30/05/2016
How to Have a Healthy Va**na
We all know tips and tricks for getting healthy hair and skin, but what about having a healthy va**na? Most people with va**nas are taught early on to cleanse daily with strong soap or use "feminine hygiene" sprays, but this can actually do more harm than good. Knowing the right way to stay clean, choosing foods that will boost your health, and even exercising your va**na are all ways you can keep your va**na in tip top shape. Read on to learn more about how to have a healthy va**na
Keeping Your Va**na Clean
Wash with hot water only. It may seem counterintuitive, but washing your va**na with soap, whether it's bar soap or liquid, isn't the best way to keep clean. The va**na actually stays quite clean on its own without the help of outside cleansers.[1] Like other parts of the body, the va**na has a pH level that needs to be maintained within a certain range - 3.5 and 4.5, to be specific - in order to prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria and facilitate the growth of good bacteria. Using harsh cleansers can upset the balance, leading to infection, irritation, and even bad smells.
People often refer to the entire area "down there" as the va**na, but remember that the va**na is actually the tube-like muscle located inside your body. The v***a, the skin outside the va**na, may be cleansed with no-frills bar soap, as long as you don't find that it irritates your skin.
If you do end up washing your va**na with soap, make sure to thoroughly rinse it with warm water so that no traces of soap are left behind. Soap left inside the va**na can cause irritation.
Don't use douches or feminine sprays. Douching with chemicals that are supposed to make your va**na smell like a field of flowers actually ends up having quite the opposite effect.[2] They wash out all the healthy bacteria that helps your va**na stay clean and infection-free. The chemicals left behind by douches can cause irritation and even burning, and the same goes for feminine sprays. If you keep your va**na healthy using other methods, there will be no need to try to make it smell different.
Scented creams marketed as a way to change the smell of your va**na can cause the same problems, so these should also be avoided. The same goes for scented pads and tampons and scented wipes.
If you feel like you absolutely have to use a scent on your va**na, go for something completely natural and chemical free. You can make your own body spray by mixing a few drops of an essential oil like rose, lavender or lemongrass with water in a spray bottle. Use the body spray after showering, and make sure you're completely dry before getting dressed.
Have good hygiene during your period. Many women experience an increased rate of va**nal infections when they're menstruating, since having blood in the va**na changes its pH and throws things out of balance. To stay healthy during your period, practice the following habits:
Change your tampon frequently. Tampons absorb menstrual blood, and if you leave them in too long, you're keeping the blood in your va**na where it can change your pH. Make sure you change your tampon every few hours to keep this from happening.
Don't use pads or panty liners for longer than necessary. Wearing pads and panty liners all month long or after your period is over can lead to skin irritation.
Consider getting a menstrual cup. These rubber cups are inserted in the va**na to catch the blood, then rinsed out with hot water every few hours. Menstrual cups are a chemical-free choice for handling your period, and they can be really helpful if you tend to get irritated by tampons and pads.
Wipe from front to back. It's important to wipe from front to back, rather than the reverse, to keep f***l matter from entering your va**na and causing an infection. Use plain, unscented toilet paper to wipe. Avoid using wet wipes or any other product that contains perfumes and chemicals.
Wear cotton underwear. Cotton underwear dries quickly and allows air to flow freely through the fabric. This prevents the development of damp conditions that promote the growth of yeast and unhealthy bacteria that might lead to an infection. Underwear made from synthetic fabrics, silk, lace, or other materials doesn't breathe as well.
If you like wearing underwear made from fabrics other than cotton, make sure the section of the underwear that will be touching your va**na has a cotton liner.
If you tend to get a lot of va**nal infections, try picking underwear made from organic, undyed cotton.
Wear loose-fitting clothing. Stretch pants, skinny jeans, and tights trap moisture against the skin and prevent airflow, often leading to yeast infections. Try wearing looser, lighter fabrics that breathe well. Go for skirts and dresses more often, and choose thigh-high tights instead of the kind that pull up around your waist. Pick out shorts that are on the looser side, too.
Change out of wet clothes right away. Wearing a wet bathing suit or wet workout clothes for a few hours leaves you prone to getting a yeast infection. Make sure you change into clean, dry underwear as soon as possible after swimming or working out. You might even want to keep an extra pair on hand for unexpected situations when you might find yourself in need of a fresh pair.
If you decide to shave the area around your va**na, be very careful not to cut yourself with the razor. Use shaving cream (making sure not to let any get inside your va**na) and take your time shaving around the folds so you don't accidentally get hurt.
Waxing is another option that many women choose. If you go this route, make sure you do some research and choose a reputable waxing salon that uses clean products and wax. Waxing salons with unsanitary practices can cause the spread of bacterial infections.
Wash after s*x. When you have s*x with a partner, you're opening yourself up to bacteria and other microscopic substances that can end up irritating your va**na and causing an infection. The solution? Wash your va**na with hot water after s*x. This will greatly minimize the chance that your encounter will have an unpleasant after effect.
Asking your partner to wash before s*x is also a good idea, especially if you aren't using condoms.
Washing other body parts before s*x can be helpful, too! If you're especially prone to getting infections, try taking a shower with your partner before having s*x to minimize the risk that you'll end up with unhealthy bacteria in your body.
Use dental dams and gloves as an extra form of protection if you receive oral s*x or are being fingered.
P*e after s*x. At the very least, p*e after s*x, even if you intend on washing, too. When you have s*x, unwanted bacteria can travel up the urethra, which is connected to your bladder. P*eing after s*x can help flush the bacteria out of the va**nal area, promoting general health and helping you avoid those pesky UTIs.
Try using condoms. The pH of semen is basic, whereas the pH of the va**na is acidic. When semen is left in the va**na after s*x, it upsets the balance in the va**na, leaving it prone to bacteria growth. Using condoms or another barrier method eliminates this problem. If you don't want to use condoms, wash the semen away right after s*x so it doesn't have time to change the pH of your va**na.
Healthy Va**na Step
Eat plenty of yogurt. Yogurt has the same kind of "good" bacteria that your va**na needs to stay healthy.[5] You can replenish your body's bacteria by making yogurt part of your daily diet. Eating yogurt is a great way to both prevent and treat yeast infections.
Other foods besides yogurt also help your body in this way. Kimchi, kombucha, and other fermented foods can be substituted for yogurt if you aren't a big fan.
Yogurt pills are also available if you'd prefer not to ingest yogurt on a daily basis.