How happy is your vagina? Here’s how you can tell

Tootsie, foof, front bum, whatever you call it we all have one.

Well, at least 50% of the world's population does. While all of us women have a lady garden it's amazing how little the general public seems to know about their bits. Is that smell weird? Why is it itchy? Is that discharge normal? Ladies, don't worry we've all been there. Here's our basic guide to tell if your who-ha is healthy and some of the main symptoms you should look out for.   Bacterial Vaginosis What is it: An imbalance in the normal bacteria in the vagina, resulting in an increased pH level. Causes:

• Douching or over-washing of the vagina
• Antibiotics
• Multiple sex partners
• Smoking

Symptoms:

• Unpleasant odour.
• Watery discharge.
• Greyish white discharge.
• Worsening of the above after sex or during your period.

Treatment: If you’ve used a Canestest self-test kit or if you’ve been diagnosed by your doctor and you know you have bacterial vaginosis (BV), you can use an internal gel to treat the symptoms of the infection. Some products such as Canesbalance BV Gel work by helping to regulate the pH balance of your vagina. BV in pregnancy: If you have BV during pregnancy it is best to contact your doctor as it can lead to complications such as:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Increased risk of miscarriage.
• Increased risk of premature labour.

    Thrush Thrush is a common fungal infection of the vulva and vagina that affects most women at some stage or another. What is it?: Thrush is caused by the yeast candida which normally lives in the vagina undetected. However, when the pH balance of your vagina is altered the level of yeast can increase causing a thrush infection. Cause: Internal factors:

• Emotional or physical stress.
• Pregnancy.
• Periods.
• Diabetes.

External factors:

• Perfumed soaps and bubble baths.
• Poor diet.
• Antibiotics.
• Wearing tight synthetic clothing.
• Sex.
• The pill.
• Chemotherapy.

Symptoms:

• An itchy vagina / vulva.
• Soreness around the entrance to your vagina.
• Slight swelling of your  labia.
• White discharge.

Treatment:

• Combi Treatment: An internal and external treatment. The cream provides soothing relief while the pessary treats the source of the infection.
• Internal Pessary: This is a tablet that is inserted into the vagina and clears the infection.
• Antifungal external creams: Soothes and cools itching fast. This shouldn’t be used alone as external creams merely treat the symptoms and do not treat the cause of the infection.
• Oral Pills: Tablets taken by the mouth which will treat the internal infection (only available with prescription).

    Cystitis What is it: Cystitis is an infection or inflammation of the bladder. It is most common in women who are sexually active, pregnant women or those who have just been through menopause. Cause: Dehydration, tight clothes, going to the toilet irregularly, highly scented toiletries, sexual activity, or health conditions such as bladder or kidney stones or diabetes. Symptoms: The main symptoms include pain when you pee and having the sensation of needing to use the bathroom even when you don't. Treatment:

• Use a low-sodium treatment remedy containing potassium citrate, which helps neutralise the acidity of urine.
• Drink half a pint of water straight away and every twenty minutes for three hours.
• Drink cranberry juice as it helps fight the bacteria that sometimes cause cystitis.

    Vaginal dryness What is it: Vaginal dryness is very common and is experienced by up to one in three women, particularly those who are going through menopause. Cause: Vaginal dryness is usually caused by a drop in the female sex hormone oestrogen. Other possible causes include:

• Using perfumed products in or around your vagina.
• Anti-depressants or other medication.
•  The pill.
• Breastfeeding.
• Hysterectomy.
• Chemotherapy.

Symptoms:

• Burning, soreness or pain inside the vagina or the lower vagina.
• Itching, burning or soreness around the entrance to the vagina.
• Pain during sex.
• Light bleeding during sex.
• Recurring urinary tract infections.
• Frequent need or urge to urinate.

Treatment: You can buy over the counter lubricants to help ease the problem but it is beneficial to visit your doctor to get expert advice. For more information visit intimatehealth.ie or contact your local GP.   This article is sponsored by Canestest and Canesbalance. Canestest is the first shelf test you can buy that helps women self-diagnose vaginal infections. Canesbalance is clinically proven to treat the symptoms of BV by restoring your PH.