The most common intimate ailments, how to deal with them?

Intimate problems are a troublesome and often recurring problem that many women struggle with, regardless of age. Intimate infections are a source of great discomfort and negatively affect everyday well-being, self-confidence and intimate life.

In this article, we will present the most common intimate infections and tell you what are proven methods for dealing with female intimate problems.

Let intimate infections be a taboo. Quoting Canadian gynecological doctor Dr. Jen Gunte: “There is no reason to be ashamed of intimate infections. It is a common health problem that requires open conversation and education.” Understanding the causes and appropriate approach to treating these ailments can significantly improve the quality of women’s lives.

So let’s start from the beginning – what are female intimate infections?

Female intimate infections are health problems caused by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that affect the urogenital system. Intimate infections may be the result of improper hygiene, hormonal changes, the use of antibiotics, stress, frequent visits to water parks, sexual contact, and even an improper diet. Simply put, intimate infections occur as a result of imbalanced microflora in the intimate areas.

The key factor contributing to the development of intimate infections is the reduction or complete reduction of beneficial bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus in the vagina (responsible, among others, for the production of lactic acid that inhibits the growth of pathogens).

Another common factor of infection is a change in vaginal pH, leading to a decrease in its natural immunity. When the vaginal pH is acidic, pathogens multiply slowly and are effectively and successively combated. Lowering the pH of the vagina and changing its reaction to alkaline creates an ideal environment for the multiplication of pathogens responsible for infections.

Types of intimate infections, symptoms:

There are several types of intimate vaginal infections, depending on what pathogens penetrate the genital organ:

• Fungal infections

These are the most common intimate ailments among women. Most often caused by yeast of the Candida genus, they manifest themselves with itching, burning, discomfort and unusual discharge, which often has a cheese-like consistency, also called a yeast infection.

• Bacterial infections

The most common diagnosis is bacterial vaginosis BV. In healthy people, the vagina is inhabited by various bacteria that constitute its natural microflora. However, if other bacteria enter the vagina or one of the bacteria from this flora begins to multiply excessively, the microbiological balance is disturbed. This can lead to a bacterial infection. In the case of such an infection, thin, watery secretions appear, grayish in color, which often have an unpleasant, fishy odor.

• Viral infection

Viral vaginal infections, most commonly caused by viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). Symptoms of HSV infection include painful blisters and sores in the genital area, as well as itching and discomfort.

• Mixed infections

A mixed infection is defined as a situation in which the vagina is colonized by different pathogens at the same time, such as fungi and bacteria.

The most common intimate ailments:

There are several types of intimate infections depending on the pathogens causing them, but the symptoms, regardless of the type of intimate infection, are very similar.

The most common symptoms of intimate infections include:

• unpleasant, fishy smell of intimate areas
• vaginal discharge (excessive, abnormal vaginal discharge),
• vulvar itching,
• vulvar irritation,
• redness, burning, itching of intimate parts,
• dryness of intimate areas
• pain when urinating
• pain in intimate areas

The key is to observe your body. If you notice, for example, changed secretions, an unpleasant odor or at least one of the above-mentioned symptoms, it probably indicates a microflora disorder – an intimate infection.

How to deal with intimate infections?

In order to deal with intimate infections, care should be taken to restore the proper vaginal microflora. Prevention and a conscious approach are the keys to success.

To deal with the infection, you should pay special attention to a healthy diet, probiotic supplementation and good hygiene. It is recommended to use pharmaceutical preparations that contain lactic acid bacteria. They are available for both oral and vaginal use. Oral products (probiotics) are preparations containing valuable bacterial cultures that are important for the proper functioning of the body.

Vaginal preparations available on the market act locally, inhibiting the activity of pathogenic microorganisms and acidifying the intimate environment. Oral preparations work internally, so a valuable piece of advice is a holistic approach – taking care of your intimate areas from the inside and outside.

In the fight to restore proper microflora, attention should be paid to intimate hygiene – the use of specialized intimate hygiene products based on natural composition, without fragrances and artificial ingredients. It is worth choosing products that contain lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, oak bark, calendula or chamomile due to their health properties.

Moreover, when choosing products for intimate care, it is also worth paying attention to their pH, which should be close to the natural pH of these areas (about 4.5).

Simple solutions that are worth implementing immediately after noticing intimate ailments are: giving up the daily use of panty liners or tampons, wearing cotton or silk underwear, sleeping in loose pajamas, following a healthy and balanced diet low in simple sugars, avoiding vaginal irrigation and using gentle intimate hygiene fluids.

Remember, however, that to obtain the best diagnosis and obtain specialist help in preventing intimate infections, it is worth consulting a gynecologist.

Source:

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Internal Medicine Szczeklik 2022, Practical Medicine, Kraków 2022.