Menstrual and vaginal odours and itching all reflect bad personal hygiene. Dr Parul R Sheth has ways you can avoid these boo-boos

WE learn basic hygiene when we’re kids. Washing your hands, taking a bath, trimming your nails is considered good hygiene practice. Every part of the body needs attention on a regular basis. And yet women are not careful about their personal hygiene.

Stinking odours arise when your body is not cleaned properly and bacteria begin to multiply. Here are a few tips that will help you run your life as smoothly as ever.

Vaginal Hygiene
Other than washing the external genitalia clean, there is no need to really clean the vagina from the inside because it self-cleans. Harsh soaps may irritate the vaginal skin and cause a thrush infection. It’s imperative that your vaginal Ph balance remains normal. Wear cotton underwear instead of synthetic ones. And change regularly for ventilation and evaporation of moisture. If you get thrush, call your doctor.

Lack of hygiene can cause other vaginal infections such as yeast infections, trichomoniasis and vaginosis or vaginitis, a vaginal inflammation. It is true that some amount of bacteria are present in a healthy vagina but overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria can give rise to foul odour, burning and an itching sensation.

Due to the close proximity of the vagina to the anus in women, migration of gut organisms may occur from the anus to the vagina. The normal inhabitants of the rectum, the E.coli on reaching the vagina can cause bacterial vaginitis. Improper use of the Intra Uterine Device (IUD), hot weather, poor personal hygiene, poor health, all contribute to infections.

Often, we don’t trim our pubic hair. While it protects the vagina, it’s also important to trim it every few months to prevent growth of bacteria.