The v*gina is one of the most vulnerable parts of a woman’s body. A poor sense of hygiene and inadequate care can expose it to harmful bacteria and viruses which cause infections like syphilis, genital warts, herpes, chlamydia, etc.
Notable signs of these infections include itching and an unpleasant stench. This smell is usually strong, and can get you into an embarrassing situation (imagine taking off your underwear, and he takes a hike…). This is why it is important that as a woman, you take caring for your body very seriously. There are a couple of ways this can be done, and I’ll be letting you in on them through this piece.
Please, do read on…
1. V*GINAL SECRETIONS AND DISCHARGE
Other than your period as part of your natural menstrual cycle, it’s normal to produce clear or white secretions (discharge) from your vagina. This mucus is produced naturally from the neck of the womb, known as the cervix. Most people believe that this discharge is associated with sexually transmitted infections, but this isn’t so, it is a natural occurrence designed to keep the vagina healthy.
Changes in the amount of discharge can be 100% hormonal – in other words, linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause, medical experts say.
The character and amount of vaginal discharge varies throughout your menstrual cycle. Around the time that your ovary releases an egg (ovulation), your discharge usually becomes thicker and stretchy, like raw egg white.
Healthy discharge doesn’t have a strong smell or colour. You may feel an uncomfortable wetness, but you shouldn’t have any itching or soreness around your vagina. If there are any changes to your discharge that aren’t normal for you, such as a change in colour or if it starts to smell or itch, see your doctor as you might have an infection.
2. BACTERIA IN THE VA/GINA
There are lots of bacteria inside the vagina, and they’re there to protect it. Professor Ronnie Lamont, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, says: “The vagina contains more bacteria than anywhere else in the body after the bowel, but the bacteria are there for a reason.”
The good bacteria inside the vagina provide “numerical dominance”; they outnumber other potential harmful bacteria that might enter the vagina, help to keep the vagina’s pH balance (how acidic the vagina is) at an even level, which helps to keep the balance of bacteria healthy, can produce bacteriocins (naturally occurring antibiotics) to reduce or kill other bacteria entering the vagina, produce a substance that stops invading bacteria sticking to the vagina walls which prevents bacteria from invading the tissues.
If the balance of bacteria is disturbed, this can lead to infection and inflammation. Bacteria called lactobacilli help to keep the vagina’s pH balance at its normal low level (less than pH 4.5), which also prevents the growth of other organisms. If the pH of the vagina increases (in other words, if it gets less acidic), the quality or amount of lactobacilli can fall and other bacteria can multiply. This can result in infections such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush, which can cause symptoms including itching, irritation and abnormal discharge.
3. WASHING THE VAGI/NA
It’s a good idea to avoid perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics as these can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in the vagina, and cause irritation.
Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the area around the vagina (the Arrow) gently every day. The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge). According to medical experts, it’s advised that the vagina be washed more than once a day during menstruation. It is also important to keep the perineal area (between the vagina and anus) clean.
“All women are different,” says Professor Lamont. “Some may wash with perfumed soap and not notice any problems, but if any woman has vulval irritation or symptoms, then one of the first things you can do is to use non-allergenic, plain soaps to see if that helps.”
4. VA/GINAL DOUCHES
A douche flushes water up into the vagina, clearing out vaginal secretions. Some women use a douche to “clean” the vagina, but using a douche can disrupt the normal vaginal bacteria so it isn’t recommended that you use one.
“I can’t think of any circumstances where douches are helpful, because all they do is wash out everything that’s in the vagina, including all the healthy bacteria,” explains Professor Lamont.
There is no evidence that douching protects against STIs or vaginal infections, and it may even increase the risk.
5. SCENTED WIPES AND PERFUMED DEODORANTS ARE UNHEALTHY
These perfumed products disrupt the vagina’s healthy, natural balance. “If nature had intended the va/gina to smell like roses or lavender, it would have made the vagina smell like roses or lavender,” says Professor Lamont.
Washing with water and a plain soap should be all you need to keep your vagina healthy. It’s normal for the vagina to have a scent. Va.ginal scent can change at different times of the reproductive cycle and shouldn’t always be thought of as being a sign of infection or illness.
If you’re worried about the way your vagina smells, if the smell is unpleasant, or you’re using perfumed products to cover up your vagina’s smell, you should see your doctor. You might have an infection that needs treatment.
The most common cause of unusual vaginal discharge is bacterial vaginosis, which can cause an unpleasant smell. It’s easily treated with antibiotics, so see your doctor if you’re worried.
6. PLAY SAFE
Some bacteria and viruses can get into the vagina during sex. These include the bugs that cause chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis and HIV. You can protect your vagina against these infections by using a condom every time you have sex.
7. GET YOUR CERVIX SCREENED OFTEN
It is advised that all women between 25 and 64 years old get their cervix screened as regularly as possible — as this would make it easy for abnormalities or changes in the cervix to be identified early on and, if necessary, treated to stop cancer developing.
