular physical activity, eating right and managing stress effectively; but to be truly effective they also require annual screenings in order to detect disease early and effectively treat it.
Gynecological exams provide screenings for many diseases that only women are at risk for, including ovarian cancer and cervical cancer. Furthermore, pelvic exams can detect sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea through swabbing the area around the cervix.
Physicians can perform various checks for osteoporosis and prescribe treatment, assess hormonal fluctuations such as those experienced during menopause, and offer guidance for managing them. They can also administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus and pertussis (whooping cough). Most women are advised to get these vaccinations, which can be administered during regular appointments with women’s health doctors; this also gives women an opportunity to discuss any concerns about reproductive health they might have with a health provider.
