Your vaginal health can seem like a tricky puzzle or a mystery on how to balance. With so many products designed to help clean and keep your vagina “fresh,” it can be daunting. But before you pick up the soap to help your vagina smell like lilies, remember that your vagina is handling itself. Although there are some things you can do to prevent infections and bacteria, douching is not one of them.
A vital routine to include in your sex life is to urinate after sex. Peeing after sex can help prevent an unwanted urinary tract infection (UTI). When having intercourse, bacteria are likely to get in the mix, which can cause a UTI. While some people tend to get UTIs more often, everyone should play it safe and eliminate any bacteria that may have entered, by going to the restroom after sex. It also can’t hurt to urinate before sex, this flushes any bacteria out and can help you be more comfortable during sex.
Another factor to keep in mind is the pH health of your vagina. Your vagina has a particular pH level; it should stick around, which is 3.8 to 4.5. Anything over 4.5 can house bacteria and cause infections. There are a few things you can do to maintain that pH level:
· Take probiotics and include yogurt into your diet
· Do not douche, only use mild soap and water down there
· If sex includes penis in vagina, use a condom to avoid semen changing your pH
A practice that 40% of women participate in is douching. While douching may seem like a good idea to clean your vagina, it doesn’t need it. Your vagina is like a self-washing oven; it’s got it covered. Douching can lead to infections, diseases, and disrupts your Ph balance by destroying bacteria in your vagina.
Using a mild, non-scented soap and warm water is enough to keep your vagina clean.
Another essential practice to maintain a healthy vagina is to clean your sex toys. Sex toys should be cleaned right after use to avoid any bacteria lingering. Some quick tips on cleaning your sex toys and other accessories include:
Wash after use and dry completely before storing it
Use mild or natural soap when cleaning
If there are any tears or punctures in your toy, then it’s time to dispose of it, for your health
For extra safety, use a condom on your toy, especially if you use the toy with a partner
While it may be tempting to pick up the douche in the isle or the soap promised to make your vagina smell amazing, it’s not needed. These are proven to cause more harm than good. Your vagina is not as tricky to take care of as you may think, with some simple steps to add into your daily routine, you’ll be good to go. Take care of your vagina from the inside out by taking probiotics and making sure you’re practicing safe sex by using a condom and peeing after sex.