Vagina's are nice but very sensitive! Exactly as they are. 

How to get rid of Vaginal Odour is one the frequently asked question in this forum and today dims it fit to response to this question.

Just like the rest of your body, vaginas (and the body parts around them) can become dirty, through normal wear and tear, and need a bit of maintenance in order to stay healthy.

There’s a lot of bad advice out there regarding vaginal cleanliness. So ignore all of that, and read up here on how to actually keep your vaginal area clean.

No heavily scented products of 10-step routines necessary.

1. DITCH YOUR UNDIES AT NIGHTTIME

One of the easiest things people who get recurring yeast infections can do to improve their vaginal health is go commando when they sleep.

Underwear—even good, breathable, cotton underwear, traps moisture against the skin, which makes your vagina just a little bit more hospitable to yeast and bacterial growth.

Ditch the undies and sleep in loose, cotton shorts or pants. Or go naked altogether.

2. YOUR VAGINA IS WHAT YOU EAT

Well, kind of. Has a doctor ever told you to eat lots of yogurt or take a probiotic when using antibiotics? That’s because your body, and vagina, specifically, needs good bacteria in it to stay healthy and ward off infections. Fermented foods with a high probiotic content, like yogurt , can help prevent yeast infections and keep your vaginal biome balanced. Also, they taste good.

3. DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR TAMPON

And do it regularly, if you can. The general rule of thumb is to change it every four to eight hours. It’s OK to sleep in a tampon, but be sure to change to a fresh one when you wake up.

_Crucial differentiation here:_ The vulva is what you can see with your eyeballs when you look down at your pubic area. It’s the term for the external parts of the female anatomy. It includes the labia majora, labia minora, and tip of the clitoris. The only part of the vagina you can see from the outside of your body is the opening. The rest is a tube that connects the vulva to the cervix and uterus.

4. CLEAN YOUR VULVA LIKE ANY OTHER BODY PART

Your vulva is covered in normal skin and can be cleaned the same way you clean the rest of your body — with just a bit more caution. But be careful of camping your loofah down there, or scrubbing too hard. One, it’s not necessary. And two, if soap works its way up into your vagina, you could have an uncomfy situation on your hands, be it irritation or infection.

5. THE VAGINA IS “SELF-CLEANING,” LIKE AN OVEN!

The vagina has a naturally low pH, which discourages the growth of outside organisms and maintains a clean atmosphere pretty well on its own. So there’s really no need to be shoving soaps up there in an effort to clean it.

6. NO. SCENTED. PRODUCTS

Heavily perfumed products, like that sweet soap you use on your armpits and elsewhere, has a tendency to irritate the skin inside your vagina, which is more sensitive than the skin on the outside of your body. But this doesn’t just apply to soap. Even something as simple as scented tampons or a heavily scented laundry detergent used on your undies can irritate the vagina. And definitely steer clear of any of those bogus products that promise to make your vagina smell like a bed of roses. No one’s vagina needs to smell like a bed of roses, and also, no one wants a bacterial infection.

7. GET OUT OF SWEATY OR WET CLOTHES

Workout outfits are so cute these days it’s tempting to stay in them for post-gym brunch and really just the rest of the day. Don’t do this! Bacteria thrive in a dark, moist environments. If you can’t shower after swimming or working out, at least change out of your bathing suit or sweaty undies.

8. WEAR COTTON UNDIES

Cotton is the most breathable material you can cover your vagina with, as opposed to synthetic lacey things that, face it, aren’t as comfortable anyway. And thongs — while practical! — can whisk bacteria into the urethra because they’re so close-fitting, and that heightens your risk for a UTI. So choose your panties wisely.

9. PEE AFTER SEX

And before, while you’re at it! Technically UTIs are a urethra problem, and that is not!! the same hole as your vagina, but let’s cover all the bases. The best way to prevent UTIs is to pee both before and after sex, in order to void all the urine in your bladder, and lessen the possibility of bacteria sitting around and multiplying inside your bod.

10. WIPE FRONT TO BACK

Probably you don’t remember the exact lessons you learned while being potty trained, and going pee is something you just do with zero thought. But maybe apply a little bit of critical thinking to the wiping step. Wiping from front to back lessens the odds that bacteria from your rectum will wind up near your vagina or urethra. Bacteria near the rectum is fine when it stays near the rectum. Elsewhere, it can lead to infections and irritation.

