Tips & Expert Advice

The vulva is the external sexual organ of a woman’s body and its main purpose is to protect the inner sexual organs, including the vagina and the urethra (opening for urination). The vulva is the external skin which consists of the mons pubis (the top area towards the lower abdomen), the labia majora or outer labia/lips that run down both sides, and the labia minora or inner labia/ lips.

The mons and labia majora are covered in hair, whilst the labia minora are hair free and can be particularly sensitive. The labia minora form the transition between the inner vagina and the outer vulva.

pH is simply the measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. It is based on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 14. Anything below 7 is acidic, anything above 7 is alkaline. Pure water has a pH of 7, which is neutral, but you may not realize that your skin does not have a neutral pH. Your skin has a normal pH between 5.4 and 5.9, however the intimate skin has a normalized pH around 4.5 for a woman at reproductive age. This is regulated by good bacteria in the vagina called lactobacilli, which helps to prevent the growth of harmful organisms. If the pH of the vagina increases (making it less acidic) the quality or amount of lactobacilli can fall and other harmful bacteria can multiply which can lead to infections such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush.

pH levels change with age – before puberty and then again with the onset of the menopause. In between, there are several factors that can cause your pH to fluctuate which can make you more prone to infections. Below are some of the more common triggers that can cause a change in your natural balance.

Triggers:

• During your monthly cycle, hormonal changes alter the pH-balance. It’s least acidic on the days just before and during your period leaving you more prone to infection, so changing your sanitary protection regularly and cleaning the vulval skin outside during your period is essential.
• Perfumed or high pH shower gels.
• Biological washing powders, and non-hypoallergenic washing powders that contain irritating chemicals.
• Heat and sweat caused from wearing tight underwear or jeans, and exercise.
• Friction during sex can cause irritation during or immediately after intercourse.
• Some men have very alkaline sperm which can also disrupt the female pH and make bacterial vaginosis more likely.
• Non-breathable underwear or sanitary protection products can also be irritants, especially if they are worn all day.
• Being on antibiotics usually lessens the good bacteria, weakening defenses against vaginal infections, particularly thrush (yeast).
• Some contraceptive pills can result in changes in the vaginal bacteria that predisposes to infection, and the drop in hormones in the pill free week leading up to a period can also be a trigger.

Symptoms:

• The most common symptom of a change in your pH is an itching or burning sensation on the vulval skin.

Other symptoms include:

• Increased discharge which is a different colour and/or smell to your usual discharge, which could mean that you have an infection (if this is the case, contact your GP).
• Discomfort during sex.
• Occasionally, it can exhibit itself as discomfort when going to the toilet.

Using an intimate wash is a personal choice and for women who want to use anything more than water, it is important to choose a product that works in harmony with your body. femfresh is great because it is specially designed to maintain the natural pH-balance of the intimate skin.

If you have a tendency to skin irritation, maintaining a healthy pH-balance is very important for you, so using femfresh intimate washes is a good choice to help you achieve this. If you have an active lifestyle and often go back to work after the gym, the femfresh intimate wipes are brilliant as a temporary solution to remove sweat without disrupting the pH-balance.

We recommend using a pH-balanced wash to ensure you are cleaning your vulval skin without disrupting your natural pH-balance. Using water alone will not harm the intimate balance however, many women also want the added benefits of cleansing, soothing and moisturizing the skin. When talking about intimate washes, it is important to recognize that we aren’t talking about douching at all, i.e. putting water into the vagina itself. femfresh is not a douche and we never recommend cleaning inside the vagina but keeping the vulval skin healthy helps the inside too.

Itchiness can be caused by inflammation, infection or as a result of an allergy so it’s important to identify what could be causing this. There are over 60 different reasons why you could be experiencing itchiness in your intimate area with the below being some common triggers:

• Non pH-balanced shower gels
• Washing powder
• Panty liners
• A reaction to your tampon or sanitary towel, or not changing them regularly enough
• Creams / lotions
• Laser or wax
• Antibiotics
• Contraceptive pill
• Infections such as thrush
• Being sexually active more than usual

It is also important to look at your intimate skin to see whether you have a rash, any swelling, spots or ulcers. If you do you should consult your doctor.

Some women find that there are different times when they are more prone to irritation than others, which is largely to do with a change in the pH of your vagina. After the menopause or just before your period for example, or if you take part in activities which can disrupt your natural balance, like regularly doing a sweaty workout, then it’s a good idea to counteract that with pH-balancing washes or wipes. Some women have skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis around the vagina. These women will also benefit from using femfresh wash.

