Think of your vagina as a house where the maid comes over once a week, automatically, to do the cleaning. You don’t have to worry about it; you just know that when you come home on Wednesdays, your house is clean. Your vagina is the same way. It literally cleans itself. How does it do this?
It maintains a natural pH balance and cleans itself with natural secretions. Your vagina contains a lot of good bacteria. These bacteria help maintain the correct pH for your vagina, which is slightly acidic. This acidic pH makes it difficult for other, harmful bacteria to invade your vagina and cause problems.
You may be wondering if you are supposed to wash your vagina with soap. The answer is no. When you use other products, such as scented soaps, feminine washes, and douches, to clean your vagina, you can alter its natural pH. The best way to keep your vagina clean is to leave it alone.
Washing your vulva, on the other hand, is another matter altogether. It’s a very good idea to wash your vulva to maintain proper hygiene.
Wash your vulva with warm water. Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the area around the vagina gently every day.
Spread your lips apart and gently clean around the folds with a clean washcloth or your hands. Remember to avoid getting water or soap inside your vagina.
Let the area dry naturally or pat it dry with a towel.
Remember to also wash the area between your vulva and your anus every day. Wash front to back, from your vulva to your anus, as this prevents bacteria from spreading from your anus to your vagina.
The truth is, the best feminine wash to clean your vulva is no feminine wash at all. The best options are water and (maybe) mild soap.
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It’s important to minimize ingredients such as scents, which can cause dryness or upset the natural pH of the vagina.
However, there are products you can use to moisturize or freshen up between showers. But be careful before you buy. It’s important to minimize ingredients such as scents, which can cause dryness or upset the natural pH of the vagina. Since your vulva is so close to your vagina, it’s possible some of it may get inside. Besides, it’s not necessary to cover up your vagina’s natural smell with perfumes.
If you do decide to invest in a product to help clean your vulva, make sure it has these characteristics:
Some women feel terrible during their period, but maintaining good vaginal hygiene is important and might make you feel a little more comfortable.
Any blood smeared on your pubic area or inner thighs can be cleaned with soap and water. If you’re using a feminine hygiene product, it might be okay to use it on your thighs, but be careful about using it on your vulva. It can enter your nearby vagina and upset its pH balance. It may also cause something called vulvitis, which can cause itching, burning, or even pain during sex.
Instead, when washing your vulva, opt for just plain water or water with mild soap.
Getting rid of vaginal odor goes beyond just making sure your vulva is clean. Even though some vaginal odor is natural, you may also experience some unpleasant smells. Your vagina’s odor changes frequently, sometimes with your period or after sex, for instance. And if you notice a stark difference in how your vagina smells, perhaps accompanied by vaginal discharge, it could be an indication of a bigger problem, like an infection. You may want to consider visiting a doctor in this case.
Even though some vaginal odor is natural, you may also experience some unpleasant smells. Your vagina’s odor changes frequently, sometimes with your period or after sex, for instance.
Once you’ve eliminated the source of vaginal odor, keep these tips in mind for future prevention:
If you’ve ruled out a medical issue and still need help getting rid of unpleasant vaginal odor, consider these options.
While it’s not necessary to clean your vagina — it cleans itself — it is necessary to keep your vulva clean. You can do this with warm water and some soap. Maintain good vaginal and vulvar hygiene by wearing cotton panties, eating a healthy diet, and washing the outside of your vagina regularly.
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