Healthy Vagina
The vagina is a closed muscular canal that connects the vulva (the external female genital area) with the cervix (the neck of the uterus). The vagina is just as important as any other body part of a woman, and should also be kept healthy. Fertility, sexual desire, and ability to reach orgasm can all be affected by vaginal problems.
Having vaginal health issues can affect your self-confidence, and cause stress or problems between you and your partner. Make sure you have optimal vaginal health; know what you can do to keep your vagina healthy, and watch out for symptoms that could be signs of any problem. Various factors can affect your vaginal health, and they include:
- Unprotected sex. You can contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if you don’t have any form of protection during sex.
- Forceful sex or injury to the pelvic area. These can result in vaginal trauma or micro-tears in the vagina.
- Health conditions or treatments. Endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are just some of the conditions that might cause painful sex.
- Antibiotics. Taking certain antibiotics can increase the risk of vaginal yeast infection.
- Contraceptives and feminine-hygiene products. Barrier contraceptives such as condoms can irritate the vagina. Feminine-hygiene products can cause imbalances in the vagina’s natural environment and pH level, and make it easier for infections to set.
- Pregnancy and childbirth. While you are pregnant, you will have increased vaginal discharge, but you will not have your monthly menstruation until your baby is born. Vaginal tears and decreased muscle tone in the vagina are relatively common if you have a vaginal delivery during childbirth.
- Psychological issues. Anxiety and depression can contribute to a decreased level of sexual arousal, and lead to uncomfortable or painful sex. Trauma such as sexual abuse or a painful sexual experience in the past can cause pain associated with sex.
- Hormone levels. Hormones play an important role in sexual arousal; changes in hormone levels can affect your vagina and arousal. For example, estrogen levels decline after menopause and while breastfeeding. This can cause thinner vaginal lining and sparse lubrication, which can make sex painful.
Normal Vaginal Discharge
Just as how a mouth produces saliva, a healthy vagina produces its own secretions to cleanse and regulate itself. These are normal vaginal discharge, and should not be interfered with because disrupting the delicate balance of vaginal secretions makes it easier to develop vaginal infections.
There are a few reasons why the vagina produces normal discharge: it cleanses and moistens the vagina, and helps prevent or fight infections. The color, texture, and amount of vaginal fluids may vary throughout the menstrual cycle—this is normal, but there are some changes in discharge that may be signs of a problem.
Knowing the differences between normal and abnormal vaginal discharge will help you watch out over yours for any indication of a problem. Normal vaginal fluids are usually thin, sticky, and elastic, or they can be thick and gooey, and their color should be clear, white, or off-white.
Vaginal Infection
Candidiasis (yeast infection), bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis are some of the common vaginal infections that cause abnormal vaginal discharge with or without having sex, while gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can also cause changes in vaginal discharge. Consult a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any changes in your vaginal discharge or if you think you have a problem.
Yeast Infection
Candidiasis, or commonly known as yeast infection, may make your discharge very white and thick, like cottage cheese. It usually does not make your discharge have a strong odor, but it may cause severe itching and a burning sensation.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) may make your discharge thin and grayish, and have an unpleasant, fishy smell.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common STI that often makes the vagina itchy, and urinating painful. Discharge becomes yellow-green and frothy, and have a strong odor.
Tips For A Healthy Vagina
- Always wipe gently from front to back after using the toilet. Doing so will prevent your vagina from getting any bacteria from the rectal area.
- Underwear during the day should ideally be cotton because the material lets your genital area “breathe.” Wearing underwear at night is not recommended.
- Avoid wearing tight pants, leggings, swimsuits, and sports pants for long periods.
- Change your laundry detergent or fabric softener to a gentler one if you think it irritates your genital area.
- Find out what condom and lube works best for you because some latex and gels may cause irritation for you.
- Take a bath daily, and pat your genital area dry before wearing clothes.
- Don’t use feminine-hygiene products inside your vagina. This may cause imbalances in the natural vaginal environment.
- Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays/washes, colored or perfumed toilet paper, or perfumed pads or tampons.
