GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENECARE OF THE WOMAN GENITAL SYSTEM

This problem is getting out of hands these days. Most girls only care about taking care of the outer and physical parts of their body. They don’t care of the inner parts. Today we will be talking about the care of the vagina.

VAGINA CARE (WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW)

The vagina connects the uterus to the outside world. The vulva and labia form the entrance, and the cervix of the uterus protrudes into the vagina, forming the interior end.

Some function of the vagina is that…..
It helps during mating. The vagina receives the penis during sexual intercourse.

It serves as a conduit for menstrual flow from the uterus.

During childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina (birth canal).

It generally serves as a passage way.

A woman’s vagina is naturally filled with bacteria but when there is an overgrowth, then it leads to a problem. Here are a few tips to know if you have a healthy vagina.

1. Nothing Itches

a healthy vagina won’t give you any trouble. However *hormonal fluctuations to yeast infections can cause vaginal itchiness.
So if everything feels OK down there, it’s probably in good working order.

2. The Discharge Is Normal
Discharge can vary throughout your cycle. According to WebMD, normal discharge may be clear, cloudy, thin, or thick. As long as it isn’t itchy or any unusual color, you probably have a clean bill of health.

3. It doesn’t smell bad
It’s normal for your vagina to have a slight odor, and every woman has her own unique smell …but itt should never be a strong, “rotting” fishy kind of odor* that is a pointer to an infection.

4. There Are No Obvious Spots,Irritation, swellings or sores
Healthy vaginas are rather unblemished. *If you have certain STDs, then this may cause red, itchy, painful sores or swellings to develop. So if things look smooth and and nothing hurts, that’s a good sign.

5. There’s No General Pain
In general, pain signifies a problem. *Some women have to deal with debilitating conditions such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease that can hurt considerably, so if you don’t hurt down there, it is a good sign.

6. You Have Pain-Free Sex
Of course a bit of pain may be expected when things get a little wild.
But women may experience extreme pain during sex might be because of conditions such as vaginismus, infections, or problems with the cervix.
If you’re generally able to do the deed without any unusual pain, it is a good sign.

NOTE: A self-exam isn’t a substitute for a yearly gynecological checkup, though. If something feels off, you can see a doctor sooner or more often as needed.

HOW TO SELF EXAMINE THE VAGINA
MATERIALS NEEDED

mirror
pillow
small flashlight
gloves for your hands(optional, can substitute by washing your hands thoroughly)

STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO PERFORM A SELF EXAMINATION

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, or put on gloves.

Remove your clothing below the waist.

Prop the pillow up in front of a wall.

Sit up with your back against the pillow, and bend your knees.

Your feet should be near your buttocks.

Spread your knees apart to start.

Try to keep your pelvic muscles relaxed. This will help you stay comfortable.

Hold the mirror out in front of your pelvic area. You may need to use the flashlight to see better.

Examine the vulva for small cuts, sores, or lumps.

Gently spread the vaginal lips with one hand, and hold the flashlight or mirror with the other. You can also prop the mirror up and shine light off of it if that’s easier to see.

Gently insert one finger into your vagina. The inside may feel similar to the roof of your mouth. *If you feel any sores or growths along the vaginal wall, see a doctor immediately*

Gently remove your finger and look at your vaginal discharge. *If you notice an unusual color or foul odor, see a doctor.*

Look for any other swelling, lumps, or unusual changes. You can now close your knees and stand up.

Remember, the appearance of your vulva can change slightly throughout the month. If you notice any changes that you’re concerned about, talk to a doctor or gynecologists.

WHEN AND HOW TO PERFORM A SELF EXAMINATION

You can perform a self-exam as often as once a month. You don’t want to do the self-exam while you’re menstruating, though. Pick out a date every month to self examine your self.

Knowing the colour of your monthly flow can offer incredible insights as to what is going on hormonally.

Find it to be a fascinating tool and something women should be taking advantage of each month! It is your monthly report card after all. Analyzing the color will help to show you where improvements can be made or just where you are at in general with the health of your flow.

I know blood can make some of us squeamish, BUT the color of your period blood, when you experience bleeding or spotting, and the amount blood lost during your period are all helpful signs available to us every month, in order to better understand your internal health

WHAT THE COLOR OF YOUR FLOW MEANS

BRIGHT CRANBERRY RED
This means a healthy and “normal” period! Your flow should be moderately heavy on day one, heaviest on day two and then begin to taper off as your period comes to an end. It’s also normal for the color to oxidize and turn brown towards the end of your flow as it is exposed to more air.

LIGHT PINK
This may indicate low estrogen levels, extreme exercise, extreme dieting and/or a nutrient deficiency. It is usually accompanied with light bleeding too. It’s common for female professional athletes to stop ovulating and lose their periods. It may not seem like a big deal but long-term low estrogen levels can increase your risk of osteoporosis which is a condition that affects your bones, causing them to become weak and fragile.

DARK EGGPLANT PURPLE
This may indicate high estrogen levels. It’s usually accompanied by heavy bleeding and/or clots. Can also be associated with PMS(pre-mensural syndrome), PCOS(Polycystic ovary syndrome), endometriosis, ovarian cysts or fibroids.

BROWNISH MAROON
If it starts out brown and almost streaky on the first day, this may indicate low progesterone or it could be old oxidized blood from your previous cycle and your uterus didn’t clear it all out. Brownish in color is normal at the end of your period though

ORANGE OR GRAY
Bright orange or gray may be a sign of vaginal infection or it’s blood mixed with cervical fluid.
Make an appointment with your doctor

Personal hygiene matters a lot, especially during your menstrual period. So whatever feminine hygiene you practice, you should try to take them up a notch when bleeding down-there.

Part of the reason why some people stink during that time of the month is poor feminine hygiene.

FIVE MENSTRUAL HYGIENE TIPS TO SMELL GREAT WHEN BLEEDING DOWN THERE

When you remove hairs in your private part before your period starts, there won’t be any hiding place for dry blood and bad odors. And it also makes it easier for you to clean up thoroughly.

Bathe twice daily
First thing every day of your menstrual period and at night to maintain proper hygiene. If you normally bathe mid-day or every other day, you can’t do that when you are bleeding down-there.

You need to wash first thing in the morning every day of your period. Because, in the mornings, your pad is already soaked and ready for a change.

So instead of wearing a fresh pad on your overnight blood-stained pubic area, why not take a shower before you do that. What if the pad isn’t soaked?

Even if the pad is still looking dry, it begins to stink at some point because there’s blood on it, and you’ve had it on overnight.

Moreover, you’d be feeling fresh and cleaner when you bathe before wearing a new sanitary pad or tampon.

Wash between sanitary changes
We just talked about how daily showers can keep you smelling great during that time of the month.
But you also need to wash your feminine area between pad or tampon change if you’re at home.

When you are done, wipe your feminine area with a towel, and then put on another sanitary.
But if you are up and about and not comfortable cleaning up in a public toilet, you are free to use wet wipes.

This would leave you feeling fresh and clean afterward. And please don’t forget to wash your hands with soap after the whole process.

Use a separate washcloth to wipe down-there after rinsing
Have you ever noticed strings of blood when you are taking a shower on your period days?

Sometimes you’d notice them on your big towel, and you don’t want that. So what you can do is use a separate towel for wiping down-there after showers, or rinsing between pad changes. Dark-colored ones preferably.

And don’t forget to wash it and use a fresh one the following day. So I recommend you have a separate vagina towel.

Use deodorants
Antiperspirants, or body mists can be used as part of your menstrual hygiene routine. You don’t have to bathe in them. Just use them sparingly.

This would keep you smelling fresh even if period blood stinks. But remember that it is better to freshen up before applying fragrances to your body.

OVULATION
Ovulation is a monthly process when one of your ovaries releases an egg. After this, the egg travels through a fallopian tube where a sperm cell may or may not fertilize it. This is the main point of a menstrual cycle.

What happens after ovulation depends upon whether a sperm cell fertilizes the egg or not.*If the sperm cell fertilizes the egg, it moves to the uterus where it plants itself in the lining, resulting in a pregnancy. If a sperm doesn’t fertilize the egg, it eventually disintegrates and your body sheds the uterine lining, which you know as a ‘period’.

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or want to prevent unwanted pregnancies, knowing about ovulation, when it happens, and how you can track it, can help you.

In addition, closely tracking your menstrual cycle can improve your ability to know when something’s wrong, which is beneficial in diagnosing specific medical issues.

WHEN DO WOMEN OVULATE?

It would be great if you could track your ovulation days like regular days of the week. However, not every woman has the same ovulation period because cycles can vary. Generally, however, ovulation occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle

OVULATION SYMPTOMS

During the period, it’s possible for you to experience a variety of ovulation symptoms. Each woman feels these symptoms at a different degree of intensity.

THE MOST COMMON OVULATION SYMPTOMS
Cervical mucus changes
Heightened sense of smell
Breast soreness or tenderness
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Light spotting or discharge
Libido changes
Changes in the cervix.

HOW TO CALCULATE OVULATION

You can track your menstrual cycle in a number of ways. Some require the extra effort while others just need you to mark some dates.

Monitor basal body temperature (BBT)
One of the ways you can predict ovulation is to monitor your basal body temperature, which is your body’s rest temperature.

In the first half of your cycle, your body temperature stays constant but as the ovulation period approaches, you’ll experience a decrease and later on, a slight increase in BBT (basal body temperature)after ovulation.

Chart menstrual cycle
The other way that you can predict ovulation is charting your menstrual periods over several months. By recording the days when your period begins and ends, you can find out if you’re having a typical length menstrual cycle i.e. 28 days.

If you have a period around the same time every month, this is a sign that your body ovulates as well, with ovulation occurring two weeks before shedding the uterine lining.

Ovulation calculator, kit, or fertility monitor
Instead of charting your periods yourself, you can use an ovulation calculator like P.C. It’s easy to use. All you have to do is enter dates like when your period starts and ends. You can get information like when you are ovulating and when your next period is due.

An ovulation kit will measure your body’s level of luteinizing hormone by determining it through your urine. On the other hand, a fertility monitor will identify days in your cycle when you are most fertile, to give you a smaller window of five days that allows a higher chance of pregnancy.

One most important usefulness of good personal hygiene is to produce a neat society. When I say neat society, I mean a society free of germs, diseases, viruses and other transmittable ailments that can cause chaos in the society.

Apart from that, it also makes us free and healthy. Within us, we feel healthy and safe. A society 98% free of germs is what we are working towards. Let’s work together in achieving this.