Travellingoften makes it more difficult for us to maintain personal hygiene and requires us to use public facilities that are not necessarily clean. For women, this is certainly more disturbing. It's not impossible that the dirty toilet where you stay can cause an infection in your vagina.
The vagina is a female organ that connects the uterus to the outside. Vaginal health is influenced by hormonal and bacterial conditions in the area. The hormone estrogen helps thicken the lining of the vaginal wall and the growth of bacteria Lactobacillus. These good bacteria function to maintain the acidity (pH) of the vagina and prevent the growth of bad bacteria.
Tips for Maintaining Vaginal Hygiene and Health saat Traveling
Vaginal infection or vaginitis can occur when the natural balance formed by vaginal pH, fluids, and bacteria is disturbed. The three most common types of infection are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis.
When the vagina is infected, you can not only feel itching, but the vagina will also secrete a lot of vaginal discharge that smells bad. If this infection is experienced while on vacation, it will certainly disrupt the schedule and comfort traveling You.
To keep your vagina clean and healthy, here are some tips you can do:
1. Avoid douching vagina
Douching is the process of cleaning the inside of the vagina by spraying liquid. This process turns out to be able to kill good bacteria and change the pH of the vagina, making it more susceptible to infection.
2. Maintain the presence of hair in the vaginal area
The presence of hair in the vaginal area is actually useful for protecting this organ from bacterial infection, and preventing irritation due to friction or excessive sweating. In addition, maintaining the presence of pubic hair can reduce itching compared to shaving it clean.
If you do not feel comfortable with the presence of hair in the vagina and insist on shaving it, it is recommended to use a cream made from natural ingredients to avoid irritation.
3. Have safe sex
To prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases when traveling, practice safe sex with your partner. Use condoms and avoid having multiple partners.
4. Keeps the vagina dry
When travelingOf course, there are many activities that have the potential to increase sweat production. If the pubic area has started to damp due to sweating, immediately change underwear to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Use cotton underwear to help absorb sweat and maintain air circulation in the vaginal area.
5. Clean the vaginal area properly
In cleaning the vagina, use warm water and feminine hygiene products that are safe. Do not use cleansers that contain fragrances or antiseptic agents. These products can affect the balance of good bacteria and vaginal pH levels, and cause irritation.
Wash the vaginal area from front to back. When menstruating, the vaginal area can be washed more than once a day if necessary.
6. Pay attention to the cleanliness of public toilets
Toilet hygiene is very influential on vaginal health. The following are the steps in choosing and using a public toilet when you are traveling:
- Choose a public toilet that is kept clean. You can find information about clean and comfortable toilets from the internet or local residents.
- Avoid entering and leaving the toilet by touching the toilet door handle. Also try not to touch the surface or the toilet seat directly. When you want to press the flush button, you can first coat your hands with toilet paper.
- Look at the toilet seat. If it gets dirty, you can clean it with toilet paper and an antiseptic solution, or coat the surface of the toilet with paper towels before sitting on it.
- Wash hands with soap after using the toilet. If there is no hand washing facility, bring it hand sanitizer which is practical to use.
7. Take care of your diet
When traveling, Diet must also be maintained. Try to eat nutritious food. One of them is vegetables. Besides being rich in fiber which can maintain your digestive health while on vacation, vegetables also contain lots of probiotics that are useful for maintaining the growth of good bacteria and the natural pH of the vagina.
Immediately consult a local doctor if you experience the following complaints when: traveling:
- Pain when urinating or having sex.
- The vagina is itchy and has a green, yellow, or gray discharge with an unpleasant odor.
- There are lumps or warts in the area around the vagina.
- Vaginal bleeding outside of menstrual periods.
Don't let problems in the feminine area interfere with the moment traveling You. Maintain confidence and comfort while on vacation while continuing to maintain vaginal health through the tips shared above.
Written by:
dr. Riana Nirmala Wijaya
