Examining Feminine Hygiene Products and Practices
Examining Feminine Hygiene Products and Practices
After a very irritating case of a recurring urinary tract infection that sent me to my doctor’s office near tears, I resolved to take charge of my life as a modern day female. My doctor notified me that my UTI could be contributed to all soaps, body washes, bath oils/salts, and cleansers that were very much a part of my daily female regime. In addition to the UTI, I also had a mild case of Bacterial Vaginosis. She essentially instructed me to eliminate any soaps from my daily showers/baths…Are you kidding me? I could not imagine life without my smell goods! What lady does not want to keep her female parts, (as I will refer to them as for the sake of this article) smelling especially fresh and clean? As a very busy married woman and mother of three, with a career, I had decided that it was time for me to make a conscious effort to make better choices regarding my feminine hygiene. Simply put, however, my mind was made up that eradicating soap was not an option for this modern day mom!
My first step in making better choices was to do my research, as I am a firm believer in exploring all available options before drawing conclusions. I had to come to terms with what caused these abnormalities in my body frequently. First I had to get a grip of what each condition was and their cause. Bacterial Vaginosis is an imbalance in bacteria found in women’s vaginas. It can cause a fishy odor and or discharge. This condition can also be contracted through sexual activity, hence the frequently referred to title as an STD. However, you can probably rule out sexual intercourse being the culprit, if you and your partner are in a monogamous relationship. The other underlying causes, as in my case, could point to bacteria entering the vaginal area. As my doctor suggested, cleansing products created for women can be the ultimate common denominator that can cause the bad bacteria to dominate the good bacteria leading to feminine infections.
The Urinary Tract Infection is a very common infection among women caused by bacteria somewhere in the urinary tract, which eventually sets up infection. This condition is characterized by painful and or frequent urination, a burning sensation, and bacteria, sometimes even blood, in the urine. Treatment includes a usual short round of antibiotics, depending on the severity. UTIs can also be contracted during sexual intercourse.
So after a thorough look at symptoms and definitions, it was time for me to examine specific causes which lie in my common practices. I’m sure most women have had the dilemma of whether it is wiser to indulge in a nice relaxing bath or take a massaging shower. Well each has its pros and cons. If you are one to enjoy a bath on occasion, the key point to remember is to not include in your bath any additives such as salts, bubble baths, etc. Your bath tub should be extra sanitary and disinfected. If you use household detergents to clean your bath tub, it should be rinsed several times before running your water. It is recommended that you use organic or mild cleansers as to avoid harmful residues. Harsh detergents are always possibly damaging to your body. May I suggest a shower to complete your bath? To be on the safe side, so that you don’t carry your residual scum around, rinse your body off briefly after your bath.
If you are a shower fan, of course you won’t have to take as many precautions as with a bath. It is important, however not to insert soaps into your vaginal opening; as it is easier to make this mistake while standing. This is a serious matter as this can cause bacteria to quickly enter the body and begin to invite more of their kind to a party in which your female organs are the hostess. If you choose to use cleansers only apply them to the exterior of your vaginal area, and this is debatable with health care professionals, which some advise no use of soap even externally.
In assessment of the products used in my feminine hygiene practices, I deducted that I was using all the wrong ones. First and foremost, women should not use antibacterial soaps in the female areas. And of course if you are using them during a bath, then you are polluting your bath water with the agents. Antibacterial soaps, first are actually not proven to kill bacteria more than regular soap. And many studies are showing that antibacterial soaps cause more harm than good by making our bodies resistant to even good bacteria or creating more untreatable bacteria. So don’t waste those extra pennies on the cost of antibacterial soaps.
Use mild cleansers such as Dove or Johnson’s body washes. I am suggesting the use of body washes for showers. If in the bath, then I am suggested using only water. If you opt to use only water, exfoliate well or scrub those germs away. Don’t be afraid!
Nevertheless, if you like spicing up your love life with the KY Jellies and other internal gels, I don’t suggest ridding these completely from your routine, however, I would highly recommend taking a soak after using them to be sure that you don’t sleep with the contents for hours.
Finally, Douching is a practice that we as women should have abandoned long ago. Douching only eradicates good bacteria. Our creator took care to provide us with a built in cleanser that will care for our hygienic needs as long as you bathe regularly, there’s no need to internally cleanse.
Keep in mind that any foreign substance that goes in, increases your chances of violating the natural process of cleansing and the bacterial balance that already exists. Maintaining a monogamous relationship can help you to avoid unnecessary infections. The more sexual partners you have, the more likely it is for you to contract various strands of bacteria. Keep your insides well guarded to enjoy a comfortable and healthy lifestyle.
