Healthy vagina tips from ‘The Gynae Geek’ – eat veg, calm down and don’t stick ANY foreign objects up there
VAGINAS are wonderful things.
They're self-cleaning machines which give us pleasure and facilitate the birthing of new life.
But many of us are pretty ignorant when it comes to looking after our vulvas, labias and vaginas.
We try to use soap down there. We think we need to use "yoni" eggs. We think about using douches.
Which is why gynaecologist and self-confessed Gynae Geek, Dr Anita Mitra, has to down there healthcare".
She's probably the biggest vag expert on Instagram right now, with over 40,000 followers hanging onto her every word, and she's been offering up tips on how to keep our vaginas happy.
Talking to , Dr Mitra said that many myths and dubious practices have popped up around women's health because "women's health stuff overlaps with sex and people don't want to talk about sex".
And that's allowed charlatans and misinformation to spring up.
What does a healthy vagina look like?
A healthy vulva (the fleshy part that you see) looks like one that doesn't have any infections or medical issues.
Your labia are the parts most externally visible - the flaps.
And they can come in all different sizes, shapes, colours, textures and haircuts (or not!).
In fact, Dr Mitra says that it's really common for your flaps to actually be asymmetrical. In other words, all vaginas are perfect.
Don't stick anything up there that isn't for menstruation or sex
Jade eggs? Tightening sticks? Charcoal sheet masks? Tightening gels? They're all trash.
Anyone telling you to stick anything up your vagina or on your vulva that isn't to do with menstruation or pleasure is putting your gynaecological health at risk.
"I'd advise always looking into who any person that is trying to sell you something for your vagina is - and how they are trying to make money out of you," says Dr Mitra.
"What's their motive. A lot of people on social media who are pushing certain supplements are being paid to so."
She says that she'd also be really wary of anyone who seems to be "anti-modern medicine".
In other words, if someone doesn't have a medical qualification, you're best off ignoring their advice.
Get to know your discharge
Discharge is completely normal - but you have to know what yours tends to look/smell like.
And that's another reason to completely ignore ludicrous products that promise to "tighten" and dry out your vagina.
Your discharge is there to lubricate and clean - get rid of it and you'll soon feel uncomfortable.
Dr Mitra says that our discharge changes throughout the month.
"You'll probably have very little as your period comes to an end, thanks to low levels of oestrogen and progesterone.
"After this, it'll become thicker in consistency and, usually, white in colour, but it might have a yellow or grey tinge.
"After two weeks-ish, it's time for ovulation and your discharge might become quite thin and have a stretchy consistency, like egg whites."
Go to see your GP if you find blood in your discharge outside of your period, if your vagina is itchy or your discharge changes significantly.
A healthy lifestyle matters
Dr Mitra is a big advocate for eating the rainbow, and has appeared on a number of times to talk about how to get for better gynecological health.
Her main piece of advice? Eat lots of veg, get enough sleep and try to relax.
On the podcast, she said that she's a fan of the Meditterian diet - having lots of fibre, wholegrain carbs and good fats.
"Fats are so important because that's what our female hormones are made of. They're made from cholesterol which comes from good fats, which is why it's so important for all women to eat things like avocado, nuts, good healthy oils - and that's something many women are still scared of."
Gut bacteria isn't the only microbiome you need to think about
Good bacteria is what keeps our bodies healthy. We already know about it for the gut but good bacteria also keep our vaginas healthy and happy.
A sure-fire way of disrupting the natural balance down there and getting infections is to start using "feminine hygiene" products like vaginal washes and wipes.
, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children, previously told The Sun that she sees lots of women coming into her clinic with infections because "they've upset the natural balance of the vagina or vulva".
"That bacteria is vital for good vaginal health, to maintain a clean and functional superficial layer of the vagina.
"I can't overstate the importance of avoiding douching...and there's absolutely no evidence that (intimate products) are beneficial to women in any way."
Get regular STI checks
A bit of a no-brainer but with the rise in super-STIs, you've really got to be on top of your sexual health.
"Do not underestimate the importance of an STI check," Dr Mitra says.
"You do not have to be sleeping with a lot of people to get one. The reality is, you share germs with every person you've slept with has slept with."
Don't delay your smear test
At The Sun, we've been trying to get more women to have their smear tests with our #CheersForSmears campaign.
Millions of women are putting themselves at risk of cervical cancer by avoiding the very quick and easy test.
With around 3,200 women in the UK now being diagnosed with the disease every year – a number that is set to rise by around 40 per cent within 20 years – and one in three dying from it, it’s clear we’re facing a cervical cancer time bomb.
Data from Jo's Trust also seems to suggest that women are struggling to fit appointments in with their busy schedules.
Get social!
You can help us spread the message by joining in on social.
We're asking women to share a photo with a pair of knickers and the hashtag #CheersForSmears tagging the women they love in their life, to remind them to get tested on time.
Cervical screenings save 5,000 lives every year - but let's make that number higher!
Please make sure to also tag @fabulousmag and the charity Jo's Trust (Twitter: @jotrust, Insta/FB: @joscervicalcancertrust)
MORE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH
It shows that a staggering 35 per cent of us wouldn’t attend our smear if we had to take time off work and 26 per cent say it’s too hard to make appointments with busy lifestyles, citing schedule conflicts with the gym, children and even waxing appointments.
But a ten-minute appointment is far less time demanding than, say, months of chemo.
According to Dr Mitra, it's the "single best way of reducing your risk of cervical cancer" - so it's absolutely essential that you have it done as soon as you're invited for a screening by your GP.
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