One of the most popular ways of advertising feminine products is claiming the female body is crawling with harmful pathogens. This trend has existed even back to the 50s when companies alleged that douching with Lysol helped keep a marriage spicy. This practice has since been proven to be harmful. The truth of the matter is that feminine products are unnecessary if you know the basics of taking care of your vagina.
Cleansing
While feminine washes are used to get rid of natural discharges and oils, these things are actually produced by the body for a reason—they are protective and help to repel bacteria which might inhibit the vaginal area. The flushing action of urine helps to remove any bacteria in the perianal region and vaginal secretions help to keep the pH of the area acidic to prevent bacteria from thriving since harmful pathogens proliferate in neutral pH conditions. Don’t worry too much about the moistness of the region because it was naturally designed to be like that.
Overuse of feminine washes and douching can remove those protective discharges. If you’re worried that your friends might get a whiff of that natural scent, your clothes are enough to keep this from happening. On the other hand, if the smell gets too strong and starts smelling fishy, then it’s time to get checked for bacterial vaginosis.
Menstrual Hygiene
The body is smarter than you think. In fact, days leading to your period, your body has already prepared for this phenomenon. While it’s normal for women to feel dirty while having their period, it’s never advisable to douche during this time. This is because the bacteria, which are naturally expelled through a natural outward flow of secretions, are pushed up during douching. This gives rise to a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease.
It’s also crucial for ladies to be discriminating of the products they use when having their periods. Most of the time irritations stem from products that women use while menstruating. Common culprits include scented pads and tampons. Irritations often come in the form of rashes and women who are predisposed to these conditions should avoid using anything scented. At the same time, these items should not be used on a daily basis. While it’s alright to use panty liners when spotting, wearing them every day will only make them a breeding ground for harmful bacteria which might give rise to urinary tract infections.
Beverly Mitchell Director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences and the perinatal research laboratories. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, providing mentorship to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty researchers . Check out her latest research about Threelac Candida to experience relief with ThreeLac.