8 Things Women Should Do After Sex For Good Hygiene
How To Keep Your Vagina Healthy
1. Use A Condom
Using a condom whenever you indulge in sexual intercourse is very important. Use protection to prevent invisible sexually transmitted infections like HIV, genital herpesi , gonorrheai , genital warts, and chlamydiai .
2. Take Oral Probiotics
Consuming probiotics helps to restore the lost good bacteria in your vagina. You can either consume probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir or take supplements .
3. Avoid Douching
Your vagina is like a self-cleaning oven. Douching it can disturb its pH – and this may lead to vaginal infections, tubal pregnancyi , preterm birth, and other complications . Hence, avoid douching. Instead, wash the outside of the vagina with mild soap and water. You may also use any pH-balanced cleanser that is specially formulated for your privates. But make sure it doesn’t have irritating preservatives.
4. Eat Healthily
A healthy and well-balanced diet also has a vital role to play in maintaining your vaginal health. Some foods like yogurt and honey can help prevent yeast infections . Cranberry juice was found to help prevent urinary tract infections.
5. Use Lubricant During Intercourse
Lubrication during sexual intercourse is important to prevent the skin of the vagina from getting chapped and irritated. Vaginal lubrication is supposed to happen during arousal, but some women do not produce enough of it or not enough time is spent on foreplay. In such instances, natural, external lubricants should be used, such as aloe vera gel. However, do not use petroleum jelly or baby oil as they can trigger vaginal inflammation.
6. Choose Your Clothing Carefully
Wearing tight-fitting clothes can cause irritation and inflammation of the vagina. If you wear wet clothes, like a bathing suit, for a prolonged period, it may create a warm/moist condition for yeast infections to thrive. Hence, wear undergarments that fit you well. Also, make sure that you change out of wet/sweaty clothing as soon as you can.
7. Follow Good Hygiene
Not following good hygiene practices may create a conducive environment for vaginal infections to thrive. Make sure that you clean your privates every time you use the loo. Avoid wearing sanitary pads/tampons for long hours and keep changing them frequently to prevent vaginal irritation. A not uncommon vaginal discharge can occur if you “forget” that you have a tampon in your vagina and insert another one!
8. Treat The Infections
Don’t leave a vaginal infection untreated and wait for it to resolve on its own. If you are prone to yeast infections, you may use any over-the-counter medications to treat it. But if the symptoms are not improving, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor.