Table of contents:
- 1. Keep your vagina clean
- 2. Change underwear
- 3. Leave space in the vagina
- 4. Using a bandage or pantyliner
- 5. Have safe sexual intercourse
- 6. Routine cervical examinations
- 7. Eat a healthy diet
As many as 75% of women in the world have experienced vaginal discharge at least once in their life. And, 45% of that number experienced vaginal discharge twice, or even more. Women are more at risk of developing vaginal discharge if they are experiencing stress, lack of rest, do not do a healthy lifestyle, eat indiscriminately, and sexual diseases.
Leucorrhoea cannot always be interpreted as an infection or health problem in the vagina. The vagina is "designed" to be able to maintain its own cleanliness by secreting a whitish discharge. Indeed, there is normal vaginal discharge and there is vaginal discharge which is a symptom of disease or abnormal. To determine abnormal or not, you need to check with medical personnel. Here are ways to avoid abnormal vaginal discharge.
1. Keep your vagina clean
Maintaining vaginal hygiene is the most important thing to prevent vaginal discharge due to various bacterial infections. Leave your habit of cleaning the vagina with regular soap. Cleaning the vagina with bath soap will disrupt the pH balance and cause irritation to the vagina. Normally, the pH in the vagina is around 3.8 to 4.5, while regular bath soap tends to have a pH of around 7 to 8. Every woman has a different sensitivity level in her vagina, there are women who have no problem using regular bath soap to clean. vagina, but some experience irritation and allergies when using plain soap. However, you better prevent irritation from occurring by not using plain soap when cleaning the vagina.
Use an odorless or fragrant soap to clean the area around the vagina. It is normal for the vagina to have an odor, because the odor in the vagina can change according to the reproductive cycle that occurs, so it is not always considered an infection when the vagina produces a smell. Then, when you are menstruating, clean your vagina more often and change the pads as often as possible, this will keep your vagina clean. Also, it is better if you wipe the vagina with a clean tissue, then wipe it from the front to the back - the direction of the vagina to the anus. This is to prevent bacteria around the anus from moving to the vagina.
2. Change underwear
Changing your underwear at least 2 to 3 times a day can help keep your vagina clean. In this way, it prevents bacteria "living" in the vagina and can also reduce your vaginal odor. Also, make sure you choose the right material for the underwear you are going to wear. Using the wrong underwear can be a risk factor for the vagina getting a bacterial infection. Choose underwear made of cotton, this will make it easier for your vagina to "breathe". Reduce the use of tight pants such as jeans which can make the vagina easily irritated.
3. Leave space in the vagina
The vagina also needs space to breathe, if you are relaxing at home, try not to wear underwear occasionally. Air helps reduce the risk of infection and irritation in the area around the vagina so that it can prevent vaginal discharge.
4. Using a bandage or pantyliner
You can use thin pantyliners or pads to keep your vagina clean, but don't forget to change the pads frequently and don't wear one sanitary napkin for a long time.
5. Have safe sexual intercourse
Many sexual diseases are caused by bacteria that are contracted during sexual intercourse, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, and HIV. If necessary, ask your partner to use a condom when having sex to avoid bacterial infection.
6. Routine cervical examinations
Women aged 25-64 years are recommended to have regular cervical examinations. This examination aims to detect whether there are abnormal changes in the cervix and if any can be detected from the start. It can also detect cervical cancer in women,
7. Eat a healthy diet
Food is very influential on health, including vaginal health. Eating healthy foods and adequate fluids can maintain your reproductive health while preventing abnormal vaginal discharge. For example, cranberry juice or yogurt can prevent bacteria from growing in the vagina.
