Still, the area of feminine hygiene is not often spoken or written about. Here are a few tips on how to take care, for example, of your vulva or external female genitalia:
• In contrast to the male organ, the female organ is more moist due to sticky secretions of the glands that may vary with the time of your menstrual cycle. It is, therefore, important to wash these secretions spreading to the labia and to clean the crease between the labia majora and labia minora where the secretions tend to accumulate.
• The vagina is the canal from the labia minora leading up to the cervix. It is really a self-cleaning organ and is cleaner than your mouth. It contains lactobacilli that continually secrete lactic acid, keeping the acidity of the vagina from 3.8-4.2 and thus discouraging the growth of pathogenic organisms that can cause itchiness or vaginal discharge.
• Soaps are, therefore, not ideal for washing the vagina and vulva since most soaps have a pH of over 7, which is alkaline. That’s why vaginal washes were formulated to maintain the acidity of the vagina that will best support the growth of the lactobacilli to keep infection away.
• Be careful though in choosing the brand of feminine wash since there have been many clinic consultations on vaginal itchiness, rashes, blisters within two months from shifting to a new brand of feminine wash. Be sensitive to your symptoms. Feminine washes with lactic acid are more physiologic since they mimic the natural condition in the vagina.
• Since the vagina is very close to the anus, which contains bacteria that can cause vaginitis and urinary tract infections, it is best to wash in a front-to-back direction, making sure the water is delivered in front and not behind. It might even be best to use your forefinger and middle finger to wash the vulva, and your ring finger and pinky to wash the rectum. That will minimize contamination.
• If you use public bathrooms most of the day, feminine wipes, which are available commercially, come in handy. This keeps the acidity of the vagina at the correct pH, minimizing infection and odor.
• The front-to-back direction also holds true for wiping with tissue to dry the vulva. A cool-setting hair dryer may also be used to dry away the vulva.
• Buy only unscented, white toilet paper to avoid allergic reactions that may come from dyes and perfumes.
• Avoid douching since it mechanically washes away your protective bacteria in the vagina. If you must, do it only once a month on the last day of your menstrual period to wash away the remaining blood. Douching has been found to increase the risk for pelvic inflammatory disease.
• The vulva and menstrual blood normally don’t have a foul odor. There is a musky smell that is unique to each individual, but it should not smell bad. A foul odor is a sign of bacterial buildup. Consult your doctor for this or for any abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Avoid powdering the external genitalia. This has been found to increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Do not apply perfumes, or feminine hygiene sprays that may irritate the skin and cause allergies and promote the risk for vaginal infections.
• Pubic hair grows because it has a function: To reduce friction during sex so it is not meant to be shaven. But if you must for one reason or another, make sure the wax, shaving cream or depilatory is tested on a small area outside the labia majora to insure you are not allergic to it. Avoid contact of chemicals with the labia minora because it is covered with thinner skin and is more permeable than the labia majora.
• Use only water-based lubricants on your sensitive female genitalia. Oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly can cause condoms to tear. Besides, it is difficult to wash off so it can alter the vaginal flora and promote infections.
Knowing the basics of feminine hygiene can help tremendously in warding off visits to the gynecologist’s office. That’s precious time and money saved. Taking care of the most intimate part of you is something you owe to yourself … as well as to your partner!