What to do and what not to do, while cleaning your vagina?

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Our vagina is biologically designed to cleanse itself with the help of natural secretions (discharge) that does not require any special cleaning product. As we all know our vagina is a very sensitive organ so before applying anything on it, you must consider an expert (gynecologist). Using chemical products will result in irritation, swelling, etc.

If you put something in your vagina that can potentially disturb your vaginal environment and its discharge. Remember when you put tampons, condoms, penises, semen, and hygienic sex toys, disruption is temporary in these cases and the vagina restores itself within few minutes but this may not happen in the case of cleansing products.

Some people want to clean the vulva, and that’s completely fine. The vulva is the outer portion of the genitals which surrounds the entrance of the vagina. Cleaning the vulva can make you feel clean and more confident. But in this case, you should clean the vulva gently, excessive cleaning can cause negative effects.

How does vaginal discharge helpful for our vaginal health?

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Vaginal discharge plays a very important role in keeping your vagina healthy. Vaginal discharge is also known as mucus and fluid that comes from the vagina. When we reach the puberty stage, when estrogen kicks in, healthy bacteria start developing inside the vagina from the lactobacillus group which produces lactic acid.

Vaginal discharge is completely normal unless it happens with burning, irritation, or any kind of itching. Vaginal discharge is made by skin cells of the vagina and cervix. The vaginal discharge amount varies from one woman to another woman. Sometimes it varies at different times during the menstruation cycle.

With providing a protective environment, the vaginal discharge has natural lubrication with between one and 4mls of fluid produced every 24 hours. Healthy vaginal discharge has a characteristic smell because of the sweat glands, in some women, the large number of sweat glands can make the smell stronger. So, it is not advised to wash your vagina because the bacteria produced within it plays an important role in keeping your vagina healthy.

How to safely clean the vagina?

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As we know vagina is a self-cleansing organ, and you don’t need to clean it regularly but you do need to clean the vulva. Regular cleaning is unnecessary. You can keep the area clean and healthy by avoiding some habits and applying some habits in your daily routine.

·Using a condom while having sex with your partner will reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs.

·You should urinate after having sex, it will help in avoiding the risk of developing a UTI.

·You should wipe your vagina from front to back after urinating.

· Avoid having vaginal sex straight after you had anal sex because this can spread bacteria from the anus to the vagina.

·One should keep the vaginal area as dry as possible, if it involves changing your underwear then you should if it becomes wet with sweat, menstrual blood, or other fluids.

If you want to clean your vulva, you can wash the external area with warm water. They can even use a mild unscented soap.

Some cleaning strategies you should avoid.

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We all want to keep our genitals healthy and clean, so as to avoid any kind of infections, pain, or irritation(burning). It is advised not to use following kind of ways:

·         Feminine deodorant sprays: our genitals are biologically not designed to have a great fragrance; these products might have chemicals within them and regular use of them have the potential to cause burning or any other kind of infection.

·         Perfumes: same as sprays they are also not advised to use it on our genitals.

·         Detergent Soaps: we don’t even use detergent and body cleaning soaps on our face cause our face skin is so sensitive the same as genital skin is much more sensitive than our face. So, using detergent can harm the walls of our genitals.

·         Soaps containing perfume: our genitals do not require any kind of scent.

·         Douches: doctors also do not recommend using douches not even the ones in which the manufacturers claim are safe and natural.

·         Vaginal steaming.

When to seek medical advice.

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Vaginal discharge is normal and very common. Whatsoever, vaginal discharge with these kinds of following symptoms and sign is not normal and should be taken care by the health care provider:

1.  Labia or, vaginal opening, itching of the vulva.

2.  Swelling of the vulva skin, burning, soreness, and redness.

3.  Bad odor.

4.  Pain during intercourse or urination.

5.  Foamy or greenish-yellow discharge.

6.  Blood-tinged vaginal discharge.

Takeaways

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Never try to use any chemical product on our highly sensitive genital skin. The odor which is biologically designed is completely normal and common and do not try to change it by any kind of sweet smell.

Always wash your vulva with normal water. Eat healthy food and exercise which helps to keep our vagina healthy.