New Delhi, November, 2014: Do you really take care of your intimate area during menstruation? Maintaining basic menstrual hygiene can ensure women to lead a healthy hygienic lifestyle avoiding infections on the major front during chums (periods).
Women usually talk about the skin care, hair care, or even about makeup. Intimate hygiene is often a rare topic of conversation between them. Menstruation is the time when women get more prone to infections, including sexually transmitted diseases. Maintaining intimate parts hygienic is crucial and important aspect which cannot be just done by cleaning it with water or changing pads and feel fresh but also to avoid serious vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis, vaginal yeast infection and trichomoniasis.
Vaginal Infections are often caused due to the disturbed balance in the pH level of vagina due to the cervix opening during menstruation to allow waste blood to flow out of the body; this usually makes bacteria to travel into uterus and pelvic cavity. Yeast infections in this case are often seen. Essentially, hygienic routine during menstrual cycle should be learnt by women to maintainvagina in its ideal pH level which is 3.5 to 4.5.Vagina takes care of itself by secreting fluids which cleanses and defends foreign bacteria. Many women think that cleaning genitals with soap and water or with only water is enough to maintain vagina healthy during periods, but the fact is that waste discharged blood and soaps are alkaline in nature which have the pH level of 8 to 10 disturbing ideal pH level of vagina.
Infections are often caused because, vagina being continuously vulnerable to pads or tampons in menstruation is not enough, and it should be changed regularly. While cleaning the vagina make sure of using the lactic acid formulated intimate hygiene wash maintaining ideal 3.5 to 4.5 pH level of vagina. This will provide protection for the vagina against irritation and infection as the majority of harmful microbes cannot survive at a low pH of 3.5 to 4.5.
Not many Indian women are aware of taking proper precautions in periods, while cleaning the vagina at the time of changing the pads or tampons women are often exposed to impure water at workplace or home. This makes unfavorable conditions to vagina thus, leading to irritation and infections. Women with menstrual cycles, who travel to different places, should take extra care as they are exposed to different climatic conditions, sweating and use of scented wipes or just changing pads is not sufficient.
So in order to overcome all the consequences, below mentioned points are to be applied by women who experience menstrual cycle every month.
Habits to be avoided:
· Use of soap at intimate parts which disturbs pH level.
· Avoid fragranced pads and wipes.
· Don’t use synthetic under garments.
· Use of sprays should be never used.
· Continuous washing with only water (pH 7) can also disturb ideal pH level.
· Avoid sponges for intimate hygiene as it can scratch the tender genitals skin.
· Never swim or be in water for a long time during menstruation.
Habits to incorporate:
· Specially opt for lactic acid formulated wash for intimate use which can maintain ideal 3.5 to 4.5 pH level of Vagina.
· Always use clean soft towel to wipe your genitals.
· Use pads and wipes which are not scented, as it keeps vagina safe from chemicals.
· Wear clean cotton undergarments.
· Change sanitary pads often at every 3-4 hrs, as prolonged exposure to damp sanitary pads can lead to irritation and infections.
All the listed habits can drive you towards healthy and comfortable life as it provides great intimate hygiene throughout. Women should take care of intimate hygiene by using special products like intimate hygiene wash with Lactic acid formulation and should look at it as a priority. CCI Newswire
