Proper vaginal hygiene is extremely important for a womans health. Whether or not you are of reproductive age, keeping the vulva clean the correct way can make a huge difference when it comes to vaginal infections. Your vagina is a sensitive area and, thankfully, maintaining good hygiene is incredibly simple.
The most important part about vaginal hygiene is maintaining its pH. A normal vaginal pH tends to be slightly acidic and when this is thrown off, women start to experience symptoms of infections. These symptoms might include irritation, itchiness and pain. Some women are more sensitive to vaginal changes, particularly during pregnancy.
The pH can be altered by any foreign substance that is introduced into your vagina – so think twice about what enters your vagina to avoid disrupting its protective environment. At the same time, do not strictly focus on the vagina itself but also the surrounding external area. Here are several tips to maintain proper vaginal hygiene.
he vagina is a self-cleaning organ that does not require special cleaning products. It does not even need any cleaning products at all.
Some people may want to clean the vulva, which is the outer portion of the genitals that surrounds the entrance to the vagina. Doing this can help many people feel cleaner and, as a result, more confident.
In this case, they should clean the vulva lips gently. Excessive cleaning can have negative effects.
How to clean the vulva safely
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, and people do not need to clean it. Regular douching is unnecessary.
People can help keep the area clean and healthy by:
- using barrier methods, such as a condom, to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs with a sexual partner
- keeping the vaginal area as dry as possible, which may involve changing underwear if it becomes wet with sweat, menstrual blood, or other fluids
- urinating after having sex, to avoid developing a UTI
- wiping from front to back after urinating
- refraining from having vaginal sex straight after having anal sex, as this can spread bacteria from the anus to the vagina
- To clean the vulva, people can wash the external area with warm water. If they wish to, they can use a mild, unscented soap. Afterward, they should rinse the vulva thoroughly and then pat the area dry.
It is important not to put soap into the vagina, and it is not necessary to use soaps that manufacturers have specifically labeled as being for the genitals.
Cleaning strategies to avoid
To avoid infections, pain, and irritation, it is important not to use the following products:
- douches, even those that the manufacturers claim are safe or natural
- feminine deodorant sprays
- perfumes
- detergent soaps
- soaps containing perfume
- Vaginal steaming
- Some alternative health sites advocate vaginal steaming, which involves sitting on a steam bath with a variety of herbs.
These herbs supposedly clean the vagina and improve the health of the uterus.
There is little evidence to suggest that vaginal steaming is effective. The steam cannot penetrate the vaginal tissue or reach anywhere near the uterus.
Additionally, the herbs may irritate the tissue of the vagina or vulva, and very hot steam can cause severe burns.
Risks
Research consistently finds that washing the vagina increases the risk of a wide range of health problems.
A 2013 study of Egyptian women who frequently douched found that the practice increases the risk of preterm labor and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Douching correlates with a higher riskTrusted Source of numerous adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, including:
- ectopic pregnancy
- low birth weight
- chorioamnionitis, a type of infection in the membranes surrounding the baby
- preterm birth
Other risks of vaginal cleaning methods such as douching include:
- cervical cancer
- endometritis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the uterus
- increased riskTrusted Source of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV
- bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- yeast infections
- vaginal pain
Although a person can clean their vulva, its proximity to the vagina means that any cleaning products may enter the vagina. Harsh cleaning products can also irritate the vulva.
