How to keep your vagina healthy?

The vagina is a very sensitive and fragile part of a woman’s body which can clean itself up, but it’s also a gateway for various bacterial and viral infections. A vagina that is not properly cared for is obvious as there would be increased vaginal discharge, vaginal odor, and strange looking vaginal discharge. A good vaginal health equals to good sexual health.

Normally, the vagina has its acidic PH with good bacteria that help fight off the bad bacteria that causes infection when it is in its healthy state. There is also a small amount of vaginal discharge which comes from a part of the substance used to protect the cervix and the surrounding cells but when something goes wrong, there would be itching and burning in the vaginal area. To avoid infections, you have to keep your vaginal healthy in the following ways:

Avoid douching

Douching makes the vaginal lose its natural PH acidity which disrupts the healthy bacteria found in the vagina. When the vaginal PH is disrupted, the vagina becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and virus. Rather than use douching to cover up the bad odor of your vagina, go for a test to determine the cause of the vaginal odor. You can treat the vagina odor once you know its cause.

Maintain a healthy diet

What you eat and drink affects your overall body, including the vagina. When you eat a well balanced and nutritious diet, you’ll notice your vagina discharge are clearer and odorless. Drinking enough water will prevent vaginal dryness. You can also eat yogurt which provides the body with probiotics that helps in preventing yeast infection. Eat yogurts such as plain Greek yogurt every day for probiotics to fight off infection.

Use condom

During sexual intercourse, don’t forget to use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are incurable. You are exposed to the risk of HIV, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, genital warts, and gonorrhea. You also stand the risk of getting cancer when you have HPV (human papillomavirus. Some infections such as genital herpes and HIV are incurable.

Avoid exposure to germs

During sex, some couples tend to use one condom for both anal and vaginal sex which is wrong as it can introduce bacteria from the anus to the vagina which could lead to serious infection. Sharing sex toys with your partner also causes transmission of germs and bacteria to each other.

Go for a regular checkup

To monitor and maintain your vaginal health, you should go for regular gynecological exams and pap smear to know if the vaginal cells are abnormal. If you are diagnosed with any disease, and it's curable, you’ll receive treatment immediately. Treat your vaginal infections as soon as possible and avoid waiting for them to disappear. You can treat yeast infections with over the counter drugs. If you have trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis, go for treatment at the hospital. Not treating them in time could cause fertility issues and expose you to the risk of an HIV infection.