Vaginal flora & intimate comfort: the right hygiene habits

Beyond the simple importance of good hygiene, I truly believe that caring for your intimate area properly helps us feel better in our minds and in our bodies! Good hygiene gives us confidence (we stop worrying about these intimate concerns) and helps prevent possible gynaecological and medical issues.

Your vaginal flora: the heart of your intimate health

Your vaginal flora (or vaginal microbiome) is made up of friendly, non-harmful bacteria that naturally protect us from germs, infections and bad bacteria. These good bacteria are what keep your vagina effectively protected, but the problem is that these little superheroes are very fragile!

❌ The bad habits that harm your vaginal flora:

We often tend to use mass-market so-called “intimate” products that contain ingredients which don’t respect the balance of the vaginal flora at all, and these ingredients damage the good bacteria…

Some women wash too much, while others don’t wash enough. Both habits harm the protective bacteria.

In the first case (not enough hygiene), we no longer help them fight bad bacteria, and alone against the build-up of germs coming from outside, they can no longer protect you effectively.

In the second case (over-washing), we destroy them by washing too much and stop them from blocking bad bacteria, which makes all kinds of infections more likely!

Gynaecologists strongly advise against:

• Over-washing,
• Wearing panty liners all the time.

Your vaginal flora comes with the best cleanser nature could give it: the vagina is self-cleaning. Over-washing and using unsuitable products destroy this natural protection, and the materials in panty liners also upset the balance of your vaginal flora…

What about vaginal discharge?

Many women look for ways to stop white discharge or reduce intimate odour. Yet the discharge you dislike so much is exactly what cleans your vagina and flushes out harmful substances. It comes from the natural renewal of the vaginal walls, which shed their dead cells.

The right intimate hygiene habits to protect your vaginal flora

No more vaginal douching! Washing your intimate area once or twice a day, ideally with lukewarm water, is enough: it’s the right way to keep your flora balanced without harming it.

Remember: intimate hygiene means washing the vulva only (clitoris, labia and vestibule). Washing the vulva too often damages the protective film (hydrolipidic layer) of the mucous membranes. And we say goodbye for good to vaginal douches, which destroy the flora and increase the risk of infection!

To wash your intimate area, forget flannels and shower puffs: they are breeding grounds for bacteria! Nothing beats your fingers: they’re gentler, reduce the risk of infection, and it’s one more chance to get to know your body.

After washing, pat the area dry properly to limit the growth of bacteria, which thrive in moisture.

Towels should be changed as often as possible, ideally every two or three days.

After sex: pee (to stop germs travelling up to the urethra), rinse the vulva with a gentle (really gentle) stream of warm water, and wash your hands well (to avoid passing on germs).

How can I improve my intimate comfort?

As well as your daily habits to keep your flora balanced, nourishing, moisturising and lubricating are three things that can help you feel more comfortable every day, and also during sex.

Nourishing gives your vulva and vagina the lipids they need to protect themselves from outside irritants such as pollution or friction from underwear.

Moisturising provides what the mucous membrane tissues need to stay healthy.

Finally, lubrication gives your vulva, and above all your vagina, all the comfort needed for pleasant penetration.

For moisturising, I recommend our vulva balm; for nourishing, a course of probiotics to bring good bacteria to your flora; and for lubrication, our herbal infusions and our water-based lubricants.

OUR SECRETS DE GEISHAA PRODUCTS FOR YOUR INTIMATE HYGIENE

• A detox capsule course: herbal capsules to insert. These plants help shed dead cells. Did you know? Fertility difficulties can sometimes be linked to these dead cells, which form a barrier on the sperm’s path.
• The Yoni Pearls ritual, our herbal pearls, to use between two cycles.