Pay attention to your lady parts
Your vagina is a good source of need-to-know information about your sexual wellbeing and your overall health – amazing, right? It’s important to pay your vagina some extra attention to make sure everything down there is running smoothly.
If you’re looking to understand what’s going down, we’ve got what you need to know.
Heavy periods
Knowing your flow is important so you can spot any changes that don’t quite sit right with you. What might be excessive blood for one woman may not be the same for another – we’re all different. Heavy bleeding during your period over a few months could be a red flag (see what we did there?) and something you should consider speaking to your GP about.
Heavy periods could be an indication of fibroids (non-cancerous growths that develop in or around your womb) or endometriosis (where tissue similar to the womb lining grows in the ovaries or fallopian tubes). A heavy flow doesn’t always have a tricky underlying problem, but it’s worth getting things looked at if your periods are getting heavier, you also have other symptoms like pain or if you’re worried.
Unusual looking discharge
Every woman experiences discharge – it’s what comes with having a vagina. Daily discharge is normal and healthy, it’s a signal that your body is in balance and things are A-OK down there. If you’re finding that yours has changed in colour or consistency, it could be a sign of an infection or a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhoea. If you’re worried about a sudden change in your discharge, it’s worth booking an appointment with your GP or even visiting your local sexual health clinic.
Unusual smelling discharge
If you notice a change in smell of your discharge, this could be an indication that your pH level has shifted – you’ll remember from chemistry lessons that the pH of something determines how acidic it is, and a healthy vaginal pH is somewhere between 3.8 and 4.5.
An alkaline environment is the perfect breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria to grow which (yep, you’ve guessed it) can often change the odour of your discharge. Bacterial vaginosis is a common cause of strong-smelling discharge, so it’s worth taking a trip to your local sexual health clinic if you know something down there is off.
Lumps & bumps
Finding a lump below the belt can be a bit unsettling. In most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. A common side effect of waxing or shaving is a clogged hair follicle, which could explain why spot-like bumps or a bumpy rash is appearing on or near your labia. A change in washing detergent or shower gel could also be causing a rash to appear, so switching your products out for something gentler can help the rash go away. If after a few weeks you’re still noticing bumps appearing, book an appointment with your GP.
Small lumps caused by a build-up of fluid can also occur under the skin of the vulva or vagina, and these blockages usually dissolve and go away on their own. If the lump is still present after two weeks, grows bigger or if you’re worried about it, check-in with your doc.
Itching
An occasional crotch itch is no cause for concern – we’ve all been there. But a constant itch could be a sign that something’s not quite right. While it could be triggered by an allergic reaction to soap, latex condoms or lubricants, it could also be a sign of thrush. Most women experience thrush at least once throughout their lives – it’s easy to treat and nothing to worry about.
Ladies, keep your health in check by listening to your vagina. If you don’t like what you hear, see your GP.
