Vaginal Health 101
👙All things that itch are not yeast infections ladies! But, we will save that for a later post. I want to start a series of common vaginal disorders so you know what, when, where and why...❗️
Today let's start with general vulvar hygiene and keeping your vagina healthy!👍🏼
Let’s start with a common question I get everyday...Is vaginal discharge normal? Yes❗️Discharge contains cells, bacteria and natural lubricants produced by your vaginal tissue.
👙Estrogen status also plays a crucial role in determining the normal state of the vagina. Estrogen increases glycogen content in vaginal epithelial cells, which in turn encourages colonization of the vagina by lactobacilli. 🧫 This increased level of colonization leads to lactic acid production and a resulting decrease in the vaginal pH to less than 4.5.
👙This acidic environment protects against the growth of pathogenic organisms and is key to maintaining a balanced vaginal ecosystem. This bacteria is called the normal vaginal flora. This is why things can change as estrogen drops during menopause.😒
👙How can you keep your vagina in check?
❌No douching or feminine washes🛀🏽
❌No bath bombs!🛁
❌No scrubbing your vulva🧽
❌No scented hygiene products🚽
❌No scented laundry detergents, try hypoallergenic 🧴
✔️Use Dove unscented soaps not Bath and Body Works🧼
✔️Continue healthy eating to maintain a balanced vaginal ecosystem. Because once you increase the sugars in your diet, the bad bacteria will start growing and cause havoc!🥦
✔️So please, care for your vagina. It is delicate and requires special attention!
💡Stayed tuned for future posts about common infections!
Dr. E 💛