The vulva and vagina are divas and require special attention. If you don’t get this, it can quickly have unpleasant consequences – vaginal yeast infections and bladder infections are just two of them. Women could save themselves a lot of itching and burning if they knew how to deal with their intimate areas a little better – starting with proper washing. Doctor Susan Zeun knows what often goes wrong in panties and bed. With “The Panties Academy” she has presented an entire book that deals with what goes below the belt – or rather: what goes wrong. Five tips from her that women should pay attention to.
Incorrect washing Proper intimate hygiene is not that easy – washing too little is not good, but neither is too much. Both ensure that the vaginal flora becomes unbalanced and thus creates the optimal basis for infections of the genitals and urinary tract. Soap should not be used for cleaning; (foam) baths are also problematic. Soap attacks the acid protection of the vulva and vagina, and vaginal fungi also like moist heat. According to Zeun, tight clothing, synthetic materials, panty liners or nylon stockings could also lead to a “build-up of heat and moisture in the genital area” and thus create a good climate for unpleasant guests.
Fighting intimate fungus with yogurt tamponsYes, there are women who dip tampons in yogurt and insert them to combat intimate fungus. The idea is that the lactobacilli contained in it should produce lactic acid against the fungus and thus support the lactobacilli that naturally live in the intimate area. The problem: The usual lactobacilli from yogurt have nothing in common with those in the intimate area, so their intake is unnecessary. Doctor Susan Zeun recommends against using tampons outside of your period anyway. Since they suck vaginal fluid when they can’t suck blood, this can even be counterproductive: “On the one hand, helpful immune cells don’t get to where they are urgently needed, and on the other hand, germs are retained that should actually be gone.”
Drinking too much when you have a bladder infection. Drinking too much when you have a bladder infection is not possible? Oh but. If a bladder infection becomes apparent, it is a good idea to increase the amount of water you drink as this will flush out the germs. But according to Zeun, you shouldn’t overdo it either: “Constant trips to the toilet irritate the urethra. Mini-injuries caused by using toilet paper can contribute to the maintenance of infections.” Two to three liters are completely sufficient.
Changing sex partners With a new partner, bladder infections and intimate infections can also increase. There is still debate about why this is so. Is it because with a new partner the frequency of sex is likely to increase? According to the expert, a mixture arises during sex that promotes inflammatory reactions. During sex, among other things, the pH value of the vagina changes, and the friction during sex can also cause small injuries. Another theory is that it is the new partner’s microbiome that causes infections because the immune system has to get used to it.
The problem with menstrual productsThe job of period products is to absorb blood – whether in the menstrual cup, tampon or pad. Many products are still designed in such a way that the blood is drained away from the body and trapped as quickly as possible. If plastic is used, for example for leak protection, it makes the work of the microorganisms in the intimate area more difficult. “For the majority of aerobic intimate zone microorganisms, i.e. those that need air, it is as if they were putting a plastic bag over their head and trying to get air through it,” says the expert. Panty liners that are not breathable can also cause the genital area to heat up – an optimal climate for vaginal fungi. Tampons need to be changed every four to eight hours. The reason for this is the bacterial colonization, and tampons are microbiologically “a playground, unfortunately not exclusively for useful microorganisms”. Tampons should be taboo outside of menstruation and even on very weak days. If the blood flow is too weak, the tampon will absorb too much other fluid – including the important lactobacilli.
