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Authors: Debby Herbenick, Vanessa Schick
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quite sensitive. Generally speaking, it’s good advice to wipe from front to back for this reason.
As for what to wipe with, most healthcare providers recommend using regular, unfragranced toilet paper rather than moist wipes (such as those intended for cleaning babies during a diaper change). Moist wipes may have chemicals in them that can irritate the vulvar skin or leave the genitals wet for longer than they need to be. If you prefer to use a moist wipe (some women keep these at home and/or carry these in their purses for wiping when using public bathrooms), ask your healthcare provider to recommend a brand that is unlikely to cause genital irritation when used regularly. Finally, some women use a water bidet to clean after using the bathroom. Patting oneself dry afterward with toilet paper can be helpful, as keeping the genitals wet for too long can cause irritation.
Vaginal Discharge
The uterus, cervix, and vagina produce natural discharge that comes out of the vagina. This is generally called “vaginal discharge” even though the fluids coming out may be coming from the vaginal walls, cervix, or uterus. This is one way in which women’s bodies clean themselves. Vaginal discharge is completely natural, and it often changes appearance throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. It may be clear, milky white, or have a slight yellow tinge to it. Sometimes it seems clear and thin. Other times, women notice that their discharge is more clumpy, possibly even leaving little clear or white clumps in their underwear or on the pubic hair closest to their vaginal opening. It’s also not uncommon to notice white or light yellow stains on one’s underwear. Darker yellow or green discharge or stains may indicate an infection and should be brought to the attention of one’s healthcare provider.
If you find that your body produces excessive discharge, we recommend asking your healthcare provider about it. He or she can test you for vaginal infections, including sexually transmissible infections (STIs) that can cause increases in vaginal discharge. After all, some STIs don’t have many noticeable symptoms. One woman that Debby knows of noticed that she was experiencing more vaginal wetness than usual, which she attributed to being highly sexually aroused, or horny. When she learned that she had gonorrhea, she was surprised, but it all made sense. This isn’t to say that vaginal wetness is always a bad thing (it’s not) or that it’s never a sign of arousal (often, it is) but if you experience vaginal discharge that is unusual in some way for you, please do bring it to the attention of a healthcare provider. Try to avoid using pantyliners, pads, tampons, or other menstrual products as a way to keep vaginal discharge in check. Menstrual products are only intended for use during a woman’s period (i.e., on the days that she is bleeding). Wearing pads or pantyliners too often can irritate the vulva, especially if the pads or pantyliners are fragranced. And wearing tampons on non-period days can make the vagina feel drier and cause irritation as well, so save your period products for your period days! Your body and your wallet will thank you.
Keeping Clean: Easier Than You Think
Because the vagina cleans itself out via vaginal discharge, there’s very little to do when it comes to keeping your genital parts clean. However, many women are convinced that they need to clean their lady parts. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Try to avoid using fragranced and scented bath products. This includes scented, colored, or antibacterial soaps, as these can irritate the sensitive vulvar skin.
Go basic. Although it surprises some women to hear this, many doctors who specialize in vulvar and vaginal health recommend that women wash their genitals with only water and their hand. That’s right: no soaps necessary.
Stay soft. An advantage of using your hand is that it’s soft and unlikely to irritate the sensitive genital skin. Loofahs
As for what to wipe with, most healthcare providers recommend using regular, unfragranced toilet paper rather than moist wipes (such as those intended for cleaning babies during a diaper change). Moist wipes may have chemicals in them that can irritate the vulvar skin or leave the genitals wet for longer than they need to be. If you prefer to use a moist wipe (some women keep these at home and/or carry these in their purses for wiping when using public bathrooms), ask your healthcare provider to recommend a brand that is unlikely to cause genital irritation when used regularly. Finally, some women use a water bidet to clean after using the bathroom. Patting oneself dry afterward with toilet paper can be helpful, as keeping the genitals wet for too long can cause irritation.
Vaginal Discharge
The uterus, cervix, and vagina produce natural discharge that comes out of the vagina. This is generally called “vaginal discharge” even though the fluids coming out may be coming from the vaginal walls, cervix, or uterus. This is one way in which women’s bodies clean themselves. Vaginal discharge is completely natural, and it often changes appearance throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. It may be clear, milky white, or have a slight yellow tinge to it. Sometimes it seems clear and thin. Other times, women notice that their discharge is more clumpy, possibly even leaving little clear or white clumps in their underwear or on the pubic hair closest to their vaginal opening. It’s also not uncommon to notice white or light yellow stains on one’s underwear. Darker yellow or green discharge or stains may indicate an infection and should be brought to the attention of one’s healthcare provider.
If you find that your body produces excessive discharge, we recommend asking your healthcare provider about it. He or she can test you for vaginal infections, including sexually transmissible infections (STIs) that can cause increases in vaginal discharge. After all, some STIs don’t have many noticeable symptoms. One woman that Debby knows of noticed that she was experiencing more vaginal wetness than usual, which she attributed to being highly sexually aroused, or horny. When she learned that she had gonorrhea, she was surprised, but it all made sense. This isn’t to say that vaginal wetness is always a bad thing (it’s not) or that it’s never a sign of arousal (often, it is) but if you experience vaginal discharge that is unusual in some way for you, please do bring it to the attention of a healthcare provider. Try to avoid using pantyliners, pads, tampons, or other menstrual products as a way to keep vaginal discharge in check. Menstrual products are only intended for use during a woman’s period (i.e., on the days that she is bleeding). Wearing pads or pantyliners too often can irritate the vulva, especially if the pads or pantyliners are fragranced. And wearing tampons on non-period days can make the vagina feel drier and cause irritation as well, so save your period products for your period days! Your body and your wallet will thank you.
Keeping Clean: Easier Than You Think
Because the vagina cleans itself out via vaginal discharge, there’s very little to do when it comes to keeping your genital parts clean. However, many women are convinced that they need to clean their lady parts. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Try to avoid using fragranced and scented bath products. This includes scented, colored, or antibacterial soaps, as these can irritate the sensitive vulvar skin.
Go basic. Although it surprises some women to hear this, many doctors who specialize in vulvar and vaginal health recommend that women wash their genitals with only water and their hand. That’s right: no soaps necessary.
Stay soft. An advantage of using your hand is that it’s soft and unlikely to irritate the sensitive genital skin. Loofahs
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