Vagina: What’s typical, what’s not

Vaginal health is vital to overall health. When the vagina is not healthy, it can affect the quality of sex and orgasms. It also may affect pregnancy. Vaginal health issues that go on for a long time can cause stress or relationship issues. Vaginal health issues also may affect how you feel about yourself. Know the symptoms of vaginal health concerns and what you can do to keep your vagina healthy.

What affects vaginal health?
The vagina is a closed muscular canal. It goes from the outside of the genitals, called the vulva, to the neck of the uterus, called the cervix.

Factors that can affect the health of the vagina include:

Sexual activity. Having sex without protection can result in sexually transmitted infections. Forceful sex or an injury to the pelvic area can result in harm to the vagina.
Certain health conditions and treatments. Some conditions that may affect the vagina can cause painful sex. These include a condition in which tissue that’s like the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, called endometriosis. Another condition that can affect the vagina and cause painful sex is an infection of the reproductive organs, called pelvic inflammatory disease. Scarring from pelvic surgery and certain cancer treatments also may cause painful sex. Use of some antibiotics raises the risk of a vaginal yeast infection.
Birth control and hygiene products. Birth control that blocks sperm, called barrier contraceptives, can irritate the vagina. These include condoms, diaphragms, and the spermicide that goes with them. The use of sprays, deodorants, or douches also can irritate the vagina.
Pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy often causes extra vaginal discharge. Vaginal tears can happen during childbirth. Sometimes, a cut needs to be made in the tissue of the vaginal opening during childbirth, called an episiotomy. A vaginal delivery may affect muscle tone in the vagina.

rede more page2