For a long time, the sexes were imbalanced in many ways. Opportunities for women were limited. That extended to the realm of medical research. Up until 1993, most clinical trials didn’t include a single woman. As a result, we know a lot less about women’s health than men’s. 

Fortunately, research is starting to catch up. And we know quite a bit about how to protect women’s health today. While the vagina might feel like a mysterious organ to some, we know lots of science-backed ways to support it. 

That includes well-woman examinations, which give Medha Amin, MD, FACOG, Ramya Narayanan, MD, FACOG, or Shamita Bansore, MD, FACOG, a chance to screen for health issues at our office in Downers Grove, Illinois. Our all-female team can check for signs of cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or any other problems that may grow over time. 

In addition to visiting our Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd office once a year, you can take some steps to preserve your vaginal health on your own. To help, we want to answer a few frequently asked questions. 

How do I properly clean my vagina?

Good news: The vagina is actually a self-cleaning organ. That means there’s no need to get special soap or to douche. In fact, doing things like that can upset your vagina’s delicate pH balance. 

At a healthy level, your vaginal pH matters because it can ward off issues like yeast and urinary tract infections (UTIs). 

Don’t clean inside your vagina to better protect your pH balance. Instead, wash the outside (your vulva) with soap and water. 

Is discharge or odor normal?

Yes, but it’s important to monitor these outputs from your vagina.

Healthy vaginal discharge is whitish (it can turn yellow when dried) and doesn’t smell much. It might get thicker, or you might produce more of it at certain times during your menstrual cycle. 

If your discharge is an odd color (green, yellow, gray), is thicker than normal, or has a strong smell, it could be a sign that you’re dealing with an infection. 

The same goes for any odor. Most vaginas have some level of smell. A lot is happening down there. But if you notice that the odor gets noticeably stronger, visit us. You may have an infection. 

Don’t douche or use sprays or deodorants to cover up your odor. These can upset your pH balance, which often makes the odor worse. Leaving your vagina to self-clean instead of disrupting it helps address smell problems. 

How will my vagina change over time?

You probably won’t be surprised by this: Pregnancy changes your vagina. You might have more discharge during pregnancy. If you give birth vaginally, it takes some time for your tissue to repair itself. If you breastfeed, you might notice that your vagina feels drier. 

As you approach and enter menopause, dropping hormone levels impact your vaginal tissue. You might feel drier and experience more discomfort during sex. If these changes impact your quality of life, talk to our team. We offer hormone replacement therapy to offset these unwelcome symptoms, along with other problems like hot flashes and mood changes. 

You don’t have to navigate your vaginal health on your own. To visit our all-female team for any questions or concerns, call Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd at 630-852-3762 or request an appointment online today.