As winter approaches, some women prepare Christmas shopping lists or donate old clothes, while others engage in a less festive task: “winterizing their vaginas.”
During the colder months, people may resort to long hot baths, consuming more alcohol and sweets, and wearing layers of heavy clothing, all of which can affect vaginal health.
While the weather itself is not so extreme as to cause your nether regions to stop working, some of the behaviors you may adopt in the winter months could lead to some unpleasant changes.
As temperatures drop, cold air dries the skin all over the body, including the area around the vulva, the outer parts of the vagina.
Together, these factors can cause skin irritation and an alteration of the bacteria that help keep the intimate area healthy.
To prevent this, experts recommend choosing natural underwear, reducing consumption of scented products, balancing your diet, and staying hydrated to help keep your body happy during the cold, dark season.
Adrienne Benjamin, registered nutritionist and marketing director at ProVen Probiotics, told DailyMail.com: “During the colder winter months, we naturally “turn up” our home comforts, such as taking long hot baths, turning on the central heating, and using lots of clothes, layers to keep warm.
She added: “The combination of colder temperatures and multiple Christmas parties can have a detrimental effect on vaginal health.”
There are certain behaviors that become more common during the winter months and that could be causing some discomfort to your intimate health.
The holidays are filled with drinking alcohol and eating sugary foods, Benjamin noted that this can dehydrate you, and if you are diabetic, it increases your risk of developing yeast infection.
The skin tends to become dry and itchy more in the winter months, and that can include the skin around the vulva; However, the tissue itself is largely unaffected, said Dr. Jen Gunter, a gynecologist and author.
Dr. Gunter told Refinería 29: “Vaginas work pretty well in all seasons.”
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ that houses billions of bacteria that coexist in a delicate balance, maintaining the pH and health of the area.
In warm, humid conditions, the pH can be altered, allowing certain types of “bad bacteria” to thrive. This can cause urinary tract infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Both infections are usually mild and easily treatable, but can have unpleasant side effects such as vaginal itching, burning when urinating, and bad odor.
But there are things you can do to keep your intimate health in tip-top shape during freezing temperatures.
First, Benjamin said, you must consider your clothing. Wearing warm layers is essential to combat a winter storm.
However, this creates the opportunity to create a warm, sweaty environment in the genital region which, if trapped in the wrong fabric, can be a breeding ground for unhealthy fungi and bacteria.
Certain types of fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, or lace, are more likely to irritate your private parts than others.
Instead of those fabrics, Benjamin recommends wearing underwear woven from natural fibers like 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 her underwear, Benjamin pointed out that women should be careful with their shower products.
She said: “As relaxing as a long hot bath is, adding scented products can disrupt the vagina’s natural ecosystem.”
The bacteria in the vagina and vulva work together with the glands to keep the area hydrated and balanced.
Frequently scented bath materials can upset the balance of good bacteria like Lactobacillus, making the area feel irritated and increasing the risk of developing yeast infections and urinary tract infections.
After that, there is sugar. It’s a popular idea that going overboard with sugar and sweeteners can weaken the immune system, leading to more yeast infections, said Dr. Jessica Shepard, a Texas-based obstetrician and gynecologist. he told health.
Yeast infections occur when natural yeast overgrowth in the vagina causes itching, irritation, vaginal pain, and discharge. Antibiotic use, pregnancy, and an impaired immune system can increase the risk of developing the condition.
About three out of four women will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives. The symptoms, although uncomfortable, are not dangerous and can be treated with over-the-counter creams or suppositories.
Frequent bathing with scented products can irritate the vaginal microbiome and lead to problems such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis.
However, research linking sugar to yeast infections is limited and suggests this pattern only occurs in women with diabetes. That’s still 15 million American women, the CDC estimates.
Heather Bartos, a Texas-based OB-GYN, told Refinery29 that the average person who enjoys a few more holiday treats shouldn’t worry about their vaginal health.
She said: “Eating gingerbread once in a while should be fine.”
Finally, one of the ways to take better care of your vagina and your overall health is to stay hydrated. According to Harvard Health, it is recommended that women drink about 11.5 glasses of water a day.
Drinking alcohol, a common part of vacation plans, can dehydrate you and, in turn, has the potential to disrupt your intimate health.
Staying hydrated helps your organs function properly, ensuring that the glands that keep tissues moist pump out an adequate amount of fluid. Plus, staying hydrated can help you avoid feeling dry skin, which sometimes happens during the winter months.
This includes the skin around the vulva. Dr. Karen Duncan, an OB-GYN in New York, told Refinery 29 that if you experience some skin dryness there, you can use a fragrance-free moisturizer for sensitive skin.