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HEALTHY
5 Things Your Vagina Can Tell You About Your Health
From irregular periods to labia bumps to an antsy vulva, your vagina can clue you in to potentially good issues. Healthy vaginas all have key things in park. No part, from your neck to your vulva, should itch, hurt, or burn. And while aroma and release can vary a lot from charwoman to woman, whatever vaginal olfactory property or sum of dismissal that is normal for you depending on where you are in your bicycle should n’t suddenly change in a major way.
But if you do develop a crazy-persistent labium itch, for example, or your discharge beginning to smell funky, it ‘s time to investigate. These and other signs are your vagina ‘s way of saying that something is off. It ‘s constantly wise to see your ob-gyn for an official diagnosis. In the interim, use our symptom decoder to find out what your vagina is trying to tell you.
Contents
If your vagina itches…
An casual fork itch is one thing—you ‘ve sweat a set at the gymnasium, or you ended up with razor sunburn after shaving. But a chronically itchy vagina or vulva is a sign that something is not veracious. While the recommend to scratch may simply be triggered by an allergic reaction to soap or body wash, it can besides be a tip-off to conditions like bacterial vaginosis ( which happens when the normal bacteria in the vagina get out of counterweight ), a yeast infection, or the sexually transmitted infection ( STI ) trichomoniasis. To find out which of these infections could be behind your rub and then get the correct meds to treat it, you ‘ll need some elementary tests. That means seeing your doctor, says Michael Cackovic, MD, ob-gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “ Although most women self-treat with over-the-counter medicine, I believe they should see their doctor of the church to find out exactly what is causing their symptoms, ” he tells Health. Treating yourself for the wrong consequence can make symptom worse.
If your vagina smells funky…
Depending on the meter of the calendar month, your choice of clothes, and how hard you sweat, your vaginal olfactory property can be anywhere from mild to pungent. But it should never smell dirty or bad, so any switch along these lines is worth paying attention to. An unpleasant odorize “ could be due to something deoxyadenosine monophosphate simple as changing your hygiene regimen or diet, ” says Dr. Cackovic. “ Or it may be something more complicate, like an infection. ”
Infections like bacterial vaginosis and STIs like trichomoniasis—yep, these two again—are often the culprits behind olfactory property issues. But do n’t discount something a simple as forgetting to take out a tampon, which causes bacteria to build up and produce a fetid malodor .
If your period is irregular…
Weight passing. excessive drill. Crazy stress. countless things can throw off your cycle and make your periods longer, shorter, or wholly MIA. If you can legitimately rule these factors out, however, consider the possibility of polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ), a not-well-understood stipulate linked to a hormone asymmetry. “ Women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, ” Daniel Breitkopf, MD, chair of the division gynecology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, tells Health. Without regular ovulation, you wo n’t have a regular period—your flow could come every few months or be absent for several, then show up only to go into shroud again. other hallmarks of PCOS include acne and abnormal hair’s-breadth growth on the confront, back, or chest. And with your hormones out of knock, it can be harder to become pregnant, so birthrate issues are a sign deoxyadenosine monophosphate well. “ If symptoms are persisting for more than six to 12 months, then a charwoman should see her sophisticate to investigate the cause, ” recommends Dr. Breitkopf.
If your vaginal discharge changes…
If lone there was a way to know precisely how much casual release is normal and what it should look like. But the fact is, the amount, consistency, and color of dispatch varies wide among women. It can be whitish and thick to clear, watery, and slippery, and it besides changes depending on where you are in your cycle. But a marked change in the coloring material or come or smell needs to be addressed. The change could be related to hormonal shifts, pregnancy, your hydration flat, or an infection, says Dr. Cackovic. Anything added to the free like blood, which breaks down to a green discolor, needs to be looked at, he adds. A color exchange can besides be a sign of STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. “ If it persists beyond a day or two, I think a visit to your doctor of the church is in order. ”
If your labia are lumpy or bumpy…
Finding a lout or bump below the belt can be pretty chilling. But in most cases, it ‘s wholly benign. A little collocate under the skin of the vulva or vagina can simply be a obstruct gland caused by a buildup of fluid. These blockages, or cysts, normally dissolve and go away on their own. If a cyst is accompanied by pain or continues to grow, check in with your sophisticate, who can drain it if necessary.
Pimple-like bumps or a bumpy red rash on or near your labium may indicate clogged or infect hair follicles, a common side effect of plane, waxing, or wearing sweaty exercise leggings for hours on end. They could besides be signs of an allergic reaction, possibly to a new laundry detergent or body wash. Wait a few weeks to see if the bumps clear on their own, and if not, your sophisticate should take a count. To get our top sexual health stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Health Hookup newsletter