It’s easy to find a care guide for everything from your Toyota to a pet rabbit, but learning how to take care of your lady bits can be bit trickier. We’ve recently covered the importance of self-examination in the early detection of breast cancer, and now we’ll turn our attention to the other primary sex trait of women, the vagina. It is important to know basic things to do, and not to do in order to maintain a healthy and happy vagina.
Still a Taboo
In many cultures, speaking about body parts, and sexuality in general, are uncomfortable topics and even taboo to speak of. As a result, not every young woman has a parent or relative who is comfortable sharing valuable information with them, and that is one reason the gynecologists at Women to Women OB-GYN Care are proud to offer a specific program for adolescent gynecological care. We ease young women into a routine of caring for a very important part of their health and answer questions and educate them. To learn some basics for your reproductive health, keep reading.
Stay Clean, But Not Too Clean
That may not sound right, but it is.
It is important to clean the outside of the vagina, or vulva, gently.
Don’t use harsh soaps or scrub hard. Be gentle.
Don’t use perfumed soaps or lotions, as these can cause irritation and even urinary tract infections.
Don’t Douche
The saying that a vagina is a self-cleaning oven is true.
The vagina has a fragile balance which douching can disturb and it can lead to infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy complications.
If you are douching because of a smell or discharge, it is better to seek medical attention than treat it with douching.
Avoid underwear or other undergarments that don’t breathe and or allow moisture to evaporate.
When you dry off, be sure to dry off your lady bits too. Florida is a humid climate, and humidity promotes the growth of bacteria.
Get dry and stay dry.
Avoid talc power, as it has been linked to increased ovarian cancer risks.
Wearing cotton underwear, or underwear with a cotton lining at the crotch is advisable.
Choose and Use Your Feminine Hygiene Products with Care
If you use tampons, be sure to change them at recommended intervals to avoid the chance of toxic shock syndrome.
Many women are avoiding bleached cotton tampons in favor of organic cotton, or the Diva Cup, which is revolutionary as far as feminine hygiene products are concerned and popular among young women.
Urinary Tract Infections
While technically vagina-adjacent, UTI’s are definitely belong in the lady bits care guide! To avoid UTI’s, the following steps are recommended.
Rinse your lady bits after a bubble bath
Wear cotton underwear
Urinate before and after sexual intercourse
Drink adequate amounts of water, especially if drinking alcoholF
Practice Safe Sex
This is a whole other blog topic! For details on how to practice safe sex, talk to your gynecologist.
Call Women To Women OB-Gyn Care for an appointment We speak English, Spanish, and Russian.
