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While many people are shy about it, vaginal health is paramount. Not taking care of complications associated with poor vaginal hygiene can be a source of problems in the future. It may affect your potential to reach an organism and complicate your sex drive.

In today’s age, feminine hygiene is a necessity neglected by teens and adult females despite its importance. Women should follow the following Hygienic measures for healthy genitalia.

1. Avoid Douching

Have you ever used a douche machine? A douche is a gadget to flush water up into the vagina to wipe out vaginal secretions. This machine uses different chemicals that may alter the vaginal PH and interfere with the normal vaginal bacteria.

During ovulation, the estrogen level in circulation increases, the cervical os opens, and the mucus becomes more prolific and clearer. Therefore, the threat of pushing up the infection through the douching pressure may be high during the ovulation when the cervical os is widening.

Additionally, it is not proven that douching can shield you from vaginal or sexually transmitted infections. It wipes away the vagina’s natural defense against infections. Douching has been affiliated with multiple unfortunate outcomes, such as low birth weight, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, preterm birth, bacterial vaginosis, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and human immunodeficiency virus transmission.

2. Maintain the Undergarments Dry

If you don’t wipe your vagina after urinating, your panties can get wet. It can cause a foul odor and also expose you to potential vaginal infections. It would be best if you therefore dried the area using a soft cloth or toilet paper.

However, vaginal discharge or fluid indicates a healthy environment in the vagina. Excessive wiping or using other products to dry can make your vagina dry, leading to itchiness. Dryness can cause pain during intercourse and make your vagina susceptible to injury. You can experience vaginal dryness throughout your life; in this case, you can use natural cures for female dryness to eliminate the problem.

3. Rinse off after intercourse

You should make it a routine to clean the vagina every time after sex. It eliminates any particles and body fluids from the condom that can lead to itchiness—failing to clean the vagina after intercourse makes you susceptible to vaginal infections. So, always clean with water to prevent conditions such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Additionally, a simple pee after sex may help wipe out any bacteria that could have been deposited into the urethra during sex. However, you should desist from using strong fragrant or cleaner products to wash your vagina as chemical components in those products may lead to infections.

4. Avoid Tight Clothes

You should wear underwear made from breathable materials like cotton. Wearing tight undergarments and clothes made from synthetic fabrics leads to sweating due to limited air circulation. Extreme moisture and sweating can cause the growth of yeast and bacteria, leading to vaginal infection.

You should avoid tight spandex, leather pants, and wet bathing suits for a prolonged period. Tight-fitting clothes produce a warm and moist environment in the body that causes fungal infection. If your vulvar area is large, including labia majora, and labia minora, tight clothes can pose a threat. Intimate clothing causes discomfort, tingling and numbness, and pain in the vaginal area, a condition known as vulvodynia.

5. Change Sanitary Pad every 4-6 Hours

According to Dr. Nupur Gupta, a gynecologist based in Delphi, you should change your sanitary pad every four-six hours if you have a standard blood flow. That should apply even on occasions when you have light blood flow.

If your menstruation flow is heavy, change your sanitary napkin every 3-4 hours. You should also clean the vaginal area anytime you visit the washroom during menstruation. If you stay for a long time without changing your sanitary pads, it can result in a foul odor and skin rashes. Similarly, women who use reusable cloth pads should ensure they are clean and dried properly before use.

Conclusion

Genital organs play a crucial role in female health, and hygiene is critical to protect these body parts. Poor personal hygiene can be the genesis of many body complications, such as vaginal dryness, abnormal virginal discharge, and odor. You should therefore follow the above hygiene tips for your benefit.