Intimate hygiene during menstruation: the right reflexes to adopt
La personal hygiene during her period is an important question! At this specific time in the cycle, our desire to “be clean” can be particularly strong. This is completely normal. Even more so if you experience very heavy periods. Be careful, however, not to wash too intensely.
What are the right actions to take? Perfumed soap or intimate gel? Washcloth or scented wipes? Shower or bath? Once or twice a day ? What are the good reflexes for a good intimate and feminine hygiene during his with medium flows.
Already, during our menstruation, should we change our toilet habits?
During menstruation,Health Insurance advises washing the perineum area twice a day. It is true that to avoid the development of bad bacteria, but also for personal comfort, it is necessary to wash rigorously during your period. Be careful, though. Certain actions should be avoided and others should be favored.
What are the right actions to apply for gentle and respectful, balanced and non-aggressive cleansing during menstruation?
- Do not use a washcloth, but only your previously washed hands.
- You should always clean from front to back, never the other way around!
- You should really avoid body shower gel and body wash gels, perfumed soaps, bubble bath gel and prefer a suitable soap, gentle, fragrance-free, with a clean composition and neutral pH. You can also, if you want, turn to a cleansing treatment with a gentle formula or composition in order to avoid any potential irritation of the mucous membranes (organic cleansing gel with aloe vera for example).
- Do not use cosmetic products such as perfumes, creams or intimate deodorants.
- Do not use scented wipes.
- Do not use scented toilet paper.
You will have understood that all products based on alcohol and perfume, which one would tend to use to have the feeling of properly cleaning the intimate area, should be avoided. Perfumes are strong and deteriorate the fragile balance of the vagina.
To remember : prefer organic care, preferably, with a clear and least transformed composition with ingredients natural. The intimate area does not need moisturizer or perfume. It cleans itself. Water is enough most of the time.
How to proceed ? Washing the intimate area step by step
1. Gentle washing of the vulva with a dedicated product (a intimate organic cleansing gel or a gentle organic cleansing treatment) or simply with water is recommended. Only the outside of the vulva should be washed. Douching is not recommended at all.
2. Then wash the inter-gluteal fold and the anus without returning to the vulva.
3. Rinse with water.
4. Dry gently with a clean, dry, personal towel without rubbing hard. And that's all !
Rigorous, but not aggressive, washing, why?
With such intimate hygiene, we avoid vaginal imbalance. The vaginal flora is a clever and complex balance of good bacteria which are essential to our vagina. These good bacteria are also very useful in avoiding germs.
A vulva that is washed too much (multiple times during the day), washed with soaps or unsuitable products is a weakened and damaged vulva. She will be more likely to develop infections, imbalances and dryness. A weakened intimate area can see bacteria develop more easily.
Good intimate hygiene helps avoid vaginitis, vaginal mycosis, cystitis, or even urinary tract infections.
Other tips for ensuring good intimate hygiene during periods
In order to feel good and live your period in the best possible way, here are some valuable tips.
Change menstrual products regularly
Both for your comfort and for your hygiene, it is recommended to change your menstrual protection regularly. If you wear a tampon or pad, depending on your menstrual flow, go to the bathroom to renew your protection. This prevents the development of bacteria, odors and maceration.
Little reminder :
- A You can wear a menstrual cup as tampon worn for four hours, six hours maximum. You can also change it sooner. Internal menstrual protection is changed regularly to avoid the development of TSS, Toxic Shock Syndrome.
- La disposable sanitary napkin change every 3 to 6 hours. Again it depends on the intensity of your menstrual flow. A woman with a copper IUD may need to change her clothes much more regularly (every two hours).
- La pair of period panties is the most practical. With it, zero mental load! It can be kept all day or all night depending on its absorption capacity and your menstrual flow. On the other hand, after having removed it, never forget to carefully rinse in order to eliminate residue as much as possible.
Prefer clean menstrual protection
Avoid perfumed hygienic protection and prefer long-lasting and healthy intimate solutions with a transparent composition. There menstrual cup made in France in medical silicone without BPA or latex or even certified organic cotton menstrual panties are excellent, effective alternatives that have proven themselves!
Louloucup, a French brand, offers several ranges of sustainable menstrual products and washable for all women. Transparency of compositions, origin of products, certified opinions, choose protections for your period routine that are good for your health and respectful of your privacy!
Avoid panty liners and prefer menstrual tanga
Le panty liner is very practical. It allows at the beginning and end of periods, but also throughout the cycle when we experience vaginal discharge consequences or mocking not to stain your underwear! This very thin napkin that we stick in our pants does us a lot of service. Be careful, though! This disposable protection prevents your intimate area from breathing well. By using a panty liner, you are at greater risk of developing dryness and irritation.
The solution ? If you are a regular user of panty liners, we recommend the menstrual thong ! Louloucup offers a collection of menstrual tangas and very thin menstrual panties for light flow and vaginal secretions. So you wear beautiful lingerie, you let your privacy breathe while being dry all day long.
Wear loose, cotton clothing every day
In order to avoid maceration of the intimate area, in order to leave the skin to breathe and wick away perspiration, but also for your comfort, avoid super skinny jeans during your period! It is important to wear wide and loose bottoms, preferably in a rather natural material that lets the skin breathe.
The same goes for wet swimsuits. Avoid keeping wet bikini bottoms with your cup or tampon on you. A humid environment is never good for your intimate area!