INTIMATE HYGIENE

It is important to follow simple rules of intimate hygiene not only to prevent infections but keep yourself clean and fresh. Many mothers teach their daughters to wash the genitals at least twice a day with soap. Obedient daughters follow their mothers advice and as a result get trush of vulva or some other disease connected with wrong vaginal acid-base balance.

Do you know that sexual health is impossible without healthy genitals? If you want to avoid such problems you should be aware of doctors opinion on intimate hygiene.

Though the procedure of intimate washing seems to be quite simple, it must be performed according to some certain rules connected with peculiarities of female anatomy and reproductive function. You should know that womb cavity is sterile and any virus or bacterium got in it is likely to provoke various problems connected with carrying of pregnancy. So only spermatazoons are permitted in the uterus. Nature carries about female health: it created special guards which let spermatazoons in the uterus and simultaneously block the way of harmful bacteria and viruses. These guards are special bacteria populating the vagina.

Normal microflora of this organ is 90 percent bacillus which excretes lactis acid. Vaginal acid environment disactivates most harmful bacteria, but does not damage spermatazoons. If for some reason vaginal environment becomes alcaline, then the number of lactis acid bacillus diminishes dramatically and other microbes fill up the rest of the space. This state is called dysbacteriosis.

Abnormal vaginal microflora is the cause of many female troubles: inflammations, sexually transmitted diseases and even cervix cancer. Lack of lactis acid bacillus brings about weakening of protective function and thus an infection can easily get both into vagina and cervix and provoke inflammation.

Abnormal vaginal microflora is an enemy of female sexual health!

The most frequent cause of abnormal vaginal acid-base balance is soap foam which gets into vagina while intimate washing. This is not dangerous if happened once. But permanent alcaline blows affect microflora and thus provoke dysbacteriosis. The first sign of dysbacteriosis is usually unpleasant fish-like odor. A woman has to go to a doctor in order to get rid of it. In some cases dysbacteriosis can show no symptoms, the only sign is more abundant discharges from the vagina.

So what are the rules of intimate hygiene?

The rules of female hygiene are quite simple. You can see all recommendations and recommended products for intimate hygiene in following table:

	Wash your genitals with warm water from pubis in the direction of anus in order not to infect vagina with microbes from anus. Use a mild soap or intimate gel when you wash outer genitals. Do not direct the water stream towards the vagina. Direct and strong water stream not only washes out the protective lubricant, but also contributes to harmful bacteria getting into vagina thus increasing risk of inflammations.	Recommended products for vaginal hygiene
	You shouldn’t wash your vagina and use douche as this can disturb the balance in vaginal area. The result will be an unbalanced vaginal microflora, which not only can weakens the natural barrier for getting an infection, but also may become a source of inflammation and irritation in your vagina.
	Avoid putting other things in vagina, like unclean sex toys, or other devices that can be a potential harm to the delicate skin of vagina.
	Dry your genitals with a clean soft towel. The towel must be used only by its owner.
	You do not need any sponges for intimate hygiene. You are likely to scratch very tender genitals skin with a sponge.
	Only skin around the entrance to the vagina can be washed with soap.
	Do not take a bath or swim in a swimming pool while menstruation. Change tampons at least 4-5 times a day. Remember that a tampon can be in the vagina not more than for 6-8 hours.
	Do not wear synthetic trunks or at least wear them very seldom. Such an underwear prevents the skin from breathing and creates a favourable environment for harmful bacteria. Cotton underwear will help you avoid such troubles.
	You had better avoid sex contacts during menstruation . Sex life during this period increases the risk of inflammatory processes in the uterus, especially if partners neglect the rules of hygiene.

Follow these simple rules and care for your sexual health. It is worth it.

(info from http://www.mykamasutra-positions.com)

	Hygiene & Style
	VAGINAL ODOR
	VAGINAL ITCHING
	PUBIC HAIR HYGIENE