The vagina and its surrounding area, the vulva (which includes the clitoris and labia), are highly sensitive to touch. They need special care – but not for the reasons you might think. Here are some Tips on Keeping the Vagina clean.
Most women who have a vagina of their own know that they’re supposed to keep it clean and nice-smelling, down there. If this is new information to you, I bet it’s because your mother never told you this. It is not something that people like to talk about, but it is very important for good health.
I’m sure your mom washed the rest of you in the tub when you were little; why should it be any different down there?
The vagina keeps itself clean. It has its own built-in washing mechanism. When you think about it, the vagina is like a self-cleaning oven; it needs no outside help to stay fresh and clean, but it does need some tender loving care every once in a while – especially if you have been sweating down there, wearing tight cloths or going to the gym.
Here are some tips to keep you fresh and clean, between your legs:
· Always wipe from front to back, never back to front. This one is very important because bacteria likes hanging out at the opening of the vagina , which is located at the back. It can give you urinary tract infections . Plus, you don’t want to bring those bacteria around your vagina , do you?
· Always wash before going to bed. If possible, go take a quick shower as well. This will prevent vaginal infections . At night, the area tends to sweat more and that acts as an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure that there is no trace of urine or vaginal discharge before you sleep, because this could lead to yeast infections .
Always wear cotton underwear. Avoid wearing tight cloths down there because it traps moisture and heat, which is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re wearing skin-tight clothes, go commando . It feels much more comfortable.
· Make it a point to always wipe after peeing. Don’t wait until you get home to take care of this. This is very important because doing so can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) . If your urine contains bacteria, the area that has been in contact with it will become infected; then when you wipe yourself, you bring the infection with your hand to wherever you wipe. Even if this does not cause an immediate itch or discomfort, the next time that area is exposed to urine it may increase irritation.
· Always wipe from front to back after defecating. If there are traces of poo on your vaginal opening, bacteria can enter your vagina , causing infections.
· If your period is very heavy, do not use sanitary towels. Using them can increase the risk of infection . Use tampons instead. The latter are said to have a lower chance of increasing bacteria in the vagina because they dry up immediately once they’ve been used; however, this also brings about the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) . If you’ve had TSS before, I suggest using sanitary towels or pantiliners ; if not, go with tampons.
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