11. CHOOSE TAMPONS AND PADS WISELY

 Research suggests that certain tampon brands include harmful chemicals called phthalates, known as “endocrine disruptors” that mess with your hormones. Dioxins, a byproduct of the process by which tampons are bleached, have also been found in certain tampons. Though the level of dioxin found in tampons is much lower today than it has been previously. Organic, unscented tampons and pads are your safest bet.

12. NEVER DOUCHE

Gynecologists everywhere will tell you the same thing: It’s bad for you and it’s not necessary. The myth that douching creates a clean and shiny vaginal interior is just that — a myth! In fact, douching can actually make things messier by introducing harmful chemicals called phthalates to your vagina.

13. KEEP YOUR SEX TOYS CLEAN

You are almost certainly already doing this. But just in case, here’s a reminder: Your sex toys need to be properly cleaned between each uses. Just like you wouldn’t wear the same underwear for several days in a row, you shouldn’t use the same sex toy without washing it for days or weeks on end. There are special soaps and fancy gadgets that look like microwaves for cleaning toys but really a mild, unscented soap will do the job just fine. Most of these things are water resistant anyway.

14. DON’T PUT ANYTHING THAT WAS IN YOUR BUTT IN YOUR VAGINA

15. USE FEMNA GEL TO WASH VAGINA

This goes back to the “wipe from front to back” principal. The bacteria in your rectum and anus is different from the bacteria in the rest of your body. Keep things where they belong! This applies to fingers, toys, penises, condoms, etc.

Ifeoma got married in the year 2010, from that time till now she has been rocked with 10 heart breaking miscarriages. To her, she blames the terrible experience on the witches in her village, she doesn't know that she and the Nigerian dysfunctional system is the cause of her predicament. 

I will tell you how, seat back and enjoy this brief lecture. Have you ever heard of the word Rhesus factor? 

Rh factor is a protein that can be present on the surface of the red-blood cell. People that have the Rh factor are Rh positive +, those who do not have the Rh factor are grouped as Rh negative-. 

The + and - in front of the blood group is the rhesus factor. So we A+, A-, O+, O-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-.

Rhesus factor is genetic, it's gotten from the parents emphatically the man. Now that we are clear on what Rh factor is let us move further to why I said Ifeoma is the cause of her miscarriages. 

If you are Rh positive e.g (a+, b+, o+, ab+) you are safe, but if you are negative e.g (a-, B-, AB-, O-) you are not. If are a male Rh - you are safe, if you are a female you aren't safe. If you a rh- woman and you get pregnant for a man who is rh- you are safe but if you get pregnant for a man who is Rh+ you aren't safe. Most people are Rh positive only very few are negative, the possibility for a rh- woman to find a rh- man is slim, that's where the problem lies. 

Let us assume Ifeoma is rh- and during her school days she aborted a pregnancy, the man who got her pregnant then was rh+, obviously her baby was rh+. During abortion, the rh+ blood came in contact with her rh- blood. That was the beginning of her problem. Once rh- comes in contact with an rh+, a certain antibodies are activated. This antibodies are activated to stop anything they think is a threat from coming into the body. E.g a baby. 

A rh- woman with an activated antibodies would keep having miscarriages, the antibodies would keep fighting and taking off any foetus. The woman might end up childless and if not properly informed might think she is under a demonic oppression, she will be spending nights in Churches out of ignorance. She may even think that God has forsaken her. Women with activated antibodies are RH sensitized and once this antibodies are activated it can never be deactivated until the woman dies. Antibodies are activated in a rh- woman by abortion, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and child birth. During child birth of a rh- woman who got pregnant by a rh+ man, children inherit their rhesus factor from the man so once the baby's rh+ comes in contact with the woman rh- during delivery the antibodies are immediately activated so after that particular child birth the woman would keep having miscarriages because the activated antibodies would as usual fight off any foreign body. 

The antibodies can be stopped from being activated by administering an injection known as Rh Immunoglobulin to a negative woman . The injection is administered 28wks into pregnancy, 72 hrs after delivery, after ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or abortion. If it's not administered and the antibodies are activated, it would never be deactivated. Because our dysfunctional health system doesn't promote proper rhesus factor sensitization, Ifeoma is left helpless after one mistake. 

