The signs of a healthy vagina and what you should be doing to keep it that way
- Your vagina is healthy if you have clear, whitish discharge and no fishy or foul scent.
- The inside of your vagina should also feel forgiving and elastic.
- But you should see a doctor if you have itchiness, painful urination, or pain during sex.
If you're not familiar with your vagina, it's time to get acquainted. Just like how you keep tabs on the rest of your body, it's important to pay attention to what's going on "down there" to make sure you're healthy. This way, you'll have a baseline to reference when something feels off.
Here are signs of both a healthy and unhealthy vagina, as well as ways to maintain vaginal health.
Signs of a healthy vagina
There are three signs of a healthy vagina, according to Alyssa Dweck, MD, FACOG, gynecologist and host of the Business of the V podcast.
- The presence of clear or whitish discharge. The "normal" amount of discharge varies from person to person. Some people only have a tiny bit, while others have more. You will have discharge throughout your cycle, but it may become more notable during ovulation.
- Moist and supple elastic mucosa (which is the internal vaginal tissue). This means that the inside of the vagina should feel forgiving and elastic.
- A familiar scent. It is normal for your vagina to have some kind of scent. "There should be no foul odor, but rather a familiar smell unique to each woman that also may vary slightly through the cycle," says Dweck.
Signs you should see a gynecologist
You should be on the lookout for any new or unusual symptoms that may be a sign that your vagina is not healthy.
Some issues that could arise are:
- A yeast infection: Symptoms include thick white cottage cheese like discharge, itchiness, and irritation.
- A UTI: Symptoms include frequent and painful urination, and pain during sex.
- Painful sex: This could be a sign of many conditions such as a UTI, yeast infection, STI, endometriosis, or fibroids.
- A sexually transmitted infection (STI): Symptoms of STIs vary based on the infection, but you may experience discharge that is green, grey, or bloody (unrelated to menstruation). You might also have a fishy or foul odor, itchiness, discomfort during sex, or bleeding after sex.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to see your OB-GYN as soon as possible to determine what could be causing the problem and get you proper treatment.
How to maintain proper vaginal health
Vagina owners are lucky -- there isn't much you need to do to keep your vagina clean. Dweck says all you need to do is wash the vulva (the external part of your genitalia) with mild soap and water each day in the shower.
Related Article Module: Good sexual hygiene: How to clean sex toys, genitals, and avoid infections like UTIs and STIsYou do not need to clean inside the vagina, as it is self-cleaning. "The vagina has a natural ecosystem or microbiome with a delicate balance of yeast and bacteria present," that keeps it healthy, says Dweck.
Some more dos and don'ts include:
- Avoid douching as it can change the delicate pH balance in your vagina and increase your risk - by 21% according to one estimate - of infection like bacterial vaginosis.
- Use a condom to prevent STDs, STIs, and bacterial vaginosis (if you're prone to it).
- Urinate before and after sex in order to flush away bacteria and prevent urinary tract infections, says Dweck.
Insider's takeaway
Your vaginal health isn't something to mess around with, so if you think your vagina may not be healthy, it's important to see a doctor. Plus, even if your vagina does feel fine, you should still see your OB-GYN every year for your annual wellness exam. Some conditions may have no symptoms, so it's important to always attend your check up to make sure your vagina is healthy.