How to maintain female hygiene – Female hygiene is a topic that needs attention. In females, hygiene is a lot important as poor hygiene can cause many diseases. Many females feel shy while talking about matters like menstruation and female hygiene. But I feel that we are living in the ’20s and very ahead of all this shyness. We must understand that vaginal hygiene is a matter of concern as it is very important for a healthy reproductive system as well as genitals. Regardless of your age, the steps to maintain hygiene are the same.
- Keeping undergarments dry: After going to the washroom it is a lot important to restore the vagina to dry as wet vagina will result in a bad smell and can be the root of many vaginal problems. Hence, you must always use toilet paper or cloth to dry your vaginal area just after using the washroom. A healthy vaginal environment is marked by vaginal discharge. Be careful while using powders and cloth to the vagina as it can dry your vagina and can cause irritation and redness. Not only this it can increase the pain during the sex causing injury. Also, it has been evidenced that using powder on wet areas in the vagina can cause endometrial cancer.
- Changing sanitary pads after every 4 hours: During periods it is advisable to change the sanitary pad every four to six hours if you experience the normal flow. But if you have heavy flow then it is advisable to change the sanitary pad every 3 to 4 hours. In the case of tampons, it is advisable to change it every six hours. And always clean the area in periods every time you visit the washroom. If not changed for a long time it can cause a bad smell and many infections. Some women use reusable cloth napkins but it is imperative to make sure that they are washed and dried properly for using it again.
- Cleaning vagina post-sex: Every time you indulge in sex never forget to clean the vagina as during sex your vagina is exposed to various fluids and particles of condoms that can cause irritation. Not only this it can cause vaginal infections. Hence always wash your vagina after intimation in order to prevent infections. It can also lower the risk of urinary tract infections.
- “Say no to soaps”: Never use soap for washing the vagina. Soaps contain harmful chemicals such as glycerol, antiseptics, and perfumes that affect the healthy vaginal- bacterial balance. Soaps have the power to change the ph of the vagina that can lead to irritation and unhealthy bacteria growth. It is advisable to use lukewarm water and plain soaps to wash the vagina.
- Douching must be avoided: Water is flushed into the vagina to clean vaginal secretions through a device called douch. Douch can play with the pH of your vagina as it contains several chemicals and can also affect the vaginal bacteria. Whereas there is no proof to date that it helps in cleaning of sexually transmitted infections.
- Avoid scented feminine hygiene products: In order to keep the vagina healthy, you must avoid vaginal perfumes, perfumed wipes, etc. These products can increase the risk of vaginal infections.
- Vaginal scrubs: Say no to vaginal scrubs as they can peel your skin out and can lead to vaginal infections.
- Safe sex: If indulged in unprotective sex, you are prone to the risk of transmission of various infections such as herpes, AIDS, HIV, etc. Hence, it is advisable to do safe sex in order to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy and transmission of various vaginal infections. Be careful about the protection you use, make sure it suits you, and do not cause allergies. Lubes must also be avoided in order to avoid vaginal infections.
- Don’t wear tight clothes: A tight undergarment will block the way of the air hence causing sweating which can lead to the formation of yeast and bacteria. Also do not wear bath gowns for a long span of time.
- Wipe right: We all know that what is wiping but maybe we are unaware of the way it should be done. You can wipe the vagina from front to back as it will avoid vaginal infections.
- Say no to shaving: Shaving of public hairs is very common in women as they appear to be messy and unclean. Even shaving must be avoided as your public hairs have a lot of benefits for your pubic parts. Also, improper shaving can cause injuries that can lead to various vaginal infections.
“Never sound ignorant on vaginal infection”: Symptoms of vaginal infections such as bad smell, excessive and colored vaginal discharge must be taken care and if noticed then consulting the doctor is a must.
These all are some of the ways of maintaining hygiene in women. You must act very specific with the intimate products you buy. Never be ignorant about the matters of hygiene because it’s “Better safe than sorry”.