3 Things Our Expert Gynecologist Wants You to Know About Vaginal Health

Vaginal hygiene means keeping the vagina as healthy and comfortable as possible—and your daily habits play a big part.

From the right way to wipe through products to avoid, Columbia Obstetrician/Gynecologist Shinelle Caldwell, DO, shares three things she wants women to remember about maintaining vaginal health.

How does bacteria spread?

The vagina, like the rectum and urethra, has its own bacterial environment. A healthy vagina maintains a balance of beneficial bacteria, like Lactobacillus, and protects against harmful bacteria like Candida, Gardnerella, and Trichomonas, which can cause infections. Transferring gut bacteria from the rectum to the vagina or urethra can produce infection, like a urinary tract infection (UTI) or vaginal infection (vaginitis).

Everyone's body has a different normal. In general, if you're noticing symptoms—such as itching, a negative odor, or general discomfort—something is probably off. Basically, if you’re more aware of your vagina than usual, it may be time to call your doctor.

What’s the right way to wipe?

Many patients ask about wiping, and the instruction is simple: Wipe with toilet paper from front to back after urinating or a bowel movement, then drop the tissue into the toilet. Wiping in this direction reduces the risk of bacteria entering the vagina or bladder from the rectum.

And remember to be gentle. Wiping too much, or using antibacterial wipes, may strip the vaginal environment of its normal good bacteria.

What are the best products to use—and not to use?

Vaginal hygiene products such as wipes and douches—even those marked “natural”—can knock out your body’s normal, good bacteria, disrupting your vagina’s healthy balance. People who use vaginal hygiene products tend to have more problems and come in to see a doctor or nurse more frequently than those who do not.

In general, for basic cleanliness, you never have to put anything inside your vagina to wash it. For wiping, plain, dry toilet paper is all you need. When bathing, you can use mild, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free soap with the fewest ingredients possible, outside the vagina only.

Shinelle Caldwell, DO, is an assistant professor of Ob/Gyn at Columbia.