In addition to providing a feeling of comfort and cleanliness, intimate hygiene helps to prevent the proliferation of bacteria, thus preventing certain pathologies and infections. Intimate hygiene has a major role to play in women's intimate health, with everyday gestures that help prevent infections of the vulva and vagina.
It's therefore important, from an early age, to take the right steps to preserve intimate hygiene and vaginal flora.
But be careful not to wash your intimate area too aggressively, too often or with unsuitable products.
What is intimate hygiene?
Intimate hygiene is, as the name suggests, the care of the intimate parts of the body. In women, the vulva is made up of a fragile mucous membrane that needs to be gently cleaned daily with suitable products or plain water. This area requires special attention, as it serves to protect the vagina and uterus.
As for the vagina, it's made up of a vaginal flora with several types of bacteria that thrive and live there in harmony. It's important to know that the vagina "cleans itself" thanks to vaginal fluids produced during the cycle, so that any "bad" bacteria are flushed out to avoid developing infections.
The balance of vaginal flora is very fragile and requires special attention!
An unbalanced vaginal flora exposes the mucosa to infections.
This is because the vaginal flora is made up of lactobacilli, bacteria naturally present in the vagina, which prevent microbes from developing by creating a "protective layer" on the vaginal mucosa.
If the flora is unbalanced, whether as a result of poor hygiene habits or during certain periods: pregnancy, antibiotics, menstruation, etc., the number of lactobacilli can be reduced, which can lead to germ proliferation, irritation or infection.
That's why it's so important to pay close attention to intimate hygiene, adopting some simple gestures and avoiding others.
What habits should I adopt for good intimate hygiene?
To ensure good intimate hygiene, there are a few tips to follow:
- Use suitable products for intimate hygiene, such as intimate gels or fragrance-free, hypoallergenic dermatological lotions!
- One cleansing a day is enough. If you want to wash more than once a day, rinse only the intimate area with clear water and limit yourself to two times a day.
- Wash by hand, as washcloths encourage the proliferation of bacteria and microbes. If you still prefer a washcloth, wash it after every wash.
- Whether you're using the toilet, showering or getting out of the shower, always soap and dry yourself from front to back to prevent bacteria from spreading from the anus to the vagina.
- When getting out of the shower, wipe yourself with a cotton towel, using light tapping motions.
- Change your underwear every day
- Choose cotton underwear (organic if possible), rather than synthetics.
During menstruation, change your sanitary pads regularly and avoid tampons, which tend to dry out the vaginal mucosa, which is already drier during this period. Choose organic cotton sanitary towels or menstrual panties that let your vagina breathe and preserve your vaginal microbiota.
Consult a gynecologist or midwife regularly.
What should you avoid doing when washing your intimate parts?
On the other hand, there are a few things you should avoid doing:
Do not use conventional shower gel, shampoo or other products that are not suitable for mucous membranes (scrubs, etc.). The same goes for Marseille soap, which is too aggressive and dehydrating for this fragile zone.
- Avoid intimate wipes
- Avoid intimate deodorants
- Avoid frequent intimate cleansing
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing, which encourages the development of bacteria through friction and lack of ventilation.
- Avoid wearing damp clothing or bathing suits for long periods, as heat + humidity encourage the development of bacteria
- Never wash the inside of the vagina! As we saw earlier, the vagina cleans itself. This would only unbalance the vaginal flora, which would in turn encourage infections.
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor or gynaecologist for advice on how to avoid the unpleasant effects of unbalanced vaginal flora.
If you suffer from recurrent mycoses or vaginal dryness:
Some women are prone to recurrent mycoses.
In addition to the advice already given, we recommend you opt for slightly alkaline intimate hygiene products, which create an atmosphere less conducive to the establishment of infection and limit the risk of recurrence. It's also important to urinate before and after intercourse to avoid the proliferation of bacteria, which also helps prevent cystitis.
What's more, whether you're at the pool or the beach, avoid wearing a wet bathing suit because, as we saw earlier, this encourages the proliferation of bacteria. It is therefore advisable to put on a dry swimsuit or sunbathing panties as soon as you get out of the water.
In the case of vaginal dryness, it's advisable to use products enriched with natural, moisturizing active ingredients that calm sensations of discomfort and limit pain during intercourse.
You can also opt to take probiotics, available in pharmacies. They'll help your vaginal flora build up good bacteria!
Don't hesitate to consult a health professional if you have any questions!