Mothers tell your girls and sisters, a rh- girl must be extremely careful. Because of the very small number of rh- people, it's extremely rare to find a rh- man. The possibility to get pregnant for a rh+ man is high. Once she gets pregnant for a positive man and rushes to have a quick abortion, she might have as well jeopardized her future for life. Apart from this, a woman with a negative rhesus factor has no problem. it can however be controlled with rh Immunoglobulin injection. A rh- man or woman cannot receive blood donation from a rh+. it would lead to death as the blood would immediately clog and cake. 

Check into any near by hospital and test your blood group.

1. Honey

When it comes to home remedies for cough, honey is quite the star! In fact, it is so effective that even the World Health Organization considers it a suitable treatment for cough, especially in children. Honey is made up of carbohydrates, free amino acids, vitamins, flavonoids and antioxidants. It has anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, the antimicrobial effect of honey has been proved in laboratory studies where it has been sown to be effective against various kinds of common bacteria. Its ability to fight bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis found in the upper respiratory tract makes it so effective in the fight against cough. Besides this, the sweetness of honey encourages us to salivate more and that soothes the pharynx and larynx and reduces cough.

2. Ginger

Like honey, ginger is another cough remedy that has been in use across cultures for many centuries. Often used with honey to pack a potent punch, ginger is particularly helpful in easing breathing and soothing a dry or asthmatic cough. The anti-inflammatory properties work on the inflamed airways and help breathing. Studies have shown that these anti-inflammatory compounds relax membranes in the airways and reduce the urge to cough.

Make a ginger cough potion by boiling a few slices or a chunk of crushed fresh ginger in water. You need to let it steep in water for some time before it is ready for drinking. To make this more effective and palatable, add some honey and lemon juice.

3. Hydration

We cannot stress on this enough! Drink up and stay hydrated to get relief from your throat irritation and cough. Particularly helpful for a dry cough, warm water and nourishing liquids like herbal teas, broths, black tea and warm fruit juices will all make you feel better. Even research suggests that drinking warm liquids is especially helpful for symptoms like a cough, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. You will get instant relief and the effect will last for a while. The best part is that you can drink plenty of these liquids without fear of side effects. 

Taking steam for blocked or inflamed airways is a remedy that doctors always prescribe to patients with respiratory ailments. While it may seem a little tedious, it does work wonders. This treatment is especially helpful for a wet cough and may help expel some of the mucous and phlegm that is bogging you down. You could inhale steam either by filling a bucket with hot water in a shower cubicle so that it fills up with steam. Stay in this steamy atmosphere for a few minutes till you feel your symptoms receding. 

Alternatively, you could fill a bowl with steaming water, cover your head with a towel and inhale deeply for five minutes. This is also easily done with an electric steamer that will keep supplying you with a steady stream of steam. Add a few drops of menthol, or eucalyptus oil for more relief. Do take breaks if you feel the steam is too hot and feels uncomfortable. Those with a chest congestion could also use a cool-mist humidifier or steam vaporiser in their room for constant relief.

A cough is often accompanied by a sore throat especially in the case of a wet cough and, in such cases, salt water gargling really works wonders. Salt water acts as an antibacterial agent, soothes throat irritation, reduces the phlegm at the back of the throat that causes an urge to cough. Do note that swallowing salt water could make you vomit, so be careful.

Add half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Ensure that it is not too hot or it will burn your throat. Gargle and then allow the water to sit at the back of your throat for a few minutes before you spit it out. Repeat this a number of time throughout the day for best results.

4. Pineapples

Yes, you read right! Pineapples have an enzyme called bromelain that acts as an expectorant and helps expel mucus and phlegm. This is helpful if you are suffering from a wet cough. The core of the fruit has the most bromelain. Drink pineapple juice a number of times a day for relief. Bromelain supplements are also available, however, do consult your Doctor before taking them. Also note that some people can be allergic to bromelain and this enzyme is contraindicated for those who are on blood thinning medication and certain kinds of antibiotics.

Drink this pineapple juice concoction when you are laid low. Take a cup of pineapple juice, mix it with some honey, salt and pepper and drink it thrice a day.

5. Thyme

Thyme is useful not just to add flavour to your dishes but acts as a great remedy for coughs, bronchitis and sore throat among its many uses. Studies have found that thyme is more effective in relieving coughs in people with bronchitis than a placebo syrup. Thyme is rich in antioxidants and in compounds called flavonoids that relax and soothe inflamed airways and membranes leading to less coughing.

Make a thyme tea by boiling 2 teaspoons of crushed thyme leaves in a cup of water. Allow to steep for a bit before drinking.

