Good vaginal health is important for women of every age but especially for mature women, as we see an increased frequency in certain vaginal issues with age. Such issues arise mostly due to hormonal changes, but there are many other causes as well.
To improve your vaginal health, however, you can take certain preventative measures that are pretty easy to follow. Here are a few tips to keep your vaginal health in good shape to limit your visit to a gynecologist:
1-Go for your exam regularly:
Pelvic exams may not be pleasant, but they are very important for your vaginal health. Go regularly for the Pap smears and pelvic examinations to keep diseases at bay. Pap smears and general pelvic exams can help in the quick diagnosis of dangerous diseases like cervical cancers.
If all is going well with your health, and you don’t have a positive family history then you might even have to go in just once every three years for the pelvic exams, according to newer guidelines.
2-Use cotton underwear:
Cotton is the best material for undergarments because it absorbs moisture and lets in air. A lack of any of these factors would disturb the normal flora of the vagina and cause symptoms like itching and discharge. Even though most underwear linings use a strip of cotton, be vigilant about the material when buying undergarments.
3-Don’t use antibiotics too much:
There is a balance of probiotic bacteria in our body and on our skin that does not let harmful bacteria flourish. With the use of a high dose of antibiotics or long term use of antibiotics, this balance is disrupted—as the good bacteria are killed off with the bad one. It will affect your vaginal health by allowing yeast and other harmful bacteria to grow. Thus be careful with antibiotic use.
4-Don’t use scented soaps:
Scented soaps and other chemicals should not be used in the genital areas as they can be irritating for the sensitive skin there. Vaginal skin is thin and using scented soaps and chemicals can strip the skin of moisture and irritate it. Ideally is it better to rinse the vagina with warm water but if you don’t want to stop using soap, then opt for a gentle, scent-free product.
5-Be careful while cycling:
Long-term cycling can cause some concern when it comes to vaginal health. Frequently riding means that there is a risk of numbness, pain and tingling. In fact, a great majority of female cyclists commonly experience these symptoms. One way to avoid these is to use padded shorts that can ease the pressure off the nerves in the pelvic area.
6-Kegel exercises:
Kegel exercise is great for the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor supports the sexual organs, as well as the bladder and the rectum. Thus strengthening the pelvic floor muscles prevents a long list of problems that may otherwise result.
Kegels help to improve the function of rectum and bladder eases the strain on the vagina and improves the tone of it as well. It is recommended to perform three sets of ten Kegels, with a hold of five seconds, and you will have a good muscle function in just three minutes.
You can use these measures to help improve your vaginal health, but if you have symptoms that warrant an expert opinion then book an appointment with a top gynecologist in Multan, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
