In consultation with Dr Angela Tan <angela.tan@aras.love>

Family Physician & Intimacy Coach, Academy of Relationship & Sex

Our lady parts are another example of how awesome we women really are, aren’t they?

Not only do they bring actual life into existence, but they are also highly efficient and independent! So it’s no surprise then that our vaginas need little in the way of “looking after” as they have been created to be self-sufficient, just like their owners.

Quite simply, our primary job is to keep the environment and surroundings ideal down there. Therefore, we’ve come up with some vaginal care do’s and don’t so that you can be in the best of health.

1. Dress the part

Moisture and heat promote the growth of odour-inducing bacteria, which encourage yeast infections. You’ll love that the answer to this is to wear those comfortable cotton undies you love. Cotton is known to help us stay dry. Also, avoid tight-fitting undergarments, as they sometimes lead to dreaded yeast infections. If you do wear something snug or sexy, try and change back to your comfy undies as soon as you can. 

On days you exercise, change your sweaty workout clothes right after your workout, and similarly, don’t sit in a wet swimsuit for long periods – all of which provide an ideal breeding ground for nasties.

Here’s a tip – try going commando at night. Commando means more air circulating, which allows your lady parts to breathe, which is excellent for vaginal health. Win-win!

2. Go with the flow

Let’s talk discharges. Throughout the month, you may experience varied vaginal discharges. Therefore, dressing to suit your monthly cycle is a good idea. You may experience heavy discharge when ovulating— those handy little liners are helpful here. Alternatively, change at least twice a day to stay dry. Similarly, when menstruating, change your sanitary pad or tampon regularly to keep infections and odour at bay.

3. All-natural cleaning

As mentioned before, our lady parts are incredibly efficient at self-cleaning! That means you don’t need other products or gadgets to keep clean. Good-old water is all that is required! 

Many commercially produced washes, soaps and wipes promise to make you smell like flowers and unicorns. But these could contain chemicals and fragrances which can upset the delicate balance and cause irritation. They may promise to make your lady parts smell flowery and feel “fresh”. However, these are not always backed by science. So pick your hygiene products carefully. 

So, when washing, gently clean the outside area without venturing too further in, as you may upset the delicately maintained pH-balanced ecosystem within.

4. Grooming and landscaping

Believe it or not, the hair down there is vital in keeping our vaginas healthy and “safe”. It acts as a sentry point, protecting us from unwanted intruders and friction.

That’s not to say that you can’t do a little landscaping! If you’re grooming yourself, try to avoid nicks and cuts, which can cause pain, and worse, an infection due to the moisture. Alternatively, it is good to visit a trusted establishment for waxing or IPL as they are pros at grooming lady parts and will be in and out in a jiffy!

Post grooming, resist the urge to squeeze or pop ingrown hairs that may result from hair removal as this is a sure-fire way of creating a wound and hence an invitation for infections.

5. Exercise and general well-being

We’ve heard that exercise keeps our body fit; however, did you know that you can also exercise your vagina? We hear your disbelief, and let us explain!

Get acquainted with Kegels. They are a vital part of keeping your lady parts healthy and in good shape, with the bonus of spicing up your sex life. Your vaginal muscles are like any other muscle in your body – exercise helps strengthen them. Kegels are also amazing at strengthening our pelvic floor muscles which in turn help to reduce strain on your pelvic organs and improve bladder and bowel function.

While you’re at it, try and maintain a generally healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise. This exercise, in turn, will keep you more resistant to infections down there as well.

6. Ahem, etiquette is important too!

There are a couple of essential tips to remember in keeping our lady parts “happy”.

Firstly, when wiping, always go from front to back. This order prevents any bacteria from being transferred from the back entrance into the vaginal cavity, leading to a host of nasty infections.

Secondly, pee after sex. While this will not prevent STDs, it may help flush out any other trapped germs and help prevent UTIs while giving you a moment to clean up discreetly.

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