A Woman’s Reproductive Health is determined by the hygiene of the reproductive organs, a clean Vagina leads to a healthy reproductive System.
The female sexual organ (Vagina) has been marked out as a shameful topic to talk about in public, having been associated with shame around different traditional norms and stereotypes, as only women are allowed to talk about it among themselves in private.
However, in our increasingly digital world, civilization has paved the way to a modern society where reproductive health awareness is more encouraged.
The significance of the virgin and the importance of keeping it healthy and hygienic among women is an open discussion.
“Most women talk about taking good care of their bodies but tend to forget about the vagina,”
“Taking care of your vagina helps in staying comfortable and free from infection.
“It is important to learn how to keep your vagina clean, whether it should be washed after sex, or even if vaginal steaming is safe.” Marie stopes statement read in part.
How do I clean my vagina?
The vagina keeps itself clean naturally, so no soap is needed near the organ.
From puberty, your vagina self-cleans with the help of normal discharge and good bacteria, called lactobacilli.
This keeps the vagina healthy and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria.
So side step anything that can disturb the natural balance of your vagina, including:
getting soap in your vagina when washing scented vaginal washes and wipe washing inside your vagina (douching)
It is recommendable to wash the area outside your vagina every day. Your vulva is the area surrounding the opening of your vagina, including the labia (or vaginal lips) and clitoris.
When washing your vulva:
Gently cleanse the folds of your labia using a clean flannel or your hands, taking care not to get soap inside your vagina.
Be careful to wash from front to back, to avoid spreading bacteria from the anus to the vagina
Rinse well so no soap is left to irritate your skin.
Dry gently by dabbing with a soft towel. Avoid rubbing.
Perfumed soap can irritate. Plain warm water, unperfumed soap, or a soap substitute are good alternatives.
Can my underwear irritate my vagina?
Yes, it can. Tight-fitting or synthetic underwear can cause itchiness in some women, and make their vagina and the area around it feel sore or itchy.
Closely fitting underpants could also be a cause, as switching to looser-fitting cotton underwear, and trousers with enough room can be a solution to the problem.
Wearing fresh clean underwear every day is encouraged, as you might also want to try wearing no underwear when at home or the night.
How can I keep my vagina healthy during sex?
After sex:
Having a wee after sexual intercourse helps to flush out any germs that have gotten into the tube that carries urine out of your body during sex.
You may want to gently clean your vulva by rinsing it with warm water. Don’t douche!
How can I safely remove my pubic hair?
Pubic hair has no effects on vaginal health, so removing your pubic hair won’t make your vagina cleaner or healthier.
The amount of hair in your vagina is a personal choice, but hair removal formulas like the hot wax or razor can be risky or cause injuries.
Shaving your pubic hair can lead to bruising the skin causing razor burns and cuts that can get infected.
Tips for safer shaving:
Soak in the tub or wash before you start shaving to get rid of bacteria.
Apply shaving cream, gel, or soap suds to keep your skin lubricated and make shaving easier.
Shave in the direction that the hair grows, using slow strokes. This will irritate less and be smoother.
Rinse your skin with warm water after you are done shaving and then pat dry.
Waxing and hair removal creams can also irritate the skin.
This can cause deep infection of the skin, called cellulitis, and inflammation of the hair follicles called folliculitis.
Being keen on waxing and hair removal cream instructions to learn how you can use the product correctly for the area.
Should I try vaginal steaming?
Vaginal steaming is a traditional method of cleaning your vagina and uterus, recently made popular by the actor Gwyneth Paltrow.
Viginal steaming is not recommendable.
Vaginal steaming involves sitting over a container of hot water and herbs, allowing the steam to travel up into your vagina.
Vaginas don’t need to be steam cleaned, and you risk irritating or even burning, the delicate skin in that area.
What else can I do to keep my vagina healthy?
It’s advisable to know what is normal for an individual in terms of their reproductive system.
Being aware of what your normal vaginal discharge looks, smells, and feels like across the month so if you notice any changes you can seek help.
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Getting familiar with what the area around your vagina looks and feels so that you’ll notice any changes in colour, new bumps, itchiness, or burning.
The vagina can also be maintained to stay healthy by:
Maintaining a healthy diet.
Doing pelvic floor exercises.
Always wiping from front to back after a wee or poo so that you avoid spreading bacteria.
