The importance of body hygiene, from cleaning hair to skin
to using deodorants, perfumes, gels, and bath foams, is undeniable. In women,
one of the areas requiring special care is the genital area. Proper cleaning of
this area of the body will avoid the effects of excess detergents on the
mucous membrane and possible infections due to poor hygiene or other reasons.
To begin with, it necessity be said that to maintain the
purity of the vulvovaginal mucosa, it will be enough to wash it with water or
mild soap and water, preferably twice a day, once in the morning and once
before bedtime. Cleaning the area should cover the vulva as well as the folds
of the labia majora and labia minora, and cleaning around the clitoris should
not be neglected.
The vagina should not be washed from the inside, as it has
its own cleansing mechanism: a certain amount of vaginal discharge is released
every day. Allocation in the absence of pathologies is whitish, with a tendency
to yellow when drying: somewhat viscous, sweet, the odor is not unpleasant. PH of
normal vaginal secretions is acidic, less than 4.5. Vaginal discharge increases
during sexual arousal and during ovulation. The appearance of vaginal discharge
also changes during ovulation, and the woman becomes more fertile, in this
case, the discharge has an elastic consistency, which makes it easy to retain
sperm and thereby promote pregnancy.
On the other hand, douching is not recommended as a routine
hygiene measure unless it is part of medical treatment. This type of vaginal
cleaning can change the pH of the vagina and promote the growth of bacteria
that cause inflammation or infection of the mucous membrane. Therefore,
douching is indicated only in certain situations and for a short period.
It is very important that this area is dry as well as clean
to avoid infections. Contact with urine, sweat, the same vaginal discharge,
menstruation, and the fact that this is a poorly ventilated place helps prevent
complete evaporation of the resulting moisture, and these are the reasons why
this area is more susceptible to attacks by microorganisms.
There are a number of factors or situations that can change
the vulvovaginal area and contribute to infections:
* Wear tight underwear.
* Use synthetic materials such as nylon underwear
because they retain moisture and heat in the genital area.
* Sexual intercourse causing chemical changes as semen is
alkaline and causes a change in vaginal pH.
* Menstruation.
* Frequent use of antibiotics.
* Parasitosis.
* Incontinence of urine or feces.
* Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and
menopause.
Special physiological situations
The mucous membrane of the vulvovaginal membrane does not
have the same characteristics and is not susceptible to the same types of
infections at different stages of a woman's life.
