Vulvovaginal health is the health and sanitation of the human female vulva and vagina. Problems affecting this area include: Binomial name Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies Homo sapiens cromagnon (extinct) Homo sapiens idaltu (extinct) Homo sapiens sapiens For other uses, see Human (disambiguation). ... Female symbol Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces egg cells. ... Complete external female genital anatomy Appearance of the vulva Labeled picture of external female reproductive anatomy. ... Complete external female genital anatomy Human female internal reproductive anatomy. ...

• Infection with Candida albicans (candidiasis or "yeast infection")
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) associated with the Gardnerella, formerly called "nonspecific vaginitis"
• Trichomoniasis
• Vulvodynia
• Cervical cancer (detected by the Pap smear)
• Urinary bladder infection, urinary tract infection (UTI), cystitis, Urethritis
• Various types of prolapse (where another pelvic organ protrudes into the vagina)
• Cancer of the vulva

The vulva and vagina have a "normal flora" of "friendly" microorganisms (including the lactobacillus which turns milk into yoghurt) which help to keep the area healthy. When the normal balance is disturbed, an infection can result. Binomial name Candida albicans (C.P. Robin) Berkhout Candida albicans, a diploid sexual fungus (a form of yeast) is the causal agent of opportunistic infections in humans, the most common being oral and vaginal infections. ... Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal infection (vaginitis). ... Binomial name Gardnerella vaginalis Gardnerella is a genus of gram-variable bacteria of which Gardnerella vaginalis is the only species. ... Trichomoniasis, sometimes referred to as trich or the ping pong disease, is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects 2 to 3 million Americans yearly. ... The term vulvodynia is used to describe pain in the vulva, often severe, of unknown cause. ... Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix. ... The pap smear as we know it is an invention of Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou (1883-1962), an American of Greek birth, the father of cytopathology. ... The interior of bladder. ... An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ... A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract. ... Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra. ... Prolapse literally means To fall out of place. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Species L. acidophilus L. bulgaricus L. plantarum L.reuteri etc. ... Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ...

The generic term for infection of the vagina is vaginitis. Symptoms may include an unusual or unpleasant discharge, itching, or pain during intercourse. But vaginal infections may also be present without any noticeable symptoms. Vaginitis is an infection of the vagina usually caused by a fungus. ... The missionary position is the most common position for sexual intercourse in humans The cowgirl sex position is a position frequently combined with kissing, caressing, and embracing of the paramour. ...

The following measures are advisable for keeping the vulva and vagina healthy: Complete external female genital anatomy Appearance of the vulva Labeled picture of external female reproductive anatomy. ... Complete external female genital anatomy Human female internal reproductive anatomy. ...

• Washing once a day or so with water but without soap, since soap disturbs the natural pH balance of the vagina. Other measures are seldom necessary or advisable. Two notable examples: so-called "feminine hygiene sprays" are unnecessary, may be generally harmful, and have been known to cause severe allergic reactions. Vaginal douching is generally not necessary and has been implicated in helping to cause bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis ("yeast infections").
• After using the toilet, wipe from the front toward the back to avoid introducing bacteria from the anal area into the vulva.
• Drink plenty of water and urinate frequently and as soon as possible when you feel the need, to help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract and avoid urinary tract infections. For the same reason, try to urinate before and after sex.
• Change out of a wet swimsuit or other wet clothes as soon as possible.
• Avoid fragrances, colors, and "deodorants" in products that contact the vulva/vagina: sanitary pads, tampons, toilet paper. Some women who are sensitive to these substances should also avoid bubble baths and some fabric detergents and softeners.
• Avoid wearing leather trousers, tight jeans, panties made of nylon or other synthetic fabrics, or pantyhose without an all-cotton crotch (not cotton covered by nylon - cut out the nylon panel if necessary).
• Anything which has been in contact with the anal area (see anal sex) should be thoroughly washed with soap and water or a similar disinfectant before coming in contact with the vulva or vagina.
• Use condoms, practice safer sex, know your sex partners, ask sex partners to practice basic hygiene (soap and water) of the genitals. Use artificial lubrication during the intercourse if the amount naturally produced is too small.
• Be careful with objects inserted inside the vagina. Improper insertion of objects into any body opening can cause damage: infection, cutting, piercing, trauma, blood loss, etc.

See also: Sexually transmitted diseases, Pelvic inflammatory disease, Obstetrics and Gynecology Water (from the Old English word wæter; c. ... This article is about a common cleaning compound. ... The title of this article is shown beginning with a capital letter due to technical restrictions. ... An allergy or Type I hypersensitivity is an immune malfunction whereby a persons body is hypersensitised to react immunologically to typically nonimmunogenic substances. ... A vaginal bulb syringe. ... Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal infection (vaginitis). ... Toilet has several meanings. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... Anal can mean: Anus, the external opening of the rectum Anal retentive, a person overly uptight or distressed over ordinarily minor problems Anal sex, anal sexual intercourse This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Complete external female genital anatomy Appearance of the vulva Labeled picture of external female reproductive anatomy. ... A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract. ... Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ... Male model in swimsuit, 2003 A swimsuit (also swimmers), bathing suit (also bathers) or swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming. ... A sanitary pad is a pad composed of cotton and other absorbent material that used by menstruating women to absorb blood flow from the uterus. ... A tampon is a (usually disposable) plug that a woman inserts into her vagina during her menstrual period to absorb the flow of blood. ... A roll of toilet paper. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ... Blue Jeans Jeans are trousers made from denim. ... Lingerie is a term, derived from the French language, for womens undergarments. ... This article covers the material nylon. ... A person wearing pantyhose Pantyhose (also known as tights) are close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women. ... Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World. ... A crotch can be any region or an object, where a trunk splits into two or more limbs. ... Roman men having anal sex. ... A standard latex condom still rolled up This article is about the contraceptive device. ... Safe sex (also called safer sex) is a term describing practices designed to reduce the risk of sustaining or imparting sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) (also known as sexually-transmitted diseases or STDs in the US). ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... Pelvic inflammatory disease (or disorder) (PID) is a generic term for infection of the female uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. ... Obstetrics and gynaecology (often abbreviated Ob-Gyn in the US and O&G elsewhere) form a single medical specialty and have a combined postgraduate training program. ...

External links

• Vaginitis/Vaginal infection fact sheet from the National Institute of Allergies and Infections
• Anti-infection health tips
• Female Sexual Health 101 - by noted sex activist and educator Heather Corinna
• How to Prepare for Your First Gynecologist's Visit by Heather Corinna