VAGINAL HEALTH: HOW TO CLEANSE THE VAGINA

Optimum vaginal health is a confidence booster in any woman, especially sexually. Welcome, I’m glad you’re interested in learning more about the vagina and how to cleanse it. At the end of this post, you’ll be armed with the best practices to keep you clean, fresh and safe.

Many women interested in learning how to do this, want to do so because their partners have complained at how ‘offensive’ their vaginal smell is. Some others have just noticed this themselves. Another minority, want to do it prophylactically (prevention). All good, keep reading.

A LITTLE ANATOMY LESSON

Before we start, I’ll love to make sure that you understand your anatomy. I discovered that some women don’t know the difference between the Vulva and their Vagina. Also, another minority don’t know that women have two openings in their genital region. One is the Urethra, for Urine and another is the Vagina; For sex, Child birth and Menstruation.

The Vulva: This is the outer part of the genital area. It is composed of the labia majora and Labia minora, the clitoris, the urethral opening, the vaginal opening.

THE VAGINA: This is the birth canal. The opening from where you menstruate, ovulate and also have sexual intercourse.

TIPS FOR CLEANSING THE VAGINA

1. LEAVE IT NATURAL :

Yes, I bet you weren’t expecting to hear this, but this is the best advice anyone can give you.

Contrary to what many people think, you don’t have to actively do anything to cleanse your vagina. The Vagina is self cleansing. It can clean up itself. That’s why you have vaginal discharge (Of course the normal one, colorless and odorless). 

Also, the Vagina is one of the cleanest parts of the body. It already has normal flora and lactic acid helping it fight infections. As long as you’re healthy and your immune system is high, you’re good to go.

When there’s a problem is when you upset the normal flora of that area, which happens when you start introducing various things into the vagina. Most of these ‘cleansers’, both natural and chemical, change the PH of the vagina from acidic to alkaline and that’s when infection sets in.

Most people say, “When I stopped using my cleanser, I started smelling.” Well, that on its own is the problem. Your vagina shouldn’t be dependent on these things, once you start using them, you become more dependent Cos you have changed the flora and without and external scent, you will start smelling.

Lastly, what exactly do you call a smell? Don’t forget that the vagina has a distinct scent and that’s how it was created. It isn’t offensive, but it is unique and natural. If God wanted you to smell like strawberries, he’d have made you one. Stop introducing things into your vagina, it is a sacred ground.

2. TREAT YOUR INFECTIONS COMPLETELY:

If you’re complaining of an offensive odour, chances are you might have an infection. Especially if accompanied by vaginal itching and offensive discharge. In this case, a ‘cleanser’ is not what you need, as it could even be what led you here in the first place. What you need to do is to see a Trained Medical doctor or better still, a Gynaecologist, to properly examine, test and treat you.

A lot of persons prefer using patent drug dealers, buying concoctions that promise all and deliver none, and also ‘sex therapists’ who are after their pockets, and understand nothing about disease pathogenesis and pathophysiology. 

Don’t be deceived into self MEDICATION See a DOCTOR... and when you do, please take your medications as advised. 

BACTERIAL Vaginosis and VAGINAL candidiasis are two of the Commonest vaginal infections. Bacterial Vaginosis has a fishy Odour. Vaginal candidiasis isn’t sexually transmitted; it is usually caused by fungus, usually from a low immunity, wearing wet or tight underwear and trousers. 

Embrace prevention, sun your undies, iron your pants if the sun isn’t so strong, avoid tights and tight trousers as much as you can. Embrace healthy sexual habits.

3. STOP ANTIBIOTIC ABUSE:

This one table, has a lot of Nigerians across different generations standing on it. The only style of abuse left out, is having a capsule of antibiotic to go with our daily morning tea. That’s if anyone hasn’t started that already.

Antibiotic for stomach ache, leg pain, headache, menstrual pain, ovulation pain, Vaginal discharge which may be normal, itching which may be allergic, and odour which maybe as a result of this long term abuse of antibiotics.

Antibiotics are drugs used in fighting or killing specific bacteria. Before you use an antibiotic, you should be tested and the specimen cultured to know exactly what bacteria you are dealing with, this will guide you to know what antibiotic to use. Also, some people will use antibiotics (antibacterials) to treat fungal infections... you see the vanity? Antibiotic abuse lowers ones immunity and ability to fight infections, it destroys the normal flora, thereby welcoming infections, ones that would ordinarily have been fought off.

In addition, Antibiotic resistance is a thing. Antibiotics can be abused to the point were bacteria becomes resistant to the effect of antibiotics, and so these infections will defy treatment. Do you really want these problems for yourself and your dear vagina?

4. DON’T STEAM YOUR VAGINA:

Newsflash, Your Vagina is a delicate area of your body and you should treat it as such. You should never steam your vagina either by sitting over hot or steaming water (plain or spiced?) or by soaking in hot tub water. This is wrong and harmful to the vagina. It will alter the PH of that area, and also destroy the normal flora. It’s worse off when antiseptic fluids are added to the water; double tragedy. It can also cause trauma. Yes, exceptions are made for new mums, post delivery, where can sit over warm water to help ease off pain and lochia ( AFTER BIRTH DISCHARGE), this is called a Sitz Bath. This isn’t compulsory or to be done over hot water. Unless you have been advised for any reason by your Doctor to have a sitz bath, please desist.

5. WASH YOUR VAGINA WITH ONLY WATER:

Don’t wash the vagina with soap. Only water is enough. Wash your Vulva thoroughly and your vagina mildly with water. In few cases like during menstruation, some women are put off by the distinct smell of their menstrual blood which they feel water cannot wash off, in this case I usually advice mild use of soap around the labia region of the vulva alone (not the vagina) and thoroughly rinse with plain, none antiseptic water. This is not an everyday routine.

Only water is VERY SUFFICIENT and HEALTHIEST. Only water is Best!

6. DOUCHING:

Douche is French for “wash” or “Soak”. This act is very common amongst American women and fast becoming common in our clime. According to Web MD “An estimated 20%- 40% of American women between ages 15 and 44 say they use a vaginal douche.

Plot twist is that douching is not only ineffective for these reasons, it also increases the risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease by altering the normal flora of the vagina, it leads to pregnancy difficulties and complications like ectopic pregnancy. In addition, douching has been found to be implicated in some cancers like; cervical cancers. See more here

SOME REASONS WHY WOMEN DOUCHE INCLUDE;

-      To feel fresh

-      To get rid of unpleasant odours

-      Wash away menstrual blood after their period,

-      To prevent getting sexually transmitted diseases

-      And also to prevent pregnancy.

Before today, did you know the difference between the Vulva and Vagina? We understand the need to cleanse and be fresh always; however it’s best to leave the Vagina as it is. 

Don’t forget that the Vagina is self cleansing.

Kindly drop your comments below and please do share!!