25 Oct Intimate hygiene: tips for its care

During pregnancy, and also after childbirth, intimate hygiene requires certain precautions, in order to avoid infections and other inconveniences. Let’s see what care you must take into account to protect your intimate area. Above all, in those periods when it is most vulnerable.

During pregnancy, the new hormonal situation influences the most external part of the female genital apparatus: there is a relaxation of all the muscles of the vagina and vulva. Which helps prepare the birth canal that the child can pass for him.

In this period, the tissues retain more fluids, the skin is more swollen and soft. This also supposes a greater secretion of the vaginal mucosa; the walls of the vagina. Being rich in liquids, produce more abundant losses than those that occur in a normal state.

These losses are the main defense of the genitals, because, through them, germs that could cause infections are eliminated. However, they also become fertile ground for the development of microorganisms, by remaining on the external genitalia.

Likewise,  during pregnancy, and due to hormones, the vaginal pH is altered and becomes less acidic,  which makes the genitals even more unprotected against various types of infections, such as candidiasis, for example.

Therefore, proper intimate hygiene is essential to avoid infections during pregnancy

However, there are other series of factors that can alter the balance of this area of ​​​​our body in other periods of our lives, such as the intake of antibiotics, stress, the use of very tight and non-breathable clothing, etc. Consequently, it is always important to take care of our intimate areas with proper hygiene.

Tips for proper intimate hygiene

• We must use soaps for intimate hygiene at least once a day, and rinse only with warm water the rest of the time.
• The genital area should be washed under running water. It is better not to fill the bidet so as not to use stagnant water.
• The hygiene of the genitals should start with the vulva, and then move towards the anal area, and not the other way around. With this, we will prevent the microorganisms present in the rectum from coming into contact with the vagina.
• We must dry the area without rubbing, with light pressure.

The importance of choosing a specific soap for each period

• It is necessary to choose a specific soap for intimate hygiene, which cleans but does not alter the vaginal flora. A good product should not contain aromatic substances, which can irritate the most superficial layers of the genital mucosa.
• The physiological pH of the vulvar and perianal region is between 4 and 8. Depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, whether the woman is pregnant or whether she has entered menopause. Therefore, for intimate hygiene, should be used products with similar pH and suitable for each period.
• However, despite using a specific product for intimate hygiene, small irritations of the superficial layers of the mucosa may occur, due, for example, to skin rubbing against underwear. If this occurs, the offense can be remedied with the use of special protective gels, which should be applied after washing.
• What if we’re not home? We can use wipes for intimate hygiene, which are usually hermetically sealed in individual containers.

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