Did you know that if you exercise your vagina every day, you can keep it looking young? Or that using soap to clean it can actually give you an infection? These are just a few of the many vagina facts you probably didn’t even know!
The truth is that there is no way you can know everything about your vagina. There are some facts that many are unaware of, and only a doctor or a scientist can shed some light on them. So what are these hidden truths about your lady parts?
Well, worry not. We are here to share some bizarre but cool vaginal facts so you can keep her healthy and happy!
Vagina facts: Here’s what you didn’t know!
The vagina is one of the most delicate parts of our body. And yet most of us treat it like it doesn’t matter at all. We scrub, wax, bleach and even spray on it in an attempt to keep it looking and smelling a certain way.
In the process, we put her through a horrible routine. And, sometimes insert things that are not meant to be inserted there. (YES! You know what you’re doing!)
What most of us fail to understand is that our vagina is extremely sensitive to all this ‘rough’ use. You may feel like she is high-maintenance and needs a lot of TLC, but there is a good reason for that.
After all, you don’t want to be curled up in bed fighting horrible pain because you didn’t take care of your lady bits. So here are a few vagina facts you should know.
We should warn you, these are probably things she’ll tell you if she could talk! So listen up closely.
1. NO! You’re not supposed to clean your vagina with soap
Most of us don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on bathing gels, and so we use soap. There is nothing wrong with that. Please continue. But just don’t do that to your vagina. She is too sensitive.
If you want to keep your vagina clean, steer clear of soaps because soaps create a pH imbalance. Like your skin and gut, your vagina also has the perfect balance of good and bad bacteria. Ideally, the good bacteria Lactobacilli, keeps the pH balance in your private parts under 4.5.
When the pH level increases and the area becomes less acidic, the vagina becomes open to infections, including thrush and bacterial vaginosis.
Some studies even suggest that the vagina is a “self-cleaning oven.” So why bother using harsh products to clean it? All you need is some warm water, and it will do the cleaning on its own.
Give your vagina a break from napkins, especially the scented kinds because they are going to make you feel very, very sick (Image source: File photo)
2. Stop shaving every single strand of hair off it!
Yes, you read that right.
By shaving your vagina, you are inviting ingrown hair, bumps and pimples on your beautiful bits.
In the process of trying to make your vagina beautiful by waxing, shaving and bleaching, you are putting her under a tremendous amount of unnecessary roughness and stress.
You might think that you have decreased the bad bacteria that is lurking in your pubic hair, but by shaving, you’ve put your labia in greater danger. All those pimples and in-grown hairs will eventually hurt your vagina and travel inside causing more bacterial infections.
Nobody wants an itchy vagina! So spare yourself the horror and trim the hair down there, rather than make your private parts look like those of a two-year-old girl.
3. Did you just say douche? Don’t even think about it!
Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow made this term quite popular on her website Goop. She advocates steaming your vagina to keep it squeaky clean. But somebody needs to get her a biology book, urgently!
This is not something your OB-GYN will advise you to do.
Vaginal douching is the practice of spraying a solution of vinegar and water upwards into the vagina. You can do this using a bottle, bag or a douching syringe.
The idea is to push the solution into the area that only your IUD can reach. In fact, as you walk down the aisle of napkins and other ‘feminine products’ you may even notice some prepackaged douching solutions containing baking soda and iodine. STAY AWAY!
We’re not kidding. We spoke to Dr Malpani, MD, Malpani Infertility Clinic, Mumbai, India who explained why.
“Many women feel that douching is a good thing, but when you are on a baby-making run, it’s a terrible idea to use douches as they alter the pH-level of your vagina and impair fertility,” he shared. Dr Malpani added that douching can cause vaginal infections as well as Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases.
So why do this to your most delicate parts?
4. Give her a break from napkins
Many women like using napkins. They find them convenient, easy-to-use and cheaper than napkins. And if you are one of these ladies, you might want to rethink your life choices! Yes, we said it.
Give your vagina a break from napkins, especially the scented kinds. They are not making your vagina smell like heaven. They are not only bad for your health but also quite pointless. If anything, you are heading straight down the Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) street.
For the uninitiated, TSS is a life-threatening bacterial infection. It can happen if you use napkins on a daily basis or leave them inside for too long. In addition, napkins also have a toxin called dioxin, which is linked to cancer.
So basically, there are many reasons for you to quit napkins right away.
5. Yes, please use a lubricant if you can
Your vagina is probably screaming “Use lube! Use lube!” each time you subject her to some ‘necessary roughness’ in bed.
A little bit of lubrication can go a long way. It not only enhances your sexual experience, but also keeps your vagina happy.
Ideally, you should avoid an oil-based or a silicone-based lubricant. They can irritate your skin and even cause infections since they are difficult to clean. They can even cause the condom to break! (You don’t want that, right?)
Instead, go for a water-based lubricant. These are easy to clean and work really well. Plus, they act like total protection for your vagina when you are on the battlefield (read: sex).
There’s no need to be shy about lubrication. It doesn’t mean your vagina is dry or heading to menopause. It simply means you love your vagina and want her to be happy too!
Vagina facts: Kegels are exercises for everything inside your vagina. And the best part is you can do them anywhere and anytime! (Image source: File photo)
6. Wait! What? You’re not exercising your vagina? Why?
Just as your body needs exercise to stay in shape, your vagina needs the same, especially after childbirth. Out of the seven vagina facts, this one needs your immediate attention!
Experts suggest, “The pelvic floor muscles support the womb, the bladder, and the bowels. If the muscles are weak, these pelvic organs may lower into a woman’s vagina. Besides being extremely uncomfortable, this can also cause urinary incontinence.”
After a few years, just as your other organs become loose and start losing strength, your vagina goes through the same process. That’s why you should opt for Kegel exercises. These are exercises for everything inside your vagina. And the best part is you can do them anywhere and anytime!
7. Your vagina won’t become loose after sex
Yes, you read this right. The only thing that can make it lose its original structure and form is continued childbirth and old age.
Dr. Justin J. Lehmiller, Ph.D. and author of the blog Sex and Psychology, shares in his book, “The vagina naturally becomes looser when women are sexually aroused in order to prepare for intercourse — but after sex, everything goes back to its normal state. What does cause vaginal looseness? Older age and (for some women) childbirth.”
That should clear things up, right?
So remember to treat your vagina like a lady every single day and she will reward you in ways you never imagined! Remember these vagina facts, mommies, and share them with your friends too.
Source: yourtango, center4research
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore
