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Vaginal Health – Infections and their symptoms

One of the key factors for Women Health is vaginal health. The vaginal health problem can result to a woman losing self-confidence, stress or ability to reach orgasm during intercourse resulting to relationship problems. It’s therefore important for a woman to maintain a healthy vagina. A healthy vagina will have a natural acid PH and healthy bacteria that keeps off infections and keeps the Vagina in a natural healthy state. Women should have ideas of what can affect their vagina so as to keep it away from any infections. The vagina can be affected by several factors like the food you eat or even pregnancy. Foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals can help maintain a healthy vagina. It’s also recommended that a woman should intake a lot of water. Foods like garlic, onions, red meat and species can affect the vagina PH balance eventually affecting the vagina. During pregnancies, vaginal discharge can increase due to high levels of estrogen, it’s therefore important to understand what is normal for vagina during pregnancies to avoid complications. Occasionally women may experience vaginal related problems that may be caused by birth control and female hygiene products, menstrual cycle, sex, pregnancy and child birth or even ageing. Most common vaginal problems are infections. Below are some of the common vaginal infections and their symptoms

Vaginitis

Vaginitis is an infection that causes vagina inflammation which is mostly caused by a yeast infection or change in the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. The main symptoms of vaginitis are smelly vaginal discharge, itching and pain.

Trichomoniasis

This vaginal infection is caused by trichomonas vaginalis parasite which is carried by both men and women. This type of infection is mostly transmitted during sexual intercourse or picked from objects contaminated with semen like sex toys. Women with trichomoniasis may experience sore and itchy vagina, a burning sensation during urination or a fishy smelling vaginal discharge.

Vaginosis

This is a bacterial infection caused by an imbalance of the bacteria that keep the vagina healthy. The main symptoms of vaginosis are white or grey watery discharge with the unpleasant fishy smell.

Other vaginal problems which may occur due to pregnancy, use of medicines, birth control methods or age include, vulvar pains, non-infectious vaginitis such as allergic reactions and irritations caused by chemicals found in vaginal health products like sprays, vaginal injuries which may be caused by hard objects like bikes.

Below are some of the things that a woman can do to keep her vagina in a healthy condition.

• Making sure you thoroughly rinse undergarments before you wear them to remove any irritants. Also, use hot water and pure soap when washing them.
• Avoid wearing tights and stockings for a long time as this will create a moist and warm environment that encourages overgrowth of bacteria and yeast.
• During the menstrual cycle, it’s advisable to use tampons, but if you are using pads avoid perfumed one and change them regularly.
• After exercises or swimming remember to change costumes and sports clothes as soon as possible
• To avoid bowel infection, swipe from front to back after going to the toilet to stop bowel organisms coming into contact with the vagina.

Tags: Vagina care, Vagina Health, Vagina Infections, Vagina Problems, Women Health, Womens Health care