Vaginal health is not a topic that is discussed often but it is certainly an issue that deserves attention.
Most people use the term “vagina” to refer to the whole below-the-belt area but in fact, the vagina is a closed muscular canal that connects the cervix (opening of the uterus) to the outside of the body. Here are a few things to know about vaginal health.
Keeping the vagina clean
The vagina is inhabited by millions of bacteria. Good bacteria that work to keep the bad ones at bay. These friendly bacteria also let the vagina maintain a balanced pH which is important for its normal functioning. Anything that disrupts this delicate pH can lead to infection or irritation. This is why the use of scented soaps or douches is never recommended. They can alter the pH balance.
The use of plain soap to wash the genital area around the vagina (the vulva) is all that is needed to keep the area clean and healthy.
Things that affect vaginal health
A number of factors can affect your vaginal health. Here are some of the most common ones.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STI) -unprotected sex can result in a STI. These infections can change the environment of the vagina and cause symptoms like itching, redness or abnormal discharge.
- Medical conditions – conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease can also negatively affect the normal functioning of the vagina.
- Vaginal infections – Yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis are the result of the normal flora of the vagina being disrupted.
- Pregnancy and childbirth – Both pregnancy and childbirth will bring about normal and natural changes to the vagina. This includes changes in discharge or light spotting.
- Hormone levels and menopause – As we age the body starts to lose the hormone estrogen. Loss of estrogen can cause the vaginal lining to thin and make sex painful.
What is ‘normal’ for the vagina?
Discharge from the vagina is normal. The character and amount of vaginal discharge will change throughout your menstrual cycle, but the following characteristics are considered normal.
- Discharge with no distinct odor
- Discharge that is clear or white
- Discharge that is small in amount
What is not ‘normal’?
The general rule of thumb is that anything out of the ordinary for you such as new discharge, itching or pain are things that might require a trip to see the doctor. Here are some symptoms that should prompt you to speak to your OBGYN.
- A change in color or amount of discharge being produced
- A change in the type of discharge being produced such as a clumpy white discharge
- Abnormal smell from the vaginal area
- Itching
- Rashes
- Pain during intercourse
- Bleeding in between periods or after sex
All of these symptoms warrant a trip to see your doctor. It is important not to delay as some symptoms may be caused by a sexually transmitted infection or other serious vaginal condition.
Steps you can take to keep the vagina healthy
- Use protection – Refrain from having unprotected sex when you are not in a mutually monogamous relationship. Sex with multiple partners over a short period of time increases the risk of getting a STI.
- Get vaccinated – HPV vaccinations help protect women from the virus associated with cervical cancer.
- Pap-smear testing – Related to the point above, routine pap smears can help detect cervical cancer. All women over the age of 22 should go for regular pap smear testing every 2-3 years.
- Find birth control methods that work best for you – Barrier contraceptives, such as condoms and diaphragms can cause vaginal irritation.
- Well-woman exams – Make these yearly checkups a normal part of your healthcare routine. These exams focus solely on your breast and gynecological health.
- Do not use douching products – the vagina is self-cleaning. The use of soaps, perfumes or douching may upset the pH balance of the vagina.
As a vital part of our anatomy that is involved in both sex and reproduction, vaginal health is an important part of your overall medical wellbeing. So, use some of the tips above to help keep the vagina happy and healthy.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/vagina/art-200465