Five Simple Steps To A Happy Vagina

Highlights

90% of women in India despite suffering from vaginal health issues do not openly talk about it to even gynecologists.

Vagina is not only important for your sex life, but also provides critical information about our reproductive health as well.

Vagina is a self-cleaning organ, but there are a few steps that can be followed for a healthy vagina

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Taking care of your vaginal health is ain’t no cakewalk, and isn’t similar to washing your whole body by simply lying down in the bathtub and tada! you are good to go.

Your vagina does more good than simply determining your sex life, along with providing immense pleasure it sometimes experiences extreme pain and also provides critical information about our reproductive health as well.

The Vagina, an organ that every woman possesses yet makes it the most ignored body part as 90% of women in India despite suffering from vaginal health issues do not openly talk about it to even gynecologists.

Hmm! Is there some top secret? For your vaginal health, Worry Not! We are simply breaking it down for you with these 5 simple steps to keep your vagina clean & healthy.

The vagina Is a self-cleaning organ

So ladies! Quickly get rid of all the high-end creams claiming to make your vagina bacteria-free. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ with varying pH levels that determine the acid level of a vagina

pH level scaling between 3.8 to 4.5 is ‘moderately acidic’ that indicates ‘normal’ vaginal health.

This prevents bacteria from proliferating into the vagina, thereby preventing any infection. However, a pH level above 4.5 makes the vagina prone to infections.

Say Hi to cotton undergarments

Cotton is a breathable fabric allowing the passage of air through the garment that leaves no bacteria to be trapped inside. Cotton is also a vulva-friendly fabric preventing the sensitive area from any rashes or risk of cuts and irritation. On the contrary synthetic fibers like nylon and lycra are non-breathable and can produce irritation and rashes around vagina.

Umm! Trim, Shave, or Wax?

Well No, Brainer! Removing pubic hair is a lot of tasks and to execute this task we tend to look out for safer options. If you really wanna play it safe, trimming your pubic hair is the best option as it doesn’t allow any irritation, cuts, or rashes down there if you do your job well.

Secondly, if you opt for shaving consider shaving in the direction of your hair growth as following the opposite may lead to ingrown hair growth and that’s the last thing you would want.

The third option at your disposal is Waxing, However not contraindicated but should be preferred least as the skin around the vulva is too sensitive to wax that can cause inflammation and infection.

Wipe your Vagina Well

While wiping your Vagina strictly remember to wipe it from front to back as wiping it opposite makes the bacteria from your anal region spread into the vagina thereby making it prone to infections.

Pee After Sex

Sexual intercourse emanates a lot of friction and sweat around the genital area making it a breeding ground for bacteria. In females, the urinary bladder is very close to the external surrounding as the

The Urethra is short in comparison to men hence urinating after sex may reduce the chances of any vaginal infection.

It’s about time to talk loud and clear about the vaginal health issue and break free from the taboos constructed around it. Your Vagina deserves the care alike any other body part because a Healthy Vagina makes a Happy Woman.

For information on vaginal dryness and ways to prevent and treat it, Click here

Highlights

Hepatitis B and C kill more people annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. Hepatitis B and C are responsible for 2 out 3 liver cancer deaths.

290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware.

Birthdose vaccine costs as low as 20 cents yet isn’t used in 48% of countries worldwide.

Eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C as public health threats by 2030 would prevent approximately 36 million infections and save 10 million lives.

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World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes place every year on 28 July bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.

Hepatitis B and C cause 1.4 million deaths per year – more than HIV/AIDS and malaria, and a number comparable to tuberculosis. Together, these viruses cause two in every three liver cancer deaths across the world.

In India, about 4 crore people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and 60 lakh to 1.2 crore people are chronically infected with hepatitis C. According to the Indian Journal of Medical Research, in India about 2,50,000 people die of viral hepatitis or its sequelae every year
www.who.int

What makes viral hepatitis a global health problem?

Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that cause serious liver damage, cancer, and premature death. More than 300 million people are living with the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis B and C are silent epidemics, hitting children and marginalized populations the hardest which include people who inject drugs, Indigenous Peoples, prisoners, men who have sex with men, migrants and people living with HIV/AIDs.

Globally, 90% of people living with hepatitis B and 80% living with hepatitis C are unaware they are living with the disease, resulting in the real possibility of developing fatal liver disease or liver cancer at some point in their lives and in some cases, unknowingly transmitting the infection to others.

With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, the elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable, but greater awareness and understanding of the disease and the risks is a must, as is access to cheaper diagnostics and treatment.

Types of Hepatitis

HEPATITIS A

Transmission: hepatitis A is mainly spread through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The disease is often endemic in countries with a lack of safe water and poor sanitation.

Prevention: a vaccine exists to prevent hepatitis A. Treatment within a few weeks of exposure to the virus can also bring short-term immunity. The risk of exposure can be greatly reduced by practicing good hygiene and sanitation and avoiding drinking water that has come from a potentially unsafe source.

Treatment: there is no treatment for hepatitis A. Hepatitis A only causes acute hepatitis so the body is often able to clear the infection itself within a few weeks. However, hepatitis A infection can sometimes cause further complications.

HEPATITIS B

Transmission: hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. For example, it can be spread from mother to child during childbirth, through sharing razors or toothbrushes, having unprotected sex, and sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs.

Prevention: hepatitis B vaccination is very effective in preventing infection. If you have not been vaccinated, it is best to use condoms and to avoid sharing needles or items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person to reduce chances of exposure. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities. If you think you are likely to be exposed in the future, vaccination is highly recommended. Children born to mothers with hepatitis B should be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth, as this can prevent an infection that is likely to progress to chronic hepatitis B.

Treatment: although there is currently no real cure for hepatitis B, drugs such as alpha-interferon and peginterferon and a variety of antiviral drugs are available. These drugs slow the replication of the virus and occasionally result in its clearance. Most importantly, they greatly reduce the risk of the complications that hepatitis B can cause such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

HEPATITIS C

Transmission: hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact. The most common modes of infection include unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilisation of medical equipment and unscreened blood and blood products. It can also be transmitted through certain sexual practises where blood is involved. Whether it can be transmitted sexually without the presence of blood remains unclear. If it does happen it appears to be extremely rare although the risk may be increased by the presence of other sexually transmitted infections.

Prevention: currently there is no vaccination for hepatitis C. To reduce the risk of exposure, it is, therefore, necessary to avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: treatment can cure hepatitis C infection. Until recently treatment hs involved a combination of interferon, generally pegylated, long-lasting interferon, and ribavirin but there is increasing use of potent direct-acting antiviral drugs. People with different hepatitis C genotypes respond differently to treatment, some more successfully than others but the differences between the genotypes are disappearing as cure rates with the new drugs approach 100%.

HEPATITIS D

Transmission: hepatitis D is passed on through contact with infected blood.

Prevention: hepatitis D only occurs in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. People who are not already infected with hepatitis B can therefore prevent hepatitis D infection by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B. Avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: treatment for hepatitis D consists of interferon but it is not very effective.

With a person dying every 30 seconds from hepatitis-related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis this World Hepatitis Day.

Source www.worldhepatitisalliance.org