Contents:
- Medical Video: Female Hygiene | Vaginal Wash /Intimate Wash Uses | Why You Should Use Vaginal Wash
- Impact caused if you use a vaginal cleanser
- 1. Causes an imbalance of bacteria
- 2. Causes infection
- 3. Causes pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical cancer
- 4. Increases the risk of pregnancy complications
- What if we experience odor problems in the vagina? Is there a way to overcome it without vaginal cleanser?
- Does using a vaginal cleanser after sex can prevent pregnancy?
Medical Video: Female Hygiene | Vaginal Wash /Intimate Wash Uses | Why You Should Use Vaginal Wash
Vaginal cleansers have been declared bad for use. Why so? According to health experts, including people at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), you should avoid vaginal cleansers. These cleansers can interfere with the acid balance in the vagina. If you have a very strong odor, it can be a sign of infection due to an acid imbalance in the vagina. You need to know that natural vaginal acidity can control bacteria well. For further explanation, let's look below.
Impact caused if you use a vaginal cleanser
1. Causes an imbalance of bacteria
Even though you might think that you are using a vaginal cleanser to wash the bacteria that causes infection, you are actually cleaning up good bacteria that can protect the vagina from infection. The balance of good and bad bacteria can maintain vaginal acidity, which will prevent the growth of excess bad bacteria.
2. Causes infection
If you already have an infection in the vagina, then when you wash it with a vaginal cleanser, the bacteria will spread to other areas. Water that forces inward can move bacteria into the womb. Studies have also found that women who stop using a vaginal cleanser will have less chance of experiencing bacterial vaginosis. If a woman experiences bacterial vaginosis, then she will have a high risk of preterm labor and sexually transmitted infections.
3. Causes pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical cancer
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and / or ovaries. Research has found that women who use vaginal cleansers have a 73% higher risk of developing this disease. In addition, cleaning the vagina at least once a week has been linked to the possibility of increasing the chance of developing uterine cancer.
4. Increases the risk of pregnancy complications
Women who use vaginal cleansers more than once a week will have more difficulty getting pregnant compared to those who don't. Using a vaginal cleaner can also cause an 76% ectopic pregnancy. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo will attach to organs outside the uterus. The more diligently you clean the vagina, the greater the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.
What if we experience odor problems in the vagina? Is there a way to overcome it without vaginal cleanser?
Women often clean the vagina for fear of smell. Actually the vagina will have a natural odor change throughout the menstrual cycle. Some people say that they feel more smelly after experiencing changes in food consumption, such as eating garlic, tuna, or food supplements. However, don't worry, if you experience vaginal odor due to food, the best way to deal with it is to stop eating the food, the smell will usually disappear by itself.
For other causes, the best thing to do is to let the vagina clean itself. The vagina can cleanse itself naturally by making mucus. The mucus can cleanse blood, semen, and vaginal discharge. If you are worried about vaginal odor, talk to your doctor or nurse. But, you should know that a healthy vagina even has a smell that keeps changing throughout the day. Physical activity can also cause strong odors, but this is normal.
You can maintain vaginal hygiene by:
- Wash the outside of the vagina with warm water when bathing. (Some women also use mild soap. But, if you have sensitive skin or infection, even mild soap can cause dryness and irritation).
- Avoid tampons, sanitary napkins, powder, and fragrances that have fragrances. This product can increase the risk of vaginal infections.
Does using a vaginal cleanser after sex can prevent pregnancy?
Not. Vaginal cleansers do not prevent pregnancy, and should not be used for birth control. If you have sex without using KB, or if the KB method does not work properly, you can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. If you need contraception, talk to your doctor or nurse about the best type of birth control method for you.
Using vaginal cleansers before or after sexual intercourse also cannot prevent transmission of venereal disease. In fact, vaginal cleansers can eliminate good bacteria that prevent infection. This will really increase the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV / AIDS.
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