5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Your Vagina

You probably know a lot about your own body, but do you know everything you need to know about your own vaginal health? We are here to help! Let’s cover some facts (some known, perhaps some unknown) about your vagina because, like anything else, the more you know the better you’re able to make quality decisions about your own health.

1. Your vagina has its own microbiome

Most of us have heard about the microbiome, especially as it relates to the microbiome of the stomach or digestive system. But did you know that your vagina has its own microbiome as well?

The vagina harbors a huge micro-ecosystem that contains billions of microbes. In fact, the vaginal microbiome is its own unique ecosystem that plays an important role in your health and reproductive capacity.

The vaginal microbiome is dynamic. It can fluctuate during menstrual cycles and over the course of our life. The most abundant bacteria in a healthy, balanced vaginal microbiome are called Lactobacilli. These “resident microbes” are good bacteria. They contribute to vaginal health and protect the vagina from pathogens. In general, a high percentage of Lactobacilli in the vaginal microbiome is beneficial. Conversely, when Lactobacilli numbers decline, it might be bad news. When Lactobacilli numbers are down, certain conditions appear to be more prominent, including yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, chronic endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and gynecological cancers.

Many of the steps that are taken to keep the vagina healthy are also key factors that help promote these ‘friendly’ bacteria. So, by keeping a healthy vagina, you are also creating a safe place for these microbes.

2. How to maintain your vagina’s pH

The good news about your vagina is that it does a lot of its own self-cleaning. It is naturally inhabited by millions of friendly bacteria (see above) that exist to help keep the bad bacteria away. These good bacteria also play a role in regulating the pH (or acid base balance) of the vagina and give it the ability to function normally. However, it is still important to take a few steps to keep your pH balance in range. These include

Good basic hygiene – use plain soap to wash the genital area around your vagina (called the vulva)
Do not use douching products – douching may upset the pH balance of your vagina
Avoid using perfumed soaps, scented soaps, or body washes to wash the vaginal area as these can also interfere with the pH balance of the vagina and actually encourage the growth of unwanted bacteria
Always wipe from front to back after using the washroom – you don’t want your gut microbiome invading your vaginal ecosystem!
Vaginal discharge is normal – however, discharge that occurs with itching, burning, or other bothersome symptoms is not

3 – Your stress levels can affect the health of your vagina

Research shows that stress hormones can decrease the number of good bacteria in your vaginal microbiome. Since those friendly bacteria protect the health of your vagina, a stress-induced drop in their numbers can lead to a bothersome and problematic imbalance. Reducing stress by taking time for yourself, making it a point to carry out activities that help you relax, and learning to let the little things go are small steps that can make a big difference -not just for your general health, but your vaginal health.

4 – Vaginal discharge: what is normal and what is not?

Because the health of the vagina can be affected by a number of different factors, it is helpful to know the difference between normal and not normal vaginal discharge.

In premenopausal women, it is normal to have approximately one-half to one teaspoon (2 to 5 mL) of vaginal discharge daily. The texture and amount of vaginal discharge will change throughout your menstrual cycle, so it is important to be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal discharge.

Normal discharge has:

No distinct odor
Is clear or white
Is small in amount

Abnormal discharge can be:

Anything that is out of the ordinary for you, such as new discharge, itching, or pain in the vaginal area
A change in the color of the discharge
A change in the amount of discharge
A change in the type of discharge being produced, such as a clumpy white discharge
An abnormal smell from the vaginal area

5 – Some practical steps you can take to keep your vagina healthy

Although some of these steps might not be new information, we’ll still list them here because it’s always a great reminder.

Here are some tips that can help keep your vagina healthy:

Follow safe sex practices 100% of the time if you do not know your partner’s sexually transmitted infection (STI) status. STI’s can affect your vaginal health, your reproductive health and your whole-body health.
Get vaccinated: HPV vaccinations help protect women from the virus associated with cervical cancer and genital warts. If you are unsure about your vaccination status, speak to one of our Bloom Ob/Gyn providers to learn more.
Pap-smear testing: While your cervix is not the same as your vagina, your cervical health is as equally important and routine pap smears can help prevent cervical cancer.
Well-woman exams: Make these yearly checkups a normal part of your healthcare routine. These exams focus solely on your breast and gynecological health, and they are a great chance to speak to us about any related health concerns.

Vaginal health is an important part of our overall medical well-being. Be sure to keep these tips in mind and, as always, be sure to talk us if you are experiencing any issues or discomfort.