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The “front to back” rule doesn’t just apply to wiping. When using the toilet, don’t wipe from back to front, as this can spread bacteria from your anus to your vagina. There are a number of things you can do to keep your vagina and vulva healthy.
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Is there anything else that I should know? So if you want a clean vagina, leave it alone to clean itself!ġ2. Washing your vagina can also affect your vagina’s ability to clean itself. This can result in bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, and other irritation. When you use soaps, sprays, or gels - and yes, even water - to wash inside your vagina, you disrupt the bacterial balance. The acidic pH makes it hard for “bad” bacteria to infect your vagina. These bacteria maintain the ideal pH balance in your vagina, which is slightly acidic. Your vagina contains a lot of “good” bacteria. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists points out that your vagina cleans itself and keeps itself healthy by maintaining the correct pH balance and cleaning itself with natural secretions. You might have heard that the vagina is like a self-cleaning oven - a pretty accurate metaphor. Washing the vagina can lead to many problems. While you shouldn’t wash inside your vagina, it’s a good idea to wash your vulva. The term “vulva” refers to the outer parts around the vagina, such as the: The vagina is the inner canal inside your body.
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