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.
