Visiting your OB-GYN every once in a while is vital for your vaginal health. You might not notice anything particularly bad down there, but you should still have your regular check-ups because not all vaginal infections show symptoms.
Below, we will give you a few things that you should follow when it comes to taking good care of your vaginal health. Make sure to visit your OB-GYN in Provo every once in a while so you can ask them for tips on how to further care for your vagina.
Avoid Overcleaning It
With tons of vaginal washes and even douches in the market, you might be tempted to wash your vagina using them every single day. Those TV and print ads will, at one point in your life, convince you to wash your vaginal area every day using such products. However, you should avoid overcleaning your vagina. A lot of these contain harsh chemicals that can actually harm your vagina rather than clean it, which is why you would want to steer away from them. You can use some every once in a while, but for your everyday routine. It would be best if you could just clean the area with mild soap and water.
Your Discharge Can Tell You What’s Wrong
Your vaginal discharge can tell you what’s going on in your vagina and even your cervix. It’s normal to have a little bit of clear vaginal discharge without smell, but if it gets too thick and has a funky smell, then that’s when you should worry.
If it starts to resemble cottage cheese (both the smell and consistency), then you most likely have a yeast infection. If it turns out to be gray, white, green, or yellow, then you might have bacterial vaginosis or even trichomoniasis. As soon as you smell something funky and notice your discharge being thicker than it usually is, you should consult with an OB-GYN as soon as possible.
Wipe from Front to Back
It might be a little more difficult to wipe from front to the back, but it helps you steer away from vaginal infections. Your rectum is super close to your vagina, which means that you can easily transfer the bacteria from the rectum all the way to your urethra. Always remember to wipe from front to back and never the other way if you want to steer clear of vaginal infections.
Always Get Tested for STDs and STIs
It doesn’t matter if you have one or multiple partners — it is always a must to get regularly checked for any type of STD or STI. STIs are not symptomatic at all times, so it is possible that you might have gotten it way before you got into a monogamous relationship. It would be best to always get tested for STDs and STIs for both you and your current partner’s health. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, really, as this only means that you are 100% responsible with taking care of your vaginal health.
Always talk to an OB-GYN if you think something is up with your vaginal health. Don’t delay the check-up, as the symptoms might easily turn for the worst if you do.