In the quest for better wellness, the vagina often gets overlooked. However, Dr Suzy Elneil, consultant in urogynaecology at University College Hospital, London, and spokesperson for Wellbeing of Women, says, ‘Generally, good vaginal health is maintained by making sure you’re in good general health. This includes healthy diet and exercise. Normal exercise helps maintain good vaginal function, as walking and running helps the pelvic floor to tone up and helps ensure good general health.’
Still what about when you’ve got a lot of discharge, bacteria or a bad odour coming from your vagina? According to Dr Elneil, ‘Vaginal discharge is not always a bad sign. There is a myth that copious clear or white discharge is associated with sexually transmitted infections. Changes in the amount of discharge can be 100% hormonal – in other words, linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause.’ Professor Ronnie Lamont, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), adds, ‘The vagina contains more bacteria than anywhere else in the body after the bowel, but the bacteria are there for a reason.’ If the balance of bacteria is disturbed, this can lead to infection and inflammation. So, how do take care of your vaginal wellness?
1. Washing your vagina: Perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in your vagina and cause irritation, so these are best avoided. You’re better off gently washing the area around your vagina (the vulva) with unperfumed, plain soap every day. Professor Lamont notes, ‘All women are different. Some may wash with perfumed soap and not notice any problems. But if a woman has vulva irritation or symptoms, then one of the first things you can do is to use non-allergenic, plain soaps to see if that helps.’ Dr Elneil adds, ‘During your period, washing more than once a day may be helpful,’ and it’s also essential to keep the area between the vagina and anus clean, ‘by washing that area at least once a day using your normal bathing routines.’
2. Douches: Some women use a douche to “clean” the inside of the vagina, as it flushes water up into the area and clears out vaginal secretions. However, the inside of your vagina is self-cleaning, and using a douche can disrupt your normal vaginal bacteria. Professor Lamont explains, ‘I can’t think of any circumstances where douches are helpful, because all they do is wash out everything that’s in the vagina, including all the healthy bacteria.’ Although you may think that douching protects your wellbeing against STIs or vaginal infections, it may in fact increase your risk.
3. Scented wipes and vaginal deodorants: Again, these products can disrupt your vagina’s natural, healthy balance. Professor Lamont comments, ‘If nature had intended the vagina to smell like roses or lavender, it would have made the vagina smell like roses or lavender. Dr Elneil points out that it’s normal for your vagina to have a natural scent, noting, ‘Vaginal odour can change at different times of the reproductive cycle and shouldn’t always be thought of as being a sign of infection or illness.’ However, sometimes if the vaginal smell is very unpleasant it may indicate a sexual health problem, especially if you also have unusual vaginal discharge. These two symptoms together are caused by bacterial vaginosis, which is easily treated with antibiotics. You should consult your GP if you’re concerned.
4. Safer sex: During sex, some bacteria and viruses can get into the vagina, including the bugs that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Unless you use a condom every time you have sex, you’re exposing yourself to chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis and HIV.
5. Cervical screening: If you’re aged between 25 and 64, it’s important to have regular cervical screenings. This makes it easier to catch any abnormal changes in your cervix early on, which may make all the difference to your wellbeing. The earlier abnormalities are identified, the earlier they can be treated to stop cancer developing. Talk to your GP to find out more about cervical screening.