Vaginal Health

Maintaining vaginal health should be an important part of any woman’s self-care routine. Amy Wetter, M.D., a board-certified OBGYN at Northside Women’s Specialists, part of Pediatrix® Medical Group, shared tips on how to best care for the vagina, including proper washing. “The vagina is a self-cleaning area that contains normal and physiologic bacteria and discharge that do [the cleaning] for you,” said Dr. Wetter. Cleaning the vagina will upset the balance of bacteria and discharge and change its pH, she added. However, the vulva can be cleaned with a combination of mild soap (free of dyes and fragrance) and warm water. Dr. Wetter noted that scented products can alter pH levels and cause other issues like bacterial vaginosis.

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