EverythingDads & Husbands (and Women) Must Know About:
FeminineHygiene, Gynecology,Menstruation,VulvovaginalHealth &Safer, Healthier