With the demands of work, family, fitness, and self-care, it's no wonder that we often feel like we're stretched thin. However, regardless of how busy we are, it's crucial to prioritize our personal hygiene, especially when it comes to intimate health.
While the vagina typically maintains its health on its own, taking additional steps to care for your intimate area is essential to avoid uncomfortable symptoms like itching, odor, pain after sex, burning, or abnormal bleeding.
If you encounter any of these symptoms, it's important to seek assistance from your GP or a healthcare professional to get to the root of the problem.
Here are some of our best recommendations for maintaining your intimate area's health, as well as things to avoid.
Recommended: Wash regularly
With regards to taking care of your intimate area, the initial step is to regularly wash it. This will eliminate any sweat and bacteria that tends to accumulate during the day, keeping you feeling fresh, comfortable, and confident. YES CLEANSE is specifically created to keep the vulva feeling fresh and clean, without disturbing the pH balance or utilizing chemically harsh products. This makes it an excellent option for those who prefer to use more than water to cleanse, and is a natural alternative to soap and other non-intimate washes.
Avoid: Douching
It's important to wash your intimate area regularly, but healthcare professionals advise against douching (1). This is because douching can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina, which can lead to issues.
Recommended: Use PH-balanced products
Maintaining the pH balance of your intimate area is important for overall health and well-being. When it comes to cleansing, it's recommended to opt for products specifically formulated for feminine hygiene. These products are designed to effectively clean your intimate area without disrupting the natural pH balance, helping to keep your vagina healthy and comfortable.
It's important to remember to only use these products externally and avoid introducing them internally, as this can cause irritation and disrupt the natural balance of the vaginal flora.
Avoid: Wearing tight clothing
Most professionals recommend wearing breathable fabrics like cotton over tight clothing to maintain a healthy and happy intimate area.
Wearing tight clothes can restrict airflow and cause excessive sweating, which is neither comfortable nor pleasant. This can create a moist environment that promotes the growth of bacteria and yeast, leading to vaginal infections. It's also advisable to avoid synthetic materials, leather pants, and damp swimsuits for prolonged periods.
Recommended: Stay hydrated
It may come as a surprise, but your choice of beverages can affect your vaginal health. Consuming sugary drinks in excess can upset the natural bacterial balance in your vagina. Additionally, dehydration can also have a negative impact. Therefore, it's important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your vagina healthy.
Recommended: Safe sex (and peeing after!)
According to gynaecologist Dr Shree Datta, taking a pee after sex is crucial for your intimate health. This is especially important if you are prone to urinary tract infections, as it helps to flush out the problematic bacteria that can cause UTIs from the urethra. (2)
It's also important to always practice safe sex if you want to take care of your intimate area. Unprotected sex not only increases the risk of developing sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, warts and syphilis, but it can also cause vaginal infections.
Thankfully, there are many vagina-friendly and intimate hygiene products that can help you practice safe sex without irritating your intimate area, such as lubricants and condoms!
Recommended: Menopausal moisturisers
As women go through menopause, it is normal to experience a rise in vaginal dryness. This should not be a source of shame. To prevent any irritation, consider using our vaginal moisturizers. They offer intelligent moisture release, which means they release moisture when the body needs it most. This can help alleviate any unpleasant symptoms that often accompany vaginal dryness, like itching and burning.
Avoid: Wiping back to front
Always avoid wiping back to front. Wiping this way can allow potentially harmful bacteria from your bottom to get into your vagina, which can lead to uncomfortable infections and painful UTIs.
Recommended: Seek medical attention
Remember, you should always get regular vaginal examinations to maintain your vaginal health. If anything feels or looks different to what’s normal for you, then make sure you seek advice from a medical professional.
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