4 Tips for Vaginal Health

As you know by now, Femdacity is all things PERIOD.  In order to have a healthy period, you need to take care of business ‘down there’.  Check out our 4 Tips for maintaining Vaginal Health. 

#1 Eating Right

We know what you eat affects your Vaginal Health.  A balanced, nutritious diet and drinking plenty of fluids are key to vaginal and reproductive health.  We put together a cool infographic listing 9 Foods that are rich in antioxidants and probiotics.  Go check them out here:  List of 9 Foods that can ensure Vaginal Health.

#2 Good Hygiene

Maintaining good vaginal hygiene is simple.  It involves keeping clean, using clean towels, and allowing the area ‘down there’ to breathe.

To keep things clean, you should wash daily with unscented soap and water.  Douching is not recommended and can cause more harm than good. So why do we need to leave the scents alone?  Maintaining a healthy pH balance is the key to good hygiene.  Scented soaps and douching can upset that balance which can leave you prone to infections (ouch).

Ever wonder how often you should be using a towel and washcloth?  It’s best to wash and replace towel and washcloths after each use.  Reusing towels puts you at risk of infection because bacteria can cling to these surfaces (eww!).

Breathable underwear like cotton allows your vaginal area to breathe.  If you are on your period, make sure to change your pad regularly as this also reduces the risk of irritation. 

#3 Get Some Exercise

We all know that exercise helps keep our hearts, muscles, and joints healthy.  Did you know that exercise can strengthen your pelvic floor?  Why should you care about your strengthening pelvic floor?  The pelvic floor includes muscles, tissue and ligaments that support the organs in your pelvis.  A weakened pelvic floor can make you more susceptible to lowering of the organs in the pelvic area.  A weakening pelvic floor results from age and pregnancies.  Exercises like squats, glute bridges and posterior pelvic tilts can help your pelvic floor. 

#4 Go See a Doctor

Having regular gynecological exams is important to maintaining your vaginal health. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist recommends women have their first screening gynecologic exam at age 21. It is also recommended that women undergo Pap smears starting at age 21 to screen for changes in vaginal cells that might indicate the presence of cancer. 

So what if you have discomfort, odd symptoms or an infection?  Go see a doctor. There is no shame.  Most infections are pretty common and your primary care and gynecologist are trained to diagnose and treat these.

Please also consider visiting a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Abnormal bleeding.
• A change in odor and unexplained itching.
• A fever or abdominal pain along with vaginal symptoms.
• Bladder leakage.
• Burning when you pee.
• If you think you are pregnant.