A healthy vagina is naturally acidic and contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that help fend off infections and maintain a normal pH level. A healthy vagina will also secrete small amounts of discharge to keep itself clean, much as saliva is produced to help cleanse your mouth. Any interference with these normal conditions, and you may face vaginal irritation or infection.
Being a woman is as equally great sometimes as it is painful, and no body part knows that to be more true then your vagina. Every female has her own personal and slightly different scent, and it can be temporarily affected by menstruation, an infection, and even sex. Few things can make women feel more insecure than worrying about how pleasant their smell is, especially before getting tangle with a partner.
If something is smelling a little off, it’s probably time to go get things checked out. But for perfectly healthy women who just want to make sure that things are staying up-to-par down there, there are ways to eliminate insecurities and ensure a clean, fresh smell. Here’s how to keep your vagina healthy:
1. Practice Good Hygiene
Shower regularly: Shower at least twice a day to help get rid of bacteria that can build up and cause odor in the vagina, just like everywhere else on the body.
Use natural soaps: Washing your body with fragrant soaps that contain unnatural ingredients can cause irritation and upset the natural balance of your body. Choose a fragrance-free soap made from natural ingredients to avoid any possible irritation.
Don’t douche: Douching can upset the vagina's natural balance and increase the risk of irritation. It can create an imbalance of your body's natural bacteria and can end up causing an infection. Not to mention your vagina cleans itself by naturally producing good bacteria that helps wipe out the bad bacteria. Putting soap into your vagina only interferes with that process, so it’s best to give the feminine washes a break.
Wipe correctly: Yes, there is a correct way to wipe after using the bathroom. Wipe from back to front and be careful not to miss anything. Wiping in the opposite direction can sweep bacteria into the vagina and cause an infection.
Choose your lube wisely: When buying a lubricant, avoid lubricants with a heavy fragrance, and stick to water- or silicone-based. Be careful with the products you use around your vagina, including lotions.
Wear breathable underwear: Wearing cotton underwear helps circulate air and prevent rubbing, keeping your nether regions dry and happy.An overly moist environment can cause a build-up of bacteria, so wear underwear that aren’t too tight – preferably cotton. Be sure not to leave the same pair on for more than 24 hours.
See Your Gynecologist for Preventive Care: Having regular gynecological check is crucial to maintaining your vaginal health. Every woman should have her first gynecological check by age 21 or within three years of becoming sexually active. Gynecologists and family physicians are trained to diagnose diseases and disorders that can harm the vagina or your reproductive system as a whole. Gynecologists also perform Pap smears, which can detect changes in vaginal cells that might indicate the presence of cancer.
Work it Out: Doing kegels is crucial for strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, which are key in producing stronger, mind-blowing orgasms—not to mention bladder control.
2. Be Aware of Causes
Protect yourself against infections and diseases: The major causes of a strong, unpleasant vaginal odor are yeast and bacterial infections along with STIs, STDs or viruses. Use caution and be sure to protect yourself against the possibilities. If something seems off, visit a doctor right away.
Know that sex can change vaginal odor: Any foreign bacteria can change the balance in your vagina, so certain sexual practices can cause an odor, such as allowing semen into the vagina. This change in smell is temporary, but it’s worth being aware of.
Not changing your pad often enough: Though the exact amount of time varies, you should swap out your pad or tampon before it becomes soaked with blood during mensuration. The office of Women's Health suggests to changing your pad every four to eight hours depending on the heaviness of the flow. Not doing this can result in some pretty scary consequences, including infection and even toxic shock syndrome.
You’re having unsafe sex: Using condoms during sex helps to protect against Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) such as HIV, genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts and chlamydia. Some of these diseases, like HIV and genital herpes, have no cure. And others, like the human papillomavirus that causes genital warts, are also known to cause cancer or lead to other diseases. You should change condoms when switching from oral or anal sex to vaginal sex, to prevent the introduction of harmful bacteria into the vagina.
Approach Antibiotics with Caution: Another threat to your vagina are antibiotics. Those pills can kill off some of that wonderful lactobacilli that keep your vagina healthy. Its advisable to take an antibiotic only on doctor's prescription.
Treat Infections When They Arise: Three types of vaginal infections are common: yeast infection, bacteria vaginosis, and trichomonsias. Yeast infections are caused by several types of fungi, while bacterial vaginosis is caused by bacteria overgrowth in the vagina. Trichomoniasis is sexually transmitted. Treating these infections is crucial because not treating them can lead to unpleasant, painful, and serious reproductive health problems. All three are can be treated with oral or topical medications.
3. Healthy Tips
Eat a healthy diet: Certain foods can alter your body’s balance of sugar, bacteria and chemical compounds. Your diet plays a pretty major role in how things smell down there. Start by eating less sugar. It can spike your blood pressure which can cause a bad odor, and even cause yeast buildup, which can lead to an infection. There is no scientific evidence to back it up, but some swear by pineapple for a sweeter smell.
You may not realize it, but a balanced, nutritious diet and drinking plenty of fluids are key to vaginal and reproductive health. In fact, certain foods may be effective in treating vaginal health problems. Cranberry juice and yogurt can potentially help prevent yeast infections and aid in their treatment.
Try wet wipes: The occasional use of a wet wipe or a baby wipe can help get rid of residue. Use wipes that are fragrance-free and only clean the outside.
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