People's bodies will experience many changes as they age, including the vagina. The vaginal opening is part of the vulva, which includes the clitoris, labia, and pubic mound.
Meanwhile, the inner vaginal canal connects the vulva to the cervix and uterus. Throughout a woman's life journey, the sensation and appearance of Miss V will continue to change. Here are some tips for maintaining Miss V's health based on age group.
Vaginal Health In Your 20s
The 20s are the golden age of a woman's vaginal health. The peaking of sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone generally causes this. Estrogen is responsible for maintaining Miss V's moisture, elasticity, and acidity.
If a woman frequently has sex during this period, she may develop a urinary tract infection due to the movement of bacteria from the vagina into the urethra. Urinating as soon as possible after sex is one way to reduce the risk of infection. In general, Miss V will do the cleaning independently by producing white or clear mucus, which can be affected by hormonal changes due to the menstrual cycle.
As long as you don't have certain problems, such as pain during sex, itching, giving off an unpleasant odor, or a burning sensation, the vagina of a woman in her 20s doesn't need much care. It is enough to wash with water and soap.
Vaginal Health In Your 30s
In your 30s, usually, the inner labia will experience a darker color change due to hormonal changes. As a woman goes through pregnancy, the discharge from the vagina will increase in the amount and look like milk with a slight odor, but it should not be green, yellow, or have a fishy smell.
After giving birth, the size of Miss V will stretch bigger than usual and reduce its elasticity. However, over time, the size of Miss V can return to its pre-birth size.
Vaginal Health In Your 40s
As a result of perimenopause in this period, a woman's vagina will go through many changes. With reduced estrogen levels in the body, vaginal walls will appear thinner and drier.
This condition is also known as vaginal atrophy and can cause some of the following symptoms:
- Hot or burning sensation in the vaginal area
- Pain when having sex
- Itching in the vaginal area
- Burning feeling when urinating
- Increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases
Having regular sex can slow the progression of vaginal atrophy by increasing blood flow to the vagina and keeping it elastic. Dry vaginal conditions can be prevented by using vaginal moisturizers or estrogen creams. Olive oil and coconut oil can also be used as natural vaginal moisturizers.
Vaginal Health In Your 50s
During this period, it is most likely that a woman will no longer have menstruation, called menopause. Changes occur due to very low or depleted levels of the hormone estrogen. Vaginal atrophy is a common problem in women in their 50s.
Low estrogen can change the acidity of the vagina, thereby increasing the risk of infection due to bacterial overgrowth. In addition, low estrogen can also cause atrophy of the urinary tract and lead to urine leakage, overactive bladder, and increased frequency of urination.
Hormone therapy can help reduce symptoms of atrophy in the vagina and urinary tract. However, hormone therapy is not a good option for all women.
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Sources:
McDermott, A. & Geraghty, P. (2018). What You Need to Know About Vaginal Health at Every Age. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/vaginal-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-vaginal-health-at-every-age