50 Shades of V

There’s something about the word ‘vagina’ that makes people uncomfortable and have the conservatives up in arms. The first step to getting rid of the stigma is through understanding. Educate and empower yourself by learning all about the vagina.

This is worrying – 50% of women do not know where the vagina is, according to a survey on 1000 women of all ages conducted by the British women’s cancer charity Eve Appeal. However, the statistic comes as no surprise since the women’s genitalia is often regarded as mysterious and taboo to talk about – it has more euphemisms than possibly any other human body part!

Here’s what we want you to know: the vagina is not a crude word. It’s an extremely intimate and important part of your body. When we regard it as a taboo topic, we face the danger of remaining ignorant. Knowledge is power when it comes to your sexual health. As Dr Shamini Nair, consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Raffles Women’s Centre sharply noted, “It is important to promote straight talking about the signs and symptoms of gynaecological issues to women of all ages. This will ensure that the right treatment is delivered to the patient.”

It’s All About the Base

The word ‘vagina’ is derived from the latin root meaning “sheath for a sword, and is colloquially used in place to refer to the female genitals. Before we go into the importance of maintaining good vagina health, let’s get the medical facts out of the way. The vagina is an internal passageway connecting the vaginal opening to the cervix. The part that you actually can see is clinically known as the vulva. It comprises of the vaginal and urethral opening, as well as the folds of sensitive tissue called the “labia” (labia means “lips”).  The outermost folds are called the labia majora and a second set of folds, called the labia minora. The vulva also contains the mounded area made by the pubic bone (mons pubis), and the clitoris.

The Vagina Eco-system

Like most parts of our body, our vagina is perfectly capable of maintaining itself. The vagina is self-cleaning, and has colonies of mutually symbiotic microbiome (microbial complement) that protect a woman against dangerous microbes. A class of bacteria called lactobacilli can be found in the vagina. Lactobacilli helps the vagina in:

• Producing lactic acid, which helps keep the vaginal environment acidic.
• Creates harsh environment for nasty microorganisms.
• Blocks other organisms from attaching to the vaginal walls, and displace bad micro-organisms that have already adhered to the vaginal wall.
• Stimulates the host’s immune system to kill off bad microorganisms.

The normal vaginal pH level is 3.8 to 4.5, which is the same pH as wine, tomatoes, and beer, just to name a few.

“A healthy vagina is naturally acidic and contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that help fend off infections and maintain a normal pH level (vagina’s acidity),” said Dr Seng Shay Way, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Raffles Fertility centre.

Now, what you need to know is that any interference with these normal conditions can throw the whole ecosystem off balance, resulting in vaginal irritation or infection.

“Soaps that are too harsh or have too many chemicals and fragrances can actually make your vagina produce more discharge that gives off the foul smell. Avoid using douches to clean your vaginal area. Douching can alter the balance of healthy bacteria in your vagina, causing other bacteria to grow and create a foul vaginal odour too,” Dr Seng added.

When the V goes out of control

Vaginal infections occur when bacteria, funguses or other organisms grow uncontrolled. Infectious organisms can also be introduced into the vagina by improper hygiene or practicing unsafe sex.

Common Infections Include:

Yeast Infection/ Candidiasis

Most women have a vaginal yeast infection (candidiasis) at some point of time in time. A vaginal yeast infection is caused by the fungus candida, a microorganism that’s normally present in the vagina. “The use of antibiotics is one of the most common causes of a vaginal yeast infection as antibiotics can change the pH balance of the vagina, allowing yeast to overgrow,” said Dr Seng.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women. BV is a type of vaginal inflammation that results from the overgrowth of one of several types of bacteria normally present in the vagina, upsetting the natural balance of vaginal bacteria. Doctors don’t know exactly why bacterial vaginosis develops, but certain activities, such as unprotected sexual intercourse or frequent douching, put you at higher risk of the condition. BV also causes a fishy odour in the neither regions. Other symptoms include vaginal discharge, itching and a burning sensation.

Urinary Tract Infection

One in two women have experience with urinary tract infections (UTI). In fact, some women suffer from repeat infections for years on end. UTIs are a key reason we are often told to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom as bacteria from the anus can invade the urethra. From there, they can travel up to the bladder, and if the infection isn’t treated, continue on to infect the kidneys. Women may be especially prone to UTIs because they have shorter urethras, which allow bacteria quick access to the bladder. Having sex can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract too.

Apart from infections, allergies are also fairly common and can be caused by the following:

Latex 

Vaginal latex allergy symptoms can sometimes mimic other symptoms, except that you will notice them during or after sex in which a condom was used, or during or after a medical examination whereby latex gloves were used. Vaginal itch, though it is common, will be more pronounced after latex contact and may be combined with swelling and burning.

Sperm

While rare, it is possible for a woman to develop an allergy to the proteins in semen. This condition is known as human seminal plasma protein hypersensitivity. Most cases involves only itching and swelling after sex, but in some cases it can be life threatening. Research shows that certain women are allergic to certain men but not to others.

Scented Products

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina, and affects women of all ages. Infections and allergies can cause vaginitis. This is especially so if a woman uses colored or scented toilet paper, perfumes, panty liners, and other products on the genital area.

Halting the spread of STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact. Some common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, and AIDs. While some of these conditions come with no obvious symptoms, typical female symptoms of an STD can include vaginal itching, rashes, unusual discharge, and pain. When in doubt, always get yourself tested for STD. The good news is, most STDs can be treated and cured. The best advice still though, is to get yourself vaccinated and to always practice protected sex by using a condom.

Losing its edge

However, sexual intercourse will not change the shape or size of your vagina. First things first: the vagina is a muscle. And just like the muscles in your arms, legs or tongue, it is not a big open cavity. When we put something inside of it, it constricts to hold on to it. When the vagina is at rest, the vagina’s muscle tissue remains tightly folded like a closed accordion, except when sexually aroused and during childbirth. Intercourse does not permanently stretch the vagina.

Some possible reasons why some women may feel discomfort during sexual intercourse could be due to anxiety that causes vaginal musculature to clench even tighter. Or, it could be that they might not be aroused enough for penetration during sexual intercourse. In this case, communicating with your partner during sex is paramount.

Did You Know?

• The pH level in your vagina can be so acidic that it can bleach black-coloured underwear.
• There are 8000 nerve endings in the clitoris, dedicated exclusively to female pleasure. The penis only has 4000.
• Believe it or not, the first movie to use the word “vagina“ on film was Disney’s “The Story of Menstruation,” released in 1946.
• It’s impossible to lose anything in your vagina. The opening of the uterus is too small for anything to go through it, unless you’re giving birth, of course.
• The womb itself is sterile environment. It is in the vagina that baby has a first encounter with bacteria.