Contents:
- Medical Video: Vaginal Dryness – Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Clinic
- Health risks using vaginal lubricants for sex
- 1. Vaginal bacterial infection
- 2. Fungal infections
- 3. Transmission of venereal disease
- What should be done to deal with the risk of using vaginal lubricants?
- Maintain vaginal hygiene
- Let your vagina "breathe"
- See a doctor
Medical Video: Vaginal Dryness – Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Clinic
Lately, has your sexual life faded because of a vaginal problem that feels dry? Relax, there is a simple solution to make love with your partner still feels good, that is using vaginal lubricants. Currently there are already many lubricants to help penetrate to make it more smooth and painless.
Although vaginal lubrication seems to be an instant solution, it does not mean that vaginal lubricant for sex is health risk free at all. You must be aware of various problems that may arise due to the use of lubricants for sex below.
Health risks using vaginal lubricants for sex
Basically, the use of vaginal lubricants is safe if you are careful enough in choosing a lubricant product. However, like other chemicals, lubricants can trigger side effects. Especially if your vaginal condition is not good. For example because you are experiencing a bacterial infection after menstruation. This is what might happen after using lubricants for sex.
1. Vaginal bacterial infection
Vaginal bacterial infections, often also called bacterial vaginosis, occur when the balance of flora (ie colonies of good bacteria and bad bacteria) in the vagina is disrupted. If there are more bad bacteria, the good bacteria in the vagina lose and you get an infection. Symptoms include vaginal itching, odor, and abnormal vaginal discharge.
This disease can occur because the chemicals in the lubricant have a pH level that does not match the pH level of the vagina. Though normal pH levels are needed to maintain the balance of vaginal flora. As a result, lubricating chemicals actually kill good bacteria that are in charge of protecting your intimate organs. This is evidenced by a team of experts who publish their research in a journal PLoS One.
2. Fungal infections
Mushrooms or yeast can also attack your female area. Like bacterial vaginosis, fungal infections also occur due to unbalanced vaginal flora. Because, good bacteria play an important role in preventing the growth of fungi. Without good bacteria, you also become more susceptible to fungal infections.
Symptoms of fungal infections in the vagina that need to be watched out include vaginal itching and white bumps appearing in your intimate area.
Besides because lubricants can change normal vaginal pH levels, health sites WebMD mentioning that the glycerin content in certain vaginal lubricating products actually triggers fungal growth. However, further research is still needed to prove the danger of glycerin for the vagina.
3. Transmission of venereal disease
Be careful, lubricants can increase your risk of contracting various types of venereal diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, even HIV / AIDS.
According to research in a journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 2012, this is because some lubricant products can cause damage to cells in the vaginal wall so you are more susceptible to disease.
Fortunately, the incidence of transmission of venereal disease due to the use of lubricants is very rare indeed. Especially if you have sex safely, for example, keep using condoms and not changing sexual partners.
What should be done to deal with the risk of using vaginal lubricants?
Take it easy, most cases of infection due to the use of sex lubricants can be overcome quite easily. Check out the tips below.
Maintain vaginal hygiene
Symptoms of vaginal infections such as vaginal itching and odor are certainly very disturbing. For that, you should regularly clean the vagina every day with warm water.
In order to heal faster, you can also use vaginal cleansing antiseptic products when washing your female area. Antiseptic products for the vagina can help clear bacteria, germs, and other infectious organisms because they contain safe active ingredients, i.e. povidone-iodine.
Let your vagina "breathe"
While recovering, make sure your female area gets good air circulation. The problem is that a moist vagina or warm temperature can be an ideal place for bacteria or fungi to multiply.
For that, choose cotton underwear and the right size, not too tight. Also avoid clothes or pants that are too tight, tight, or thick. If you happen to be menstruating, you should regularly change the pads so that the vagina is not damp and becomes a nest of bacteria.
see a doctor
You should immediately check with an obstetrician or skin and genital specialist if symptoms are bothering you. Follow your doctor's advice and take prescribed medication as recommended.
