Vaginal health is exceedingly important for women’s health. So, what constitutes a healthy vagina? While most people don’t think much about it, a healthy vagina should contain low levels of acidic pH, small amounts of discharge, and rich bacterias that help fight off infections. 
Though many women might not care about it, others “can notice anywhere up to a teaspoon or tablespoon of discharge a day,” says Leah Millheiser, MD, director of the female sexual medicine program at Stanford University Medical Center in California, as per an article published on Everyday Health. “Discharge is a normal physiologic reaction — it’s essentially shedding of cervical and vaginal cells.”
However, “if women experience changes in vaginal odor, a change in color of their discharge that may be associated with discomfort — whether it’s pelvic discomfort or vulvar discomfort, itching, or burning — any change needs to be evaluated,” further says Dr. Millheiser.
What’s the Difference Between Vagina and Vulva?
Many people mistake vulva for vagina. There’s a major difference between the two. Vulva is the outer part of your genital area that includes your labia, clitoris, vaginal opening, and the opening to the urethra. A vagina is a canal-like structure inside the labia, which isn’t visible and includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix. Your vulva and vagina should have low pH levels which makes it less prone to infections.
Tips to Keep Your Vagina and Vulva Healthy
Below are the simple yet important tips you should follow to keep your vaginal health in check.
- Regular Cleaning Is Important: It is advised to clean your vagina with unscented soap and water. Skip douching as it can misbalance the healthy bacterias in the vagina. While washing, do not put soap directly into your vagina and avoid scrubbing it too hard as it can disturb the vaginal environment. Please note that irregular cleaning can lead to several vaginal issues, such as fibroids and PCOS. You may also have to go through enlarged uterus treatment as it is a common symptom of fibroids. Therefore, regular cleaning and washing is the key to keeping your vagina healthy.
- Be Careful While Trying New Products: Whenever you try any new product, be it any toy or condoms, make sure to read their label as some ingredients might irritate the vaginal area, causing infection and other severe issues. So, make sure you are being careful in such cases.
- Take Healthy Diet: This point goes without saying. What you eat has a huge impact on your vaginal health. Foods rich in antioxidants (fruits and vegetables) and probiotics can help balance vaginal pH, reduce the chances of infections and ease the symptoms of PMS. You can find probiotics in fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut and tempeh.
- Move Your Body: Another way to maintain your vaginal health is to exercise regularly. There are various exercises that keep your pelvic floor healthy and flexible. The pelvic floor includes muscles, tissue and ligaments that connect to the organs in your pelvis, including your cervix, bladder, uterus and vagina.
Not looking after your vaginal health can result in severe complications. Therefore, make sure you keep the above tips in mind and follow them to enjoy a healthier life.
Note: This is a collaborative post
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