Vaginal Health Fast Facts - Vaginal Health Hub

Vaginal Health Basics

These days, vaginal health is a hot topic of discussion among celebrities, writers, gossip columnists, and grammar lovers alike. With so many different sources of information available, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between the dos and don’ts of vaginal care. Good vaginal health requires more than just a one-step routine. Luckily, you can keep your vagina healthy and happy with many simple, everyday habits that can be easily adopted.

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Vaginal PH Balance

The vagina normally has unique flora that sustains the internal physical and chemical environment. The normal vaginal pH for women of childbearing age ranges from 3.8 to 5.0, which is moderately acidic. Vaginal fluid which is a thin layer of transparent liquid normally covers the vagina. There are numerous factors which can lead to changes and imbalances in the pH level of the vagina including aging, vaginal infections, hygiene, sexual activity, and vaginal douching.

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VAGINAL ODOR

The vagina usually no odor or only a mild odor. The vagina smelling like roses is a myth. A fish smell or other odor that’s strong means there could be a problem down there. If you have vaginal odor but have no other vaginal symptoms, it's unlikely that the odor is cause for concern. This might be from irritation from douching, using soap or a deodorant to decrease vaginal odor. Unfortunately these vaginal products might make the odor even worse and irritate your vagina and cause other symptoms.

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BV

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of infection that occurs in the vagina and is caused by the bacteria being out of balance. In an ideal condition the bacteria that’s beneficial in the vagina will prevent the development of infections and help in maintaining a pH level that is healthy. If pathogenic or bacteria that’s bad becomes excessive and the bacteria that is good cannot limit the bad bacteria’s growth, BV or a bacterial infection can occur.

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YEAST INFECTION

A vaginal yeast infection is an infection which is fungal and can cause vaginal itchiness, discharge and irritation of the vagina and the tissues at the opening of the vagina which is the vulva. A yeast infection is also known as vaginal candidiasis and affects 75% of women at some point. Sometimes you will have this occur more than once. It’s important to note that a yeast infection is not an STI although there’s a risk that is increased if you have an active sex life.

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URINARY TRACT INFECTION

A UTI or urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs in your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra or any part of your urinary system. The most common infections occur in the bladder and the urethra which is part of the lower urinary tract. UTI infections are much more likely to happen to women than men. A UT can be painful and annoying. If the UTI spreads to your kidneys it can have serious consequences. The most common treatment for a UTI is antibiotics that your doctor can prescribe.

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VAGINAL PROBIOTICS

Vaginal probiotics are specifically designed to help balance the vaginal bacterial flora. The vagina’s balance is usually maintained by your body naturally with a vaginal pH that is slightly acidic. When health concerns occur or new bacteria is introduced and there are shifts in the pH, vaginal probiotics can be quite helpful by adding more bacteria that is beneficial. Vaginal probiotics can also help with discomfort and relieve symptoms by helping to rebalance the vagina’s bacterial flora. Vaginal probiotics will contain healthy bacteria to fight organisms which are harmful and might be out of control. They can also be beneficial for women who have certain gynecological conditions that are recurrent.

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