Sources:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/vaginal-infection-types/
https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/sexual-health-vaginal-infections#1
May tanong lang po ako sa private part ko po kasi noon is may bukol po sa may labi2 ng vagina ko hanggang sa pumotok po siya tas sugat nalang kasu almost 2 years napu ang sugat hindi parin po naheheal ngunit maliit na sugat lng nmn siya kasu may times na nag dudugo siya tapos parang may lumalabas na liquid then mahapdi at makati
Maraming posibleng sanhi ng iyong nararanasan, gaya ng impeksyon o kondisyon. Doktor lang po ang makakasuri sa inyo at makakapagtukoy kung ano ang tiyak na sanhi. Mabuting makipag-ugnay na kaagad sa OB/GYN ukol dito o magpunta sa malapit na health center para makita ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka kung ano ang angkop na lunas para sa iyong sitwasyon.
Hello po, october 30 ung last na nakipagtalik ako sa asawa ko and from that night until now masakit pa din ung ari ko nahihirapan din po akong umihi, sumasakit din ung pwerta at puson ko. Everytime na iihi ako or dudumi. Sabi nila mawawala din daw pero 5 days na po kasi sana po matulungan nyoko
Maraming posibleng sanhi ng iyong nararanasan, gaya ng impeksyon o kondisyon. Doktor lang po ang makakasuri sa inyo at makakapagtukoy kung ano ang tiyak na sanhi. Mabuting makipag-ugnay na kaagad sa OB/GYN ukol dito o magpunta sa malapit na health center para makita ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka kung ano ang angkop na lunas para sa iyong sitwasyon.
Stress na stress na po ako sa sakit ko ngaun,,ung private part ko po nagkaroon Ng parang singaw sobrang hapdi at sobrang sakit lalo na po pag umiihi,may mga alternative po bang pwdeng gawin or gamot na kelangang inumin,at ano po kaya Ang dahilan Ng pagkakaroon ko nito,takot po ako pacheck up, please tulungan nyo po ako Kung Anu Ang pwdeng igamot ko, sobrang sakit na po
Kailangan niyo po magpacheck up dahil ‘yun lang po ang paraan para magamot. Hindi po kami mga doktor kaya hindi po kami maaaring magreseta ng anumang gamot o lunas.
Hi maam good day po ask ko lang din po saken nmn po kc mi small red n bilog inside my vagina and masakit po sya mnsan pag umihi ako tas minsan mi dugo p po.. And not normal discharge po sya bat po kaya gnun.. Salamat doc
Hi! Paalala lang po na HINDI kami mga doktor. 🙂 Maraming posibleng sanhi ng iyong nararanasan, gaya ng impeksyon o kondisyon. Doktor lang po ang makakasuri sa inyo at makakapagtukoy kung ano ang tiyak na sanhi. Mabuting makipag-ugnay na kaagad sa OB/GYN ukol dito o magpunta sa malapit na health center para makita ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka kung ano ang angkop na lunas para sa iyong sitwasyon.
Hello po ahm past 3days Po lagi Po kumakati Ang Ari ako, Yung nga Po sinasabi na yeast infection Kasi Po una Yung discharge ko ay makapal na white, pero ngayon Po Hindi na Po ganon Ang discharge ko Yung madulas na transparent na sya..pero kumakati parin minsan Ang Ari ko…Wala namn Po ako for past 3 months sex experience Kasi nga malayo Ang partner kom.. sometimes I do masturbation , Ang entering may finger in my vaginal..is this possible cause why I do experience yeast infection..this my first time to experience na ganito na nangangati Ang Ari ko..I hope you can say something about my problem Po thank you
Hi, Geraldine! Maraming ibang posibleng sanhi ng yeast infection. Doktor lang po ang makakapagtukoy kung talagang yeast infection ang inyong nararanasan, kaya mainam na magpasuri sa malapit na health center para na rin mapayuhan sa angkop na lunas. Basahin po ito: https://doitright.ph/tl/ito-ang-mga-dapat-mong-malaman-tungkol-sa-vaginal-yeast-infection-vulvovaginal-candidiasis-2/