6. Lemon

Lemon is useful for coughs in two ways. For one, it acts as a cough suppressant and two, the vitamin C ups your immunity and protects you from coughs in the first place. Lemons are also great expectorants and will help you expel phlegm.

To supress a cough sprinkle a little black pepper and salt in a sliceof lemon and suck it! You could also add some lemon juice to hot water and honey and drink it as a tea.

7. Oregano oil

Oregano extract and essential oils have been used in many cultures to treat a cough, colds, sore throats and bronchitis. Studies have shown that the thymol and carvacrol in Oregano oil have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Add three to four drop of oregano oil to a tablespoon of water and drink it. Take this three to four times a day.

You could also use it as a chest rub to clear your lungs and bronchial passages. Mix a few drops in a carrier oil like olive oil and rub on your chest and back. You could also add a few drops in your vaporiser or steamer and inhale for best results.

8. Black pepper

Black pepper has long been used in Ayurvedic, Chinese and New England folk medicine. Pepper works by stimulating circulation and gets the mucus flowing, so this is best for a wet cough. This chest decongesting remedy is most effective when taken with honey.

Mix a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper with two tablespoons of honey and top with boiling water. Let it steep for 15 minutes before you strain and drink it. Sip slowly if you find the heat too much to take. Ayurveda says that you should mix 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper with desi ghee and have it on a full stomach. The heat of the pepper will ease congestion. Have this a few times a day.

9. Turmeric milk

This favourite Indian kitchen remedy is an Ayurvedic staple and has been administered to countless sufferers of coughs, often with much protestation! However, as unpalatable as it may be, it is super effective. The curcumin in turmeric is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory that works on the respiratory infection while milk helps expectorate the phlegm and soothes the airways.

Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in warm milk or blend together some fresh turmeric root, a few garlic pods or a piece of ginger with warm milk and drink it up. Ginger and garlic relieve chest congestion. Mix in some honey to the drink to make it easier to drink and add to its potency.

September 26, 2020

Sexually transmitted infections , even those that you may have had long before getting married , can cause you to be infertile in the process . This may seem scary , but it is true.

It is ironic that the more you’ ve had sex in your past, the less fertile you may be , particularly if you were exposed to the risk of any STI which can make both women and men infertile.

It is not uncommon to be diagnosed with infertility as a result of infection from gonorrhoea, chlamydia or other STIs. If you have a STI there may be no symptoms , yet STIs can damage your reproductive organs and diminish your fertility .

Sexually transmitted infections are common. However , people who have a STI often have no symptoms and can therefore have the infection for some time without being diagnosed or treated .

Note that STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and mycoplasma genitalium can cause fertility problems , especially when left untreated .

Also be aware that having unprotected sex with someone that is infected can easily transmit chlamydia which is a common infection that can affect anyone who has had unprotected sex .

It is true that a STI can affect your chances of having a baby if it is not properly treated . For instance gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that can affect both men and women.

It is easily transmitted during vaginal intercourse and usually affects the genital area , although the throat or anus may also be affected .

Usually , women with gonorrhoea often don ’ t have any symptoms . This means that gonorrhoea can go undetected for a long time. When symptoms do occur , they include an unusual discharge from the vagina and pain while urinating .

However , men do experience symptoms including burning sensation while urinating and a white or yellow pus - like discharge from the penis .

Untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease , which can cause infertility. When you experience PID, there is lower abdominal pain and tenderness , deep pain during sexual intercourse, heavy and painful periods and fever .

As a woman , if you have had PID, you need to be especially careful about gonorrhoea, because the risk of infertility increases with each bout of inflammation .

The earlier STIs are diagnosed and treated , the less likely they are to cause problems with your fertility . If you have had unprotected sex and have symptoms of STIs, it is advisable that you consult your doctor promptly for a check- up .

In several instances it might be awkward or embarrassing for you dealing with such diagnosis , but STIs are not to be ignored . Apart from the risk of infertility, having an STI test before trying for a baby reduces the risk of passing such infection on to your partner or child .

Left untreated , an STI can adversely affect your fertility and other reproductive outcomes .

Prompt treatment with antibiotics reduces the risk of complications .

If you are thinking about having a baby, one of the precautions you can take to increase your chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby is to be screened for STIs and treated .

Do not be worried by the fact that these infections seem to affect women more. Actually up to 85 per cent of women that have had chlamydia don ’ t even realise they ’ ve had it .