The simple answer is changes in your hormones. Throughout pregnancy the surge of hormones can change the pH levels, which then makes pregnant women more prone to infection. This is extremely common. In menopausal women, the decrease in hormones changes the intimate skin so it becomes thinner and less moist, which alters the pH-balance, making the drier skin more sensitive and prone to infection.

Vaginal douching involves using a syringe to insert a solution the consistency of water into the vagina itself (internal organ). femfresh washes are to be used externally and should not be used as a douche as it may cause irritation and discomfort. However, douching can be done using products formulated solely for this purpose.

Yes, it is completely normal. Discharge changes throughout the month. Just after your period you will notice that there isn’t a lot of discharge but as you are coming up to ovulation you will notice an odorless clear discharge (similar to egg whites). This is a sign that ovulation is about to happen. After ovulation you will notice white discharge with either no smell or a mild smell. Women who are on the pill have no cyclical changes, but it is normal to have a small amount of white discharge.

A change in odor can relate to hormonal changes, bleeding, dehydration, and of course infection. If the discharge has a strong odor, or there is more than normal, we recommend seeing your doctor, who will be able to investigate.

After sex, you may feel some immediate irritation which is normal and is usually caused by friction, particularly if you haven’t had sex for a while. In some cases, irritation may even be caused by the sperm itself, which is alkaline or, if you use a condom, possibly by a sensitivity to latex or an allergic reaction to the spermicide coating the condom. Some women find that using a water-based lubricant during sex can help reduce this irritation. Going to the toilet and having a wash or using a pH-balanced intimate wipe immediately after sex can also help to reduce irritation by restoring your natural balance. If irritation continues 7-10 days after sex, it may mean that you have an infection so it’s best to go see your doctor who will be able to investigate the cause of irritation. Very rarely, a woman can be allergic to sperm itself, especially if she has other allergies. In this situation, swelling and discomfort happen after every sexual encounter.

Cystitis is a bladder infection which may be triggered after having sex, but it can occur at any age, and is more common when dehydration is also an issue. I suggest drinking plenty of water, going to the toilet and having a quick wash immediately after sex. femfresh intimate washes or wipes are great as they can help maintain your natural pH-balance. Mild cystitis is usually treatable with re-hydration and cranberry or drink sachets available over the counter to reduce the bladder inflammation, but it sometimes does need to be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are always required if there is blood visible in the urine, or if you develop a fever.

Whatever the cause or severity of dryness/irritation there are things you can do to relieve the symptoms. You can see your GP to discuss prescriptive remedies, but there are some steps you can take yourself to help

• Hygiene – make sure you keep everything clean and dry
• Use a pH appropriate wash in your intimate area
• If necessary, apply a hypoallergenic emollient cream
• Take in lots more water than usual to ensure you are suitably hydrated
• Avoid any dehydrating drinks like alcohol and caffeine
• Avoid biological washing powders – opt for the most sensitive non-biological option
• Use a water-based lubricant during sex
• Avoid wearing tight underwear and trousers
• Avoid any intimate irritants, like perfumed shower gels, soaps or bath oils. Opt for femfresh Ultimate Care Soothing Wash which is hypoallergenic and at the right pH-balance for the intimate vulval skin

Bacterial Vaginosis is a common infection caused by an imbalance of the bacteria that are present inside the vagina. Symptoms typically include a greenish discharge and a fishy odor. femfresh is not a treatment for BV and it won’t mask the odor. If you think you might have Bacterial Vaginosis, you will need to see your doctor who will be able to diagnose the problem and prescribe specific treatment.

Yes of course. femfresh products are great because they’re much less likely to irritate the skin. When you have thrush there’s a baseline inflammation of the skin which can cause discomfort and itching. Therefore using a soothing solution to wash the intimate area is ideal. Again, it won’t treat the thrush, but it may help to soothe and ease the itching.

Absolutely. You can also use them whilst pregnant.

You don’t need to use a specialist product during your period, but blood raises the pH of the vulvar skin, and provides a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, so keeping the vulval area clean is sensible, and using a pH-balanced formula specifically designed to clean your vulvar skin gently but effectively is recommended. The femfresh range is suitable for this time of the month, with both wash and wipes giving you the confidence that you have cleaned properly and helping you feel fresh. Both products are hypoallergenic and won’t disrupt your pH-balance.

Using a specialist product is a personal choice, however if you do choose to use more than just water to clean your intimate skin, it’s important to use the right product. femfresh is a specially designed range which can be used safely on a daily basis. The addition of ingredients such as lactic acid and probiotics across the range also help to maintain healthy intimate skin.