Vaginal health is an important aspect of the overall health of any woman. Vaginal problems can create a lot of stress in women's life. From foul odour of vaginal discharge to bumps after bikini wax, there are many symptoms that indicate that something is wrong with the health of your vagina. These are the signals, which show that you are not paying attention to what your body is trying to tell you. However, if you keep yourself well-informed about these problems, you would then be in a better position to deal with the situation.
So, here are some of the few common vaginal health problems that all women must know.
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Vaginal dryness is usually accompanied by symptoms, like soreness, burning sensation, itching, etc. It can be attributed to various factors, including hormonal changes during menopause, anxiety, stress, irritants (such as soaps and hygiene products), medications, and in some cases- even insufficient arousal.
Well, the treatment depends on the cause behind it. If it is because of insufficient arousal or low libido, then it is perhaps safe to use water-based lubricants. Lubricants also reduce pain during sexual intercourse. But make sure you use only the one recommended by your doctor.
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Ingrown hair may cause a bump on your vagina, but there is nothing to worry. Your first course of action should be using a warm soak. This involves wiping off the skin with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. This method is recommended by the National Institutes of Health, USA, as a good remedy for pimples and bumps caused by inflammation of the hair follicle.
However, if you notice an increased occurrence, see your gynaecologist who would be a better judge of the situation. Sometimes bumps might occur due to the bikini wax being done using a wrong technique. Hence, make sure you go to a good grooming salon, so as to avoid unnecessary painful experiences.
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The lack of sensation in the vagina is termed as vaginal numbness. If you are an avid cyclist or do cycling as a part of your cardio routine in the gym, you would know what this numbness mean.
It is one of the most commonly reported instances, and the best way to deal with it is padding the cycle that you ride. It gives enough cushion support to your vagina and reduces the occurrence of numb feeling down there.
An unpleasant odorous discharge, is an alarm hinting upon a bacterial infection, known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). If taken care of at the initial stages only, it can be treated with antibiotics. If you notice a change in its colour and consistency as well, discuss with your doctor.
The vagina is usually slightly acidic with a pH of 3.8-4.2, so as to prevent the infections. The pH imbalance therefore, curbs the natural way of fighting bacteria in that area. You can maintain it using unperfumed/plain soaps, as the perfumed soaps are one of the reasons behind this imbalance. Practice safe sex, as bacteria and virus, can find their way easily into your vagina and cause infections.
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Vaginal itch could be symptomatic of either a yeast or bacterial infection. However, if you run a series of tests and nothing comes off it, then it is something to do with the vaginal wash, scented wipes, or fragranced soaps you use.
As a ground rule, keep away from such fancy products as they do more harm than good. It is a good option to ask your doctor to recommend some mild soap.
Vaginal pain can be attributed to an infection or a sexually transmitted disease. However, it is usually a thing of no worry, if it is a one-off incidence. Other reasons include vaginal dryness or urinary tract infection (UTI). In case of vaginal dryness, use water-base lubricants to reduce the pain.
If the problem is due to UTI, talk to your doctor so that it is treated well on time. The best way to avoid UTIs is urinating both before and after intercourse immediately.
Bleeding after some rough sex session is not a matter of worry. However, if you notice persistent spotting when you are not expecting your menstrual period, it is a sign of something being wrong. It can be due to an infection, hormonal imbalance, or early pregnancy.
If bleeding is accompanied with a discharge, it could be due to some Sexually Transmitted Disease. Do not shy away by keeping it to yourself. Instead, book an appointment and seek medical advice of your gynecologist.
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It is important to understand that your health should never suffer due to ignorance or any fear of embarrassment. Now that you have gained knowledge about various vaginal health issues, make sure, you are proactive whenever you feel slightest of chances, of any of these occurring to you.