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
Hi po may lumalabas po sakin na transparent na parang plastic or jelly… Sana po matulungan mo po ako
Hi, Jane! Ang tawag po dito ay vaginal discharge. Normal at likas na nililikha ito ng katawan para mapanatiling malinis ang puwerta. Basahin rin po ito: https://doitright.ph/tl/gabay-sa-mga-kulay-ng-vaginal-discharge/
Hello po ano po kaya yung laman na kulay puti na nakalabas sa ari ko? Dina man po sya masakit. Sana masagot po Salamat po.
Hi, Shane! Maraming posibleng makaapekto sa vaginal discharge, kasama na ang kinakain at gamot na iniinom. Nakakaranas ka rin ba ng iba pang sintomas? Baka makatulong rin po sa inyo ito: https://doitright.ph/tl/gabay-sa-mga-kulay-ng-vaginal-discharge/
hillo po pa help nmn kong ano tong nangyayari sa akin kasi 4 days kona tong nararanasan at subrang sakit po ng ari ko marami syang sugat at may nana din po ,
Hi, Luziara! Mainam po na magpunta na kayo sa malapit na health center para masuri ang sanhi at mapayuhan sa angkop na lunas bago pa ito lumala.
Hello po, nagkaron po ng pangangati sa ari ko, at nagkaron din po ako ng discharge na paramg durog na Taho or Parang during n basang papel at the same time nagkakaron din po ng sugat na paramg hiwa dahil ng ari koThis
Hi, Jaja! 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.
may lumalabas po sa ari ko na watery discharge as in po nababasa ung panty ko after my period doon po cya lumalabas the mabaho po ang ihi ko and now namamaga ung mata ko ewannko kung dahil sa radiation ng phone or what sana mapansin ntatakot kasi ako magpatingin sa doctor at nhihiya rin ako kung ano po ito at gnito pa sitwasyon dto na lockdown dahil sa pandemya🥺🥺
Hi, Angelika! Ang vaginal discharge po ay normal at likas na nililikha ng katawan para mapanatiling malinis ang puwerta. Maraming posibleng makaapekto sa vaginal discharge, kasama na ang antas ng hormones, kinakain, inumin, at gamot na iniinom. Isa sa mga pangunahing hakbang para maiwasan ang mabahong ari o discharge ay ang paghuhugas sa ari araw-araw — gumamit ng maligamgam na tubig, at dahan-dahan dampiin para matuyo bago magsuot ng malinis na panty.
Goodevening sakin po may lumalabas na parang yellow green na discharge tpos makati po pwerta ko ..ung mister ko kasi nagkaimpeksyon sa ari posible po na nahawa niya ako kasi bago nya pa malaman na may impeksyon sia nag contact pa kming dalawa . Ngaun naggagamot sia tpos ako nmn ngaun may nakita na lumlabas sakin .
Hi, Mitch! May posibilidad po na ika’y nahawa, kaya mainam po na magpunta na sa malapit na health center para masuri kung ano ang sanhi at mapayuhan sa angkop na lunas.
Magandang gabi po. Ano po kayang tawag sa nararamdam ko sa ari ko? Sobrang nangangati po ako palagi at ung sa ilalim ng pisngi po ng ari ko at nangingitim lagi dn po nagbabalat at my umbok umbok na maliliit na wala namang nana kaya dko masabi n parang tigyawat.. my dinidischarge dn po n kung ano ang ari ko. Sana po mapansin.
Hi, Janine! 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.