As winter approaches, some women make holiday shopping lists or donate old clothes, while others take on a less festive chore: winter-proofing their vaginas.
During the coldest months, people may turn to long hot baths, indulge in more alcohol and treats, and wear thick layers of clothing, all of which can negatively impact vaginal health.
While the weather itself isn’t so extreme that your nether regions stop working, certain behaviors you engage in during the winter months can lead to unpleasant changes.
As temperatures drop, cold air dries out the skin all over the body, including the area around the vulva, the external parts of the vagina.
Taken together, these factors can lead to skin irritation and disruption of the bacteria that keep the intimate area healthy.
To avoid this, experts recommend choosing natural underwear, cutting back on scented products, balancing your diet, and hydrating to keep your system happy during the cold, dark season.
Adrienne Benjamin, a registered nutritionist and marketing manager at ProVen Probiotics, told DailyMail.com: ‘During the colder winter months we naturally ‘increase’ our comfort levels in the home, such as taking long hot baths, turning up the central heating and wearing a lot of clothes. layers to stay warm.’
She added: ‘The combination of colder temperatures and multiple Christmas parties can actually have a detrimental effect on the health of your vagina.’
There are certain behaviors that occur more frequently during the winter months that may cause you some discomfort in your intimate health
Christmas parties are full of drinking alcohol and eating sugary foods. Benjamin noted that this can dehydrate you, and that if you have diabetes, your risk of developing yeast infections increases.
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Skin tends to become drier and more itchy in the winter months, and so does the skin around the vulva, but the tissue itself remains largely unaffected, says Dr. Jen Gunter, a gynecologist and author.
Dr. Gunter told Refinery 29: ‘Vaginas function quite well in all seasons.’
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ that is home to billions of bacteria that coexist in a delicate balance, maintaining the pH and health of the area.
In warm, wet conditions, the pH level can drop, allowing certain types of ‘bad bacteria’ to thrive. This can cause urinary tract infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Both infections are usually mild and easy to treat, but can be associated with unpleasant side effects such as vaginal itching, burning during urination and a foul odor.
But there are things you can do to keep your intimate health in the best shape during freezing temperatures.
First, Benjamin said, you need to consider your clothing. It’s crucial to wear warm layers to beat a winter storm.
However, this creates the opportunity for a warm, sweaty environment in your genital region, which, if trapped by the wrong substance, can be a breeding ground for fungus and unhealthy bacteria.
Certain types of fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, or lace, are more likely to irritate your genitals than others.
Instead of these fabrics, Benjamin recommends wearing underwear woven from natural fibers such as cotton.
She said: ‘Swap your synthetic underwear, which traps moisture, for more breathable fabrics such as cotton, which can help keep intimate areas cool.’
After looking at your underwear, Benjamin noted that women should be careful with their shower products.
She said: ‘As relaxing as a long hot bath is, adding perfumed products can disrupt your vagina’s natural ecosystem.’
The bacteria in your vagina and vulva work with glands to keep the area hydrated and balanced.
Frequently scented bath materials can disrupt the balance of good bacteria such as Lactobacillus, irritating the area and increasing the risk of developing yeast infections and urinary tract infections.
Then there is sugar. It’s a popular idea that overuse of sugar and sweeteners can weaken your immune system, leading to more yeast infections, says Dr. Jessica Shepard, a Texas-based gynecologist. told Health.
Yeast infections occur when the overgrowth of natural fungi in the vagina causes itching, irritation, vaginal pain and discharge. Antibiotic use, pregnancy and a reduced immune system can increase the risk of developing the condition.
About three in four women will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives. Although uncomfortable, the symptoms are not dangerous and can be treated with over-the-counter creams or suppositories.
Frequent bathing with scented products can irritate your vaginal microbiome and lead to problems such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis
However, the research linking sugar to yeast infections is limited and only suggests this pattern occurs in women with diabetes. That’s still 15 million American women, the CDC estimates.
Heather Bartos, a Texas-based gynecologist, told Refinery29 that the average person enjoying a few more holiday treats doesn’t have to worry about their vaginal health.
She said, “Chewing a gingerbread now and then is no problem.”
Finally, one of the ways to best care for your vagina and your overall health is to stay hydrated. According to Harvard Health, women are recommended to drink about 11.5 cups of water per day.
Drinking alcohol, a common part of vacation plans, can dehydrate you and in turn disrupt your intimate health.
Staying hydrated keeps your organs functioning properly and ensures that the glands that keep your tissues moist pump out enough fluid. Staying hydrated can also prevent skin from feeling dry, which sometimes occurs during the winter months.
This includes the skin around the vulva. Dr. Karen Duncan, a gynecologist in New York, told Refinery 29 that if you’re experiencing dry skin there, you can use a fragrance-free moisturizer for sensitive skin.