How do I take care of my intimate health with a lot of training?
Exercise is good for your body in so many ways. It prevents many types of ill health, helps you maintain a healthy body weight, lifts your mood, and increases your energy levels.
But many women experience discomfort in the genital area from exercise. Why is that?
What discomfort can occur?
Intimate discomfort from the vagina and labia is not uncommon if you train a lot. Glands on the labia and in the vagina produce sweat, which can lead to discomfort in the genital area when you give your all in the gym, especially if you wear inappropriate clothing. Often the symptoms are mild, but for some women the discomfort can become pronounced and negatively affect their life situation. Examples of symptoms that may occur:
- infections
- red mucous membranes
- irritated mucous membranes
- chafing of the mucous membranes
- strong smell from the vagina
Infections
Yeast thrives in the warm and moist environment that a sweaty genital area constitutes. The yeast candida albicans is a natural part of our gut flora but if it occurs in too large quantities it can become a big problem. This yeast thrives in the warm and moist environment that a sweaty genital area constitutes. Examples of symptoms of yeast infection:
- a thick, white discharge
- that resembles cottage cheese
- vaginal itching, which can be intense
- burning in the vagina, especially when in contact with urine
- painful sex
- red mucous membranes
Most yeast infections do not go away on their own, so if you suspect yeast, you should consult your doctor.
Bacterial Vaginosis: Another type of infection that thrives in warm, sweaty environments is bacterial vaginosis (BV). Normally, a range of bacteria are present in the vagina, but with BV one or more of the bacteria have multiplied and an imbalance occurs. Symptoms of BV can be grayish-yellow, thin discharge and sometimes foamy. The smell can be described as fishy and often becomes stronger during menstruation.
Read more about bacterial vaginosis.
What can I do to prevent it?
Many women do not think about their intimate health until symptoms appear. Here are some habits to apply to avoid problems.
- Avoid sweaty panties and pants after exercise.
- Avoid tight tights that do not breathe or chafe during exercise.
- Wear cotton underwear.
- Never ignore the symptoms and do not wait for them to disappear on their own. You may have an infection.
Do not use regular soap for your intimate hygiene. Instead, use a cleanser that is adapted to the genital area and does not alter your sensitive pH balance. We recommend VagiVitals gentle V-Cleanser consisting of VagiVital Aktivgel and botanical oil.