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How to take care of your vagina

Vaginal health is a very important topic. Not only will vaginal health impact general health, but it will also influence fertility, pregnancy, the quality of life, and the quality of your relationship with your partner. To understand more about vaginal health and how to take care of your vagina, keep on reading:

Vaginal Health

The vagina is a muscular canal that connects the uterus to the vaginal opening. It is the organ that permits sexual intercourse between man and woman, the evacuation of menstrual blood, and of course the delivery of babies.

The vaginal environment has unique characteristics, which if understood can make it easier to take care of the vagina. The vaginal lining is a mucosa, which secretes mucus. That’s why the vagina is lubricated naturally. But these natural secretions can decrease with time as a result of age and lower estrogen levels.

The vagina is a self-cleaning, with the aid of natural fluids, the vagina will keep itself clean. It is populated by a variety of micro-organisms living in balance in a slightly acidic environment, with a vaginal pH of around 3.8 to 4.5. When one of these environmental characteristics is disrupted, discomfort or infections can arise.

How do you tell if something is wrong down there?

If your vaginal health is good, you probably won’t even notice. We normally become aware of the vaginal health only when it begins to deteriorate.

  • Discharge: The normal physiological discharge is transparent to slightly white, but each woman has her unique vaginal discharge and is never secreted in excess. The thickness of the discharge can also inform the current phase of the woman’s menstrual cycle. Discharge is a completely normal physiologic reaction, it is the shedding of cervical and vaginal cells. 
  • Odor: Every vagina has its own distinct aroma, and they rarely smell like flowers or perfume. if you vagina starts to smell strong and unpleasant accompanied with unusual discharge, this should not be avoided and you should seek help from a professional.
  • Itching, Irritation & Pain: A healthy vagina should never itch or cause any irritation, this could potentially be a sign of thrush or infection. Pain in the vagina, whether it is before sex, after or when inserting a tampon is a cause of concern. 

How To Take Care Of Your Vagina : Vaginal Health Tips

1. Regular Check ups: Regular doctor check-ups are necessary, especially if you are a sexually active female, if you have diabetes, you are pregnant, you have a compromised immune system or you take some kind of medication in the long term. Cervical screenings should be done on a regular basis for women between the ages of 25 and 64 to detect any abnormal changes in the cervix.
2. Practicing safe sex: Practice safe sex and being aware of sexual health principles are also important. Viruses and bacteria can get into the vagina while you have sex. It’s necessary to always use protection during sex to avoid STIs, especially with new partners. It’s helpful to know that frequently changing sexual partners can also cause vaginal infections. 
3. Intimate hygiene: It’s important to adopt the right hygiene habits, gently cleaning of the vulva daily is an important aspect of feminine hygiene and overall intimate health. Limit the use of scented soaps, wipes, or vaginal deodorants that are high in harsh chemicals. Instead cleaning the vulva and the vagina with mild soap once a day is sufficient. Use soaps and washes that are clinically tested provides targeted antimicrobial and other health benefits without negatively impacting vaginas Ph levels. 
4. Avoid Douche: A normal vaginal pH is about 3.8 to 4.5, douching can disrupt a healthy vaginal biome, reduce acidity and increase the chances of infections. If your vaginal odour is severe or unpleasant, we recommend visiting a doctor instead of using a douche as this method can just mask the odour without addressing the underlying vaginal health issue.
5. Lifestyle and diet: To preserve vaginal health and avoid infections, it’s important to consume a diet that’s high in healthy vegetables and fruits, low in sugar, and processed products. Consuming fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso or sauerkraut is also helpful, or it’s possible to supplement with prebiotics and probiotics.
6. Menopause: If you are in menopause, it would be helpful to use natural lubricants to make up for vaginal dryness. Make sure the lubricants you use are as natural as possible and free of harsh and irritating chemicals. You can also discuss hormonal replacement therapy with your doctor to compensate for the low estrogen levels. 

7. UTI: Urinary tract infections are the second most common infection in women. Unfortunately, there isn’t one singular, surefire way to prevent it all the time, but Chinese medicine can preventing and alleviating UTIs, as well as speeding up recovery. To read more on uti treatment without antibiotics.

Stress and UTI Kit

Stress & UTI Kit

Stress and UTI kit by GinSen are natural herbal blend supplements for UTI caused by stress. These herbal supplements provide stress ease to work on unblocked energy channel, clearing anxiety and excessive heat toxic, anti-inflammation. The kit consists of Long Dan Cao Tang and Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang.

Vaginal infection:

A change in the quantity, color, or odor of the vaginal discharge is the most common sign of vaginal infections. There are mainly two types of vaginal infections: STIs and vaginal environment disruptions.

STIs

Trichomonas, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea are the most common sexually transmitted infections or STIs. They can cause a foul-smelling discharge that is white or green in color, accompanied by symptoms like itching or painful urination. The context is usually evident, with a notion of recent unprotected sexual intercourse or a change in sexual partners. Aside from the discomfort that they cause, STIs are serious because germs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can travel to the uterus and infect the cervix or uterine tubes, causing infertility 

Vaginal Environment Disruptions

In other cases, vaginal infections are caused by non-sexually transmitted germs. It mostly happens when the microorganisms populating the vagina lose their balance because of a disrupting factor. In this case, one or more microorganisms will multiply and outnumber the rest of the strains causing vaginal infection. This is known as bacterial vaginosis and presents as itching, a foul fish-like smell, and a grayish discharge. Although bacterial vaginosis is not directly an STI, sexual intercourse can be a disrupting factor.

And last but not least, the fungi Candida Albicans can also cause vaginal infections. It is not transmitted sexually but is caused by environmental disruptions such as maceration from wearing non-breathable underwear, pregnancy, diabetes, a weakened immune system, or after having recently taken antibiotics.

Vaginal Candidiasis presents as a white discharge that looks like curdled milk. It is highly uncomfortable causing painful urination, swelling, redness, and itching around the vaginal opening and the vulva. Aside from infections, an important thing to also look out for is cancer which can present as persistent foul-smelling or bloody discharges, accompanied by pain or discomfort, weight loss, fatigue, and low appetite.

Conclusion:

Vaginal health is an important topic. Less is more when it comes to vaginal care because it’s a self-cleansing environment. Some signs of infection are good to know and should motivate a doctor consultation to avoid any more serious issues. 

Living a healthy lifestyle, practicing safe sex, and going to the doctor regularly are all great ways to avoid infections and make sure that your vagina remains healthy.

For more information about how Chinese Medicine can help you with skin problems, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.

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