Vaginal Health 101

👙All things that itch are not yeast infections ladies! But, we will save that for a later post. I want to start a series of common vaginal disorders so you know what, when, where and why...❗️

Today let's start with general vulvar hygiene and keeping your vagina healthy!👍🏼

Let’s start with a common question I get everyday...Is vaginal discharge normal? Yes❗️Discharge contains cells, bacteria and natural lubricants produced by your vaginal tissue.

👙Estrogen status also plays a crucial role in determining the normal state of the vagina.  Estrogen increases glycogen content in vaginal epithelial cells, which in turn encourages colonization of the vagina by lactobacilli. 🧫 This increased level of colonization leads to lactic acid production and a resulting decrease in the vaginal pH to less than 4.5.

👙This acidic environment protects against the growth of pathogenic organisms and is key to maintaining a balanced vaginal ecosystem.  This bacteria is called the normal vaginal flora. This is why things can change as estrogen drops during menopause.😒

👙How can you keep your vagina in check?

❌No douching or feminine washes🛀🏽

❌No bath bombs!🛁

❌No scrubbing your vulva🧽

❌No scented hygiene products🚽

❌No scented laundry detergents, try hypoallergenic 🧴

✔️Use Dove unscented soaps not Bath and Body Works🧼

✔️Continue healthy eating to maintain a balanced vaginal ecosystem. Because once you increase the sugars in your diet, the bad bacteria will start growing and cause havoc!🥦

✔️So please, care for your vagina. It is delicate and requires special attention!

💡Stayed tuned for future posts about common infections!

Dr. E 💛