As mentioned earlier , an STI cannot only affect mothers and fathers , but even their children . An infection known as chlamydial conjunctivitis is common.

Just a single event of pelvic inflammatory disease can cause you to have blocked fallopian tubes , as well as chronic pelvic pain. Even if your fallopian tubes aren’ t completely closed , they can still have damage that can be missed .

Only a fertility evaluation that thoroughly examines the fallopian tubes , as well as uterine health and ovarian reserve , may successfully pick up problems that might have been missed.

There are basics to understanding how STIs and fertility overlap . But the first thing you need to understand is what an STI is , and that it is passed from one person to another mainly through intimate sexual contact , which can be “heavy petting , ” vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, and oral sex .

There are dozens of STIs including syphilis, gonorrhoea , chlamydia, herpes, human papillomavirus and others. But gonorrhoea and chlamydia are the ones most likely to cause subfertility ( reduced fertility ) .

Most sexually active people are quite familiar with STIs and they know that they don ’ t want to have one .

However , roughly three out of four women will get some type of STI in their lifetime . The infections are most common in women under age 25 , and up to 80 per cent of women with chlamydia get it between age 15 and 25 .

The problem is that you will not know that you have such infections if you are not tested. Worse still , there is a greater likelihood of you spreading the infections .

The best practice, particularly if you are trying to get pregnant , is to be tested for STIs and get treated if necessary .

Gonorrhoea and chlamydia, which are preventable , are the two STIs most likely to result in infertility because they can cause PID in women.

This can inflame and scar the fallopian tubes , making it hard for sperm and eggs to find each other , blocking pregnancy . Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can also cause the urethra in the lower part of the urinary tract.

Gonorrhoea and chlamydia often show no symptoms , so that ’ s another concern and reason to be tested . If untreated , chlamydia can trigger PID, which occurs in the upper part of the genital tract affecting the uterus , fallopian tubes and surrounding tissues in those areas .

This can cause infertility , with cases of acute PID being particularly damaging to fertility . The information for you is that screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia is simple and inexpensivee. It involves a urine sample .

Treatment is also relatively easy . There is a dual therapy of two drugs , one an injection , the other an oral medication . Because gonorrhoea and chlamydia often occur at the same time , this dual approach can cure both .

If you have other infections like HPV and herpes simplex virus they don ’ t directly cause infertility, but HSV can make you more vulnerable to other infections .

Couples with HSV must abstain from sex until the sores have healed, and HPV can progress to cervical ( and other ) cancer , and the treatments can sometimes make you less fertile .

Though STIs are more detrimental to female fertility , if as a man you have gonorrhoea or chlamydia, it can render you infertile because the infection can block the epididymis . These are the long , coiled tubes at the back of the testicles that store and then carry sperm during ejaculation .

A blocked epididymis can mean that no sperm gets to your eggs during intercourse . If you suspect that you are having trouble , you need to haveyour fertility assessed .

The most likely way that a man with an STI can cause infertility is if he passes the disease to his female partner . Then she becomes infertile, as described above .

It could also affect fertility by causing you to abstain from sex in order to heal and not spread the disease.

For couples seeking to have children , the biggest issue with STIs is damage to the woman ’ s fallopian tubes and potentially even the uterus.

As explained previously , the two fallopian tubes pick up eggs from the ovaries , so if the tubes are closed at that end from a previous infection , there won ’ t be many ( or any ) eggs for the sperm to find and fertilise in order to make an embryo.

Also , even if your tubes are only partially blocked, and sperm and egg manage to find each other, the damage can still prevent an embryo from making it back to the uterus, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy , which is a dangerous condition .

Additionally , very bad pelvic infections can scar the uterus, resulting in Asherman’ s syndrome , a condition that makes it difficult for an embryo to attach or develop.

It is often recommended to check whether the fallopian tubes are open or whether STIs ( or other factors ) may have resulted in scarring.

If there is a blockage in the fallopian tubes or other problems are found , additional evaluation and treatment may be necessary . Minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy may be necessary to repair the tubes .

If only one fallopian tube is blocked, pregnancy is still possible . If you are trying to have children , you should try your best to prevent getting a STI . If you think it ’ s possible you have a STI , be tested and have it treated .

If you suspect a STI – or anything – is preventing you from getting pregnant , get in touch with a reputable fertility expert .