A healthy vagina is meant to have a clear, whitish discharge and no fish or foul odour. However, persistent vaginal health issues will not only affect your self-confidence but also harm you.
Various factors can affect the health of the vagina, including:
Unprotected sex: If you have unsafe and unprotected sex, you are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases [STDs], and Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV].
Multiple sex partners: Having multiple sex partners can predispose you to a higher risk of STDs and certain cancers, especially cervical cancer. The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of developing cervical cancer.
Douching: Using ingredients like baking soda, iodine, antiseptics, and other fragranced products to ‘clean’ the vagina can cause burning irritation and other complications. Experts say the practice can affect acidity of the vagina and lead to infections.
Washing undies with strong detergent: This can expose you to developing bacterial vaginosis.
Using ‘sweeteners’: There is no scientific evidence to show that inserting ice cream and other chemicals in the vagina can boost sexual pleasure. Rather, it can put your health at risk, and lead to ulcerations in your genitals.
inserting ice cream and other chemicals in vagina doesn’t boost sexual pleasure. Rather, it can put your health at risk
How to keep your vagina healthy
You can take the following steps to keep your vagina healthy:
Be sexually responsible. You have to make sure that you avoid having unprotected sex and multiple sex partners. Also, ensure that your partner is free of STDs. If you use sex toys, clean them after every use.
Be vaccinated: Vaccinations can protect you from human papillomavirus, which is associated with cervical cancer; and Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is most commonly spread by exposure to infected bodily fluids, and also through sexual contact.
Do Kegel exercises: Kegel exercises are done by lifting and holding and then relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. Experts say the exercise can tone your pelvic floor muscles if you have prolapse, leaking of urine, or weakness of the pelvic floor.
Going for regular checkups can help ensure that problems affecting the vagina are diagnosed and treated immediately
Don’t smoke: Smoking can be harmful to your sex life. It can also affect your fertility and sexual enjoyment.
Limit the amount of alcohol intake: Chronic alcohol intake can impair your sexual function.
Go for a check-up: Going for regular checkups can help ensure that problems affecting the vagina are diagnosed immediately and if there is any problem, the doctor can pick it up and treat it.
