5 essential things for your intimate hygiene

Intimate hygiene is often treated as a taboo subject. Even among ourselves, we're reluctant to bring it up. Yet it's extremely important for your body's health and for a harmonious love life. A healthy vulva and vagina contribute to your overall wellbeing and protect the urogenital tract. Not only that – they also allow you to enjoy your sex life without a care.

Your vagina is naturally designed to clean itself. Your main job is to keep an eye on its surroundings and keep them clean. There are a few important things you can do to keep your vagina's pH in balance – normal values range between 3.8 and 4.5. These aspects matter all the more if you're hoping to conceive, or if you already have early signs of pregnancy and a positive pregnancy test.

Below you'll find 5 tips for your intimate hygiene!
 

1. Wear cotton underwear

Opt for cotton underwear whenever you can. It may not be the sexiest, but cotton lets the skin breathe and stops moisture from building up. Underwear made from synthetic fibres, on the other hand, doesn't allow air to circulate. This leaves your intimate area damp and warm – the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply and become harmful to your body. Also avoid very tight clothing. If it feels comfortable for you, you can even go without knickers at night and let your skin breathe.

2.  Skip sponges, flannels, ordinary soaps and shower gels

Don't use harsh or perfumed soaps for your intimate hygiene. Products containing harmful chemicals such as glycerine, fragrances and antiseptics can disrupt the healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina. They can also alter the pH in the vaginal area, causing irritation and encouraging the growth of harmful bacteria. 

To cleanse the vulval area, specialist intimate care products are best, such as the Intimate Gel from ENROUSH, developed by gynaecologists and dermatologists with 95% natural ingredients. This gel is gentle on sensitive or irritated skin and pH-neutral, to preserve your vagina's balance. It also takes away any worries about candida and fungal infections, as ingredients such as propolis and Tribulus terrestris offer antibacterial protection.

3. Say NO to perfumed feminine hygiene products

It's not a good idea to use feminine hygiene products such as perfumed wipes, vaginal deodorants or scrubs if you want to keep your vagina healthy. These products can throw your vaginal pH out of balance and leave you prone to infections. What's more, using intimate scrubs can cause grazes to the skin, further increasing the risk of infection.
And in case you didn't know: perfumed sanitary towels are also a cause of vulval irritation and allergies. Because they're made with plastic, synthetic fibres and chemical substances, they cause profound disruption to intimate pH and even infections and further complications.

ENROUSH organic sanitary towels, with a top layer of 100% organic cotton and an inner made from 100% natural fibres, are fragrance-free and not bleached with chlorine. That way they let your skin breathe without trapping moisture. They give you the protection you need – without unwanted side effects for your health.  

4. Take care when shaving

Pubic hair protects the vulva from bacteria and viruses. It's an important barrier for the delicate skin of your vulva, shielding it from friction during sex. As long as it's cleaned regularly, pubic hair poses no health risk. Even so, some women feel that pubic hair increases moisture in the intimate area and choose to remove it completely. The choice is yours! It's worth knowing, though, what risks a full shave or wax carries.

When shaving or waxing, you can cause burns, redness or skin irritation. As soon as the hair starts to grow back, you risk infections from ingrown hairs. Cuts can also allow unwanted bacteria to get in. Most importantly: don't use hair removal cream, as it burns the hair away and can be very harsh on the delicate skin of the vulva.

5. Organic cotton panty liners offer daily protection

Wear panty liners to absorb vaginal discharge. Discharge is healthy – it's how your body rids the vagina of toxins and keeps it clean and moist. But that doesn't mean you have to put up with the discomfort of damp knickers. Wearing a panty liner every day is an excellent intimate hygiene tip. Liners made from 100% organic cotton are the ones to go for, as they contain no plastic, no synthetic fibres and no toxic substances.

ENROUSH panty liners are ultra-thin and so fine you'll barely feel them. Because they're made from organic cotton, they let your skin breathe and absorb any unwanted discharge. So you feel fresh all day long, and the discomfort of vaginal discharge becomes a thing of the past.