The health of the vulva is an essential part of a woman’s life but often not many people talk about vulva health and how to take care of your vulva. But fret not, in this article we provide you with useful tips on how to take care of your vulva.

“Despite vulva care being an important aspect of our sexual & intimate health, this is not often talked about, and limited solutions exist for common issues such as vulva itching and discomfort”

– Guadalupe Lazaro, Co-Founder of Ease Healthcare

1. Keeping it Clean

You should always keep your vulvovaginal area clean. One way could be to wash it daily with warm water and try to avoid soap. If you do want to use soap, use gentle soap such as Dove-Hypoallergenic or Neutrogena. You can also use Ease Healthcare’s new Probiotic Cleanser or the pH Balanced Mist. Both products are clinically formulated vulva care products made with pre and probiotics to support the intimate health of women. Women of all ages can tap on these products to keep infections at bay, soothe the skin in the vulva area, and reduce itching.

Ease’s Probiotic Cleanser is a foam-based pH-balanced cleanser that contains paraben-free ingredients to ensure healthier skin and is suited for all skin types due to its gentle formula. When used over time, the Probiotic Cleanser helps to cleanse and refresh the vulva area, sloth and hydrate the skin and reduce itching and irritation without disrupting the skin’s natural pH levels. In addition, Ease’s pH Balanced Mist is an all-natural fragrance mist infused with botanical extracts including chamomile & eucalyptus, to help soothe irritation on the outer vulva area and reduce itching, discomfort, and odour caused by sweat and bacteria.

“Daily gentle cleansing of the vulva is an important aspect of feminine hygiene and intimate health. However, using products that alter the pH levels of your vulva can have adverse effects on the health of your intimate area”

– Dr Jody Paige Goh

2. Clean Sex

As your vulva is an important centre of pleasure, it’s essential to protect it from harmful chemicals and bacteria. You can do this in various ways:

Before sex:

Do check the ingredients of the lubricants you intend to use. Some of these lubricants may contain ingredients that change your pH balance. You should try to avoid lubricants containing:

Glycerin – if you are prone to yeast infections you should avoid this
Oils or scented products– may cause irritation or infection if not cleaned properly
Polyquaternium 7, 10, or 15 – associated with severe irritation and disruption of skin surfaces
Nonoxynol 9 – it is an oil-dissolving spermicide that severely irritates skin surfaces, increasing the transmission of viruses
Menthol – often used as a “cooling” or sensation enhancer; however, it may severely irritate the skin causing long-term skin pain
Lidocaine – this results in numbing that can irritate skin surfaces, and because it lowers pain perception it dramatically increases the risk of skin trauma
Capsaicin – usually found in warming, or “arousal-enhancing” lubes, but capsaicin is the oil of very hot chilli peppers. Once applied, nerves begin reacting in pain that may last far longer than any intimate episode. It may also be difficult to remove from the skin once applied.
Chlorhexidine – this preservative is found in many medical lubricants (KY Jelly, Surgilube) and completely destroys normal, protective genital bacteria that help fight infections and maintain genital health

It is good practice to check the ingredients used in condoms as well. Many brands are made with spermicides that can kill your vagina’s good bacteria, upset your pH balance, and lead to irritation and infection.

During sex:

If you intend to switch between anal and vaginal sex or vice versa, you should use a new condom each time. This is because your anus could carry strains of bacteria that can infect your vagina, and similarly, your vagina has bacteria that may irritate your anus.

After sex:

It is good practice to urinate after sex as bacteria may get into the urethra during sex and urinating removes the bacteria and helps prevent a urinary tract infection. You should also take a shower or clean your vulva with warm water and thoroughly dry the area with a soft towel.

3. Check your dressing

To take care of your vulvovaginal area, you should choose clothes that allow the area to breathe and stay dry. Moisture in the area can promote the growth of bacteria which may result in a yeast infection.

Here are some simple tips to follow:

Wear cotton underwear rather than silk or polyester as cotton is less likely to hold moisture, making it more difficult for smell-producing bacteria to build up.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing—including thongs, as they can collect faecal matter that can reach the vagina and may cause infections and odours.
Change your clothes and underwear after working out to prevent bacteria from your perspiration from multiplying throughout the day
Avoid wearing a damp swimsuit for the entire day
If you experience heavy vaginal discharge, it is advised that you change your underwear twice a day

4. Pubic Hair: To Shave or Not to Shave?

It really depends on personal preference. The pubic hair protects the vulva from bacteria, and viruses and shields and cushions the sensitive skin it covers, protecting it from friction during sex. As long as you clean it regularly, pubic hair does not possess any health risks.

Some women prefer to remove the pubic hair via shaving, waxing, or electrolysis while others prefer keeping it but they frequently maintain it by using scissors to trim it. You can leave it natural.

However, it is helpful to note that shaving your pubic hair may cause razor burn and itching when the hair grows back over time. You may also experience infection or itch from ingrown hairs. Tiny cuts can also introduce bacteria, and you might develop an infection.

5. Avoid douching or vaginal steaming

Douching refers to the washing or cleaning out of the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most gynaecologists do not recommend douching as your vagina is ‘self-cleaning’ and douching may harm your vagina as it changes the pH balance and it can also disrupt the normal vaginal bacterial balance.

Vaginal steaming can also be dangerous. This is because the skin of your vulva is very delicate and vaginal steaming may lead to burns. Furthermore, exposing your vagina to steam and scented herbs may change its pH and lead to bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

6. Drink plenty of water and eat healthily

‘You are what you eat’ – eating healthily and drinking enough water can help cleanse your body, reducing infections. Ensure that you have a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, protein, and probiotics as these can help keep your vulva and vagina healthy!

Of course, these are just tips, and should you spot anything unusual, we recommend that you see a doctor.

Images: Envato