Maintaining good menstrual hygiene is important for every woman. However, there are certain habits that should be avoided during periods to prevent infections and other health issues. Here are 5 menstrual hygiene habits to avoid every time.

1. Using only 1 sanitary product for an entire day

One of the worst hygiene habits during menstruation is using the same sanitary product for an entire day.

Sure, you may be thinking that the pad or tampon you are wearing is still not soaked enough because you are already on your last day… but… even if your sanitary product of choice is still not soaked enough, the main takeaway is the blood that is already there.

The longer you wear the same sanitary product, the more the bacteria and all that bad smell are kept near your vagina. This is not a good idea in the long run.

On top of bacteria growth that may cause UTI later on, the bad smell from the blood and other fluids on your sanitary product wouldn't make you feel good about yourself.

Even if you are already on the last day of your period, try to change your sanitary product once every 6 hours.

Health Shots recommends a consistent practice: regardless of whether your menstrual flow is heavy or light, it's advisable to replace your pad every 4 to 6 hours. This proactive approach helps mitigate the potential for bacterial infections. Neglecting to change your pad throughout the day increases the likelihood of exposing yourself to infection risks.

2. Engaging in unprotected sex

Some women are under the impression that they can have unprotected sex during menstruation, but this is actually not a good idea.

Well, you may think you can't get pregnant now that you are on your period, right? But there is a plot twist here because sperm cells actually can stay alive in your vagina and uterus for up to 7 days.

Most women have their periods for only 5 days; there are also those whose periods last for only 3 days. If the sperm cell is still alive after your period is over, you might as well get pregnant!

So, nope. Even when you are on your period, always have protected sex. On top of that, you may also want to protect against STDs at any time in your life.

When you are having your period, you don't want birth control pills to meddle with your hormones, so keep using condoms instead.

3. Using a douche

It is understandable that you may think you are extra dirty during your period. And then, you may want to clean your vagina so thoroughly using a douche.

However, using a douche for cleaning the vagina is actually NOT a healthy habit. As a matter of fact, douching is totally unnecessary and should be avoided at any time in your life.

Douching aims to clean all the inner parts of the vagina using chemicals, but what this does is actually hurt the natural environment of the vagina.

There are floras and good bacteria that are native to your vagina; they work to maintain the natural balance (acidity) of your vagina. This is done so that bad bacteria and yeast infections can be kept at bay.

When you douche, you remove all of this mechanism and the bad bacteria becomes more aggressive because there is no shield to keep them in check.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information has reported that vaginal douching could potentially elevate the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. This heightened risk arises from factors such as encouraging the progression of lower genital tract infections to the upper genital tract, altering the vaginal environment to enhance vulnerability to reproductive tract infections preceding pelvic inflammatory disease, or introducing nonpathogenic vaginal bacteria into the usually sterile upper genital tract.

4. Soaping the inside of your vagina

Just like douching, daily soaping of the inner part of the vagina is also totally unnecessary. If anything, this daily habit could lead to bad smells and other vaginal infections.

Health experts have suggested that the vagina only needs to be cleaned with warm water for a few minutes. However, the outer skin of the vagina, which is called the labia does need to be cleaned with soap to remove sweat and bacteria.

This also applies to the surrounding skin that is your crotch. So, when you wash, whether you are menstruating or not, keep the inner area of the vagina free from soap and only soap the outer parts (never touching the membranes).

According to Healthline Media, an acidic pH level acts as a deterrent for "bad" bacteria from infecting the vagina. However, when you employ soaps, sprays, gels, and even water to clean the interior of your vagina, you disrupt the natural bacterial equilibrium. This disruption can lead to conditions like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and other forms of irritation. The utilization of harsh soaps might also lead to the drying out of the delicate vaginal tissue, causing minor tears that could potentially facilitate the entry of harmful bacteria and result in vaginal infections.

The soap that you are using also needs to be mild, and preferably natural if you can find such a soap. The rule is the same for using a feminine wash.

5. Shaving during menstruation

When you are menstruating, your body really becomes more sensitive and weaker to aggression. This also applies to your skin.

When you are on your period, your skin becomes more tender and easily aggravated, so you don't want to do anything harsh to it.

This is, even more, the case when we are talking about the skin around the vagina as it is generally already very sensitive, to begin with.

As such, it would not be a good idea to either wax or shave your pubic hair during this time. Doing so might hurt your skin a lot and if an infection occurs, this could spell a disaster for you.

To be safe, always skip this hygiene habit when you are on your period. It is better to wait until you are on your last day. If you already know when your period is coming, shave or wax a day before your period begins.

In brief, we can say that menstrual hygiene is as important as other hygiene if you want to avoid vaginal infection. We are optimistic that avoiding some of the menstrual hygiene habits we provided can help you improve your overall well-being.

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Ways To Enhance Female Libido Naturally

The American Medical Association has reported that millions of US women are suffering from 'female sexual arousal disorder' (FSAD). This lack of desire is rarely found in men than women due to physical and psychological causes. Fortunately, there are many ways to enhance female libido.

Communication with your partner, certain lifestyle changes and linking up with emotions would make a great difference to increase sex drive. There are many drug companies who are racing to find out answers by introducing various pills and treatments. However, there are few effective ways to develop this naturally and the best part about them is that they are completely safe.

Firstly, it is important that you set your mood for sex to prepare yourself mentally. You can do this by setting your bedroom in a more inviting and relaxed manner. You can play some romantic music, light a few aromatic candles and be intimate with your partner to create a right mood for sex.

Secondly, you need to forget any stress issues which destroy your libido. You should eliminate any sorts of pressure and calm down as stress would show a negative impact on sexual desire. You can do yoga or meditation to eliminate any stress as it increases your stamina, elevates your mood and improve self-esteem which would enhance female libido.

Thirdly, you need to increase your self-confidence. Depression would be the most terrible enemy for sex drive. Furthermore, the drugs used for the treatments show a negative effect on it. You need to be happy and enjoy life. You can also talk to your partner so as to improve your emotional and physical relationship.

Fourthly, it is important that you modify your diet. Foods rich in fat or sugar would deplete the sexual desire in you. Instead, you can opt for a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean proteins that will help to enhance female libido. You need to decrease the intake of Alcohol to reduce sexual inhibitions.

Finally, you can use herbal libido enhancers which are completely natural and also safe. Most of the enhancement pills have no side effects and would significantly improve your sex drive by taking one pill daily. Besides enhancing sexual desire, these herbal tablets would improve blood circulation in your genitals, enhance body’s lubrication and intensifies sexual sensations.

To enhance female libido, there are also natural topical creams which are clinically formulated. These creams are designed to alleviate vaginal dryness, stimulate blood flow and enhance sexual response.

You need to choose a quality product that is water as petroleum-based products disrupt the vaginal environment and need to be also pH balanced to prevent any growth of microorganisms that are harmful.

If the problem persists, you need to seek a sex therapist to address the issues. They would conduct therapy sessions which include discussions with your partner’s relationship and sexuality. They would also educate you on sexual responses and techniques that would enhance female libido.

Thus, by practicing natural methods of increasing your libido, you would be assured of the fact that they are safe and wouldn’t harm your health. Simultaneously, you would experience a rewarding sex life.