Vagina 101

 We take care of our faces – go for facials, buy the best products, fret at the sight of a pimple, and doll it up with make-up and such.

We take care of our skin – use sunblock, cleanse, tone, moisturise, and we also use a scrub or loofah to remove dead skin.

And of course, we take care of our bodies – hit the gym, do sit-ups, try new diet programmes, jog until the verge of collapsing and buy pretty clothes to adorn ourselves with.

In the midst of it all, we may have forgotten something down south. That’s right ladies, we’re talking about your female genitalia.  

A healthy vagina is a self regulating system and is cleaner than our mouths and much cleaner than our rectums. The vaginal ecosystem is a mutually advantageous relationship between the vagina itself and the micro-organisms that inhabit it.

Your vagina is full of life in the form of bacteria but these are good bacteria fighting the good battle to keep bad bacteria out of your reproductive system. These good bacteria are called lactobacilli which are the same organisms found in yoghurt. In a healthy vagina these lactobacilli maintain a acidic environment – around 3.8 – 4.5 pH (a little more acidic than black coffee with a pH of 5).

Vaginal mucus is made up of the same things found in blood serum, the clear, thin, sticky liquid that remains behind when the solid components of blood, like clotting factors, are separated away. Vaginal discharge consists of water and albumin – the most abundant protein in the body – a few stray white blood cells, and mucin, the oily substance that gives the vagina and cervix their slippery sheen.

Discharge is certainly not dirt, and it is not a toxic waste product of the body in the sense of urine and faeces.

We have all heard bad jokes about our vagina that includes fish. A healthy vagina has a slightly sweet pungent odor. If it smells anymore pungent than this or takes on a fishy odour, then this is usually a sign that there is an upset in the delicate balance and the Lactobacilli (good bacteria) are losing the battle.

There are numerous factors that can upset this balance in your vagina and lead to the smelly condition called bacterial vaginosis.

• Poor hygiene – if you haven’t bathed for a week – things will start getting aromatic. It is not necessary to scrub or use heavily perfumed soaps or sprays on your genital area. Clean water and a good vaginal wash is best, as lots of perfumed products used here can cause thrush.
• Illness – Pelvic Infections can lead to vaginosis. Candida is a condition where the vagina becomes too alkaline (due to diet, oral contraceptives, stress) causing some of the not so good bacteria to flourish.
• Pregnancy and the resultant change in your hormone levels can cause thrush.
• Drugs like Oral contraceptives and antibiotics can contribute to vaginosis. 
• Low levels of lactobacilli – some women have less active lactobacilli leaving them open to infections.
• Douching is really bad for the vagina. It kills off the lactobacilli leaving your vagina open to attack.
• Sperm are highly alkaline, so when they arrive in the vagina, the vagina needs to work extra hard to return itself to its acidic status quo, this can cause a brief increase in odour. If a woman has many sexual partners and does not use condoms, she may be more prone to vaginosis as her body tries to adjust.

The basics of maintaining a healthy vagina:

• Do not douche. The only exception to this rule which may be acceptable is if you are trying to conceive and are trying to alter your vaginas pH for a greater good. Do it as little as you can and increase the number of lactobacilli in your diet through upping your intake of yoghurt or taking acidophilus tablets
• Use condoms if you have multiple partners – which you should be using anyway to avoid Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Eat a good healthy diet, minimizing sugar intake (sugar helps the bad guys grow). Include good yoghurt or acidophilus every day.
• Wear cotton underwear – this stops things getting too steamy down there, allowing good air flow.
• Do not use perfumes or spray on the genital area.

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