Women’s Personal Hygiene 101

As a woman, it is important to take the time to take charge of your personal hygiene. A woman’s personal hygiene is a bit different compared to your regular hygiene routine because your intimate area is delicate and prone to infections. The vagina has an acidic pH. So you need to develop proper intimate habits to avoid upsetting the pH balance. Plus, it is important to keep good bacteria healthy and bad bacteria out of your lady parts. From wearing breathable underwear, proper cleaning, and a well-balanced diet, there are a few basic rules you should follow in order to keep your private parts infection-free.

Disclosure: This post is for informational purposes only. Please contact your primary care dr or OB/GYN for additional help.

Properly Wash Down Below

Considering that your vagina naturally cleans itself with an internal lubricant. You don’t need to use any of the feminine intimate hygiene products. Intimate washes can upset the pH balance in your vagina. It is recommended that you only use warm water to wash your intimate area. Furthermore, it’s essential that you don’t spray the vagina with water, i.e. douche.

Douching isn’t helpful and can cause further problems down below. But it will affect the vagina’s natural pH balance. Upsetting the pH balance can cause yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. So don’t do it even though you may be tempted to try it.

If there’s a vaginal infection that you don’t know about, douching will only worsen the condition. When you douche, it can cause the bacteria to move into the reproductive organs and spread the infection. A simple rinse around the intimate area is enough to keep your private parts fresh and clean.

Gentle, unperfumed pH-neutral products or soaps can also be used. Soaps and shower gels you use to clean the rest of your body can cause recurrent infections, dryness, and odor. It is best to stick with warm water. The warm water will perfectly freshen up your vagina.

Make sure you wash and dry your private area daily or after exercising. Do change your underwear as soon as possible after exercising or a swimming session. Damp or moist underwear is a breeding ground for bacteria. A moist environment could potentially cause a yeast or bacterial infection.

After Sex Routine

It’s vital that you wash your intimate area before and after sex to avoid harmful infections spreading from your partner to you and vice versa. Mind you this won’t stop the spread of STD’s or HIV. Please use a condom to minimize that risk.

We suggest that you wash your genitals before intercourse. It will ensure that you are fresh and clean down below. A condom is a great form of contraceptive. But it also helps keep the vagina’s pH balance in check and prevents the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Sperm and other bodily fluids from a man ejaculating in you can upset your pH balance down there.

Don’t forget to empty your bladder after intercourse. Doing this will help remove any bacteria that may exist in your urethra, and prevent cystitis (of bladder infection). Furthermore, every time you go to the toilet, remember to wipe from front to back. Wiping properly will help prevent the bacteria from spreading to the urethra and vagina.

Always Wear Breathable Underwear

The choice of fabric your underwear is made of can highly affect the situation in your private parts. It’s imperative that you wear comfortable women’s underwear. You want to choose underwear that is made of natural materials such as cotton. Because it’s breathable and absorbs moisture, cotton underwear will always keep your intimate area fresh.

Only wear lace or silk underwear from time to time. Even, though most panties have a strip of cotton in the crotch area. The cotton strip is supposed to help ensure breathability but it may not completely allow your vagina to breathe properly. Instead, it is best not to wear them constantly and save them for special occasions. Silk and lace underwear can often feel uncomfortable too. They can limit airflow since they don’t stretch either.

Stay away from nylon and synthetic materials. These fabrics are the perfect bacteria-growing environment. Nylon and synthetic materials don’t allow your vagina to breath properly.

Even though panty liners were made to protect your underwear from vaginal discharge. It’s not recommended that you wear a panty liner or thin pad daily. Unless you are on your period. If you begin to wear a panty liner daily, you will increase your risk of getting a yeast infection and vulvar irritation because they trap moisture. If you must wear one, change your panty liner every few hours.

Don’t Skip Your Well Woman Exam

Women should have an annual pelvic exam every year unless you notice any symptoms that aren’t normal for you. Don’t be afraid to contact your doctor if you feel something isn’t right down below.

You could have a yeast or bacterial infection or even a sexually transmitted disease if you are sexually active. Keeping up with your well-woman exam every year is an important part of your overall health, including your personal hygiene.

During your exam, remember it is a great time to mention any problems down below, heavy or irregular periods, or even contraceptives. Be bold and brutally honest with your OB/GYN. They can’t help you prevent problems if you aren’t honest.

Watch Your Diet

The food you’re eating affects every aspect of your body, including vaginal health. That’s why you should try to enrich your diet with foods that make your intimate parts fresh, smell nice, and keep the bacteria away. Some of the foods to help you stay fresh down there are curb spicy foods, onions, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, dairy, red meat, broccoli, and asparagus.

Citrus fruits are also perfect for a fresh-smelling scent, so feel free to eat a lot of these foods. Eat plenty of oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple, or make refreshing juices out of them. Hydration is vital for your vaginal freshness. Learn why you should try to drink as much water as possible during the day. Drinking plenty of water helps flush toxins out from your system and it helps prevent bad odors in your intimate area. If you need something with more flavor, drink green tea instead of water, because it’s believed to reduce foul smells. You can also add Mio Water (aff link) drops for added flavor.

Taking care of your personal hygiene is as important as maintaining proper oral hygiene or making sure the rest of your body is always clean and fresh. Therefore, don’t use aggressive body washes on your intimate area. Try to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. And don’t forget to invest in quality comfortable underwear to keep your vagina clean and infection-free.

What are you doing to ensure that you are taking proper care of your Women’s Personal Hygiene?