Gynaecologist explains the best way to clean your vagina

Strange as it might seem, there is actually a proper way to clean your vagina.

While the vagina is relatively good at cleaning itself, you still need to make sure you don't damage the "PH balance".

Speaking to Glamour, Nancy Herta, M.D., an obstetrician/gynaecologist, explained the science behind vaginal "self-cleaning".

"It’s a delicate balance that makes the vagina hostile to bacteria. If you put stuff in there that changes the pH, you can allow bacteria to overgrow."

There are a considerable number of cleaning products specifically for cleaning your vagina, but this particular expert recommends staying away from them.

This is actually very interesting because the afore-mentioned products are quite popular and there are a lot of them on the market, but you can manage without them if you prefer.

Herta says washing with a mild soap is fine, but be careful of anything with harsh ingredients or perfumed scents.

Always remember to pat yourself completely dry afterwards because otherwise, your vagina remains moist, which can lead to a yeast infection as yeast thrives on moisture.

It makes sense, too. If you're rushing to have a shower first thing in the morning, chances are that you don't always take the time to dry off properly, but it can make all the difference when it comes to avoiding uncomfortable infections.

The health professional also says it's important to remember the "self-cleaning" properties of the organ itself. In other words, let your vagina do its thing unless you notice an odd odour or smell coming from your vagina, be that discharge or otherwise.

In that case, it's important to make time to visit your GP for a check-up to make sure everything is as it should be.