Importance of intimate hygiene
In India, discussing vaginal hygiene is still taboo, as many women still avoid discussing or giving advice on how to practice good feminine hygiene. To maintain clean genitalia and keep your reproductive system in good shape, it is crucial to understand the importance of vaginal hygiene. There are a few basic vaginal hygiene guidelines that every woman, regardless of age, should be aware of.
Wash your vagina everyday
Keeping yourself clean is the most important feminine hygiene tip that one must follow, especially during puberty when the body transitions a change like menstruation, daily vaginal discharge, and an increase in sweat from the sweat glands making personal hygiene increasingly important.
Dr. Teji Dawane, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Motherhood Hospitals Whitefield, Bangalore says, “It is advised to wash only the outer part of your vagina or the vulva because the inner layer of your vagina has its self-cleaning mechanism which doesn’t require washing, scrubbing, cleaning, or douching. While washing an intimate area, one should allow the water to run down from the top of your pubic area over your vagina instead of directly aiming the stream of water directly into your vagina.”
Try using pH-balanced feminine washes
Our body has its own defence mechanism to maintain the PH of vagina, we don’t need any external factors. Our normal vaginal discharge had good bacteria called lactobacillus which provides immunity and maintains PH. If vaginal washes are used, they are meant for external use and not for internal douching.
Use a soft towel to dry the area
After a good bath, it is advised to use a soft, dry clean towel that should be changed after two to three days to dry off the intimate area. Sharing towels should be strictly prohibited.
Always wipe front to back
One may not realise the importance of this habit but implementing this in your routine can work wonders. When you go to the loo, be sure to wipe front to back not vice versa to avoid harmful bacteria from getting into the vagina along with urinary tract infections.
Wear cotton underwear
“The golden rule behind intimate care is to wear cotton underwear because cotton itself is a very breathable fabric that allows excess moisture from sweat or discharge to evaporate instead of creating an unpleasant odour due to breeding bacteria,” says Dr. Dawane.
Stay hydrated
It is important to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins that may affect the vagina and the body in the later stages. Incorporating these intimate hygiene habits is essential to keep your vagina healthy but if ignored, there may be complications in the future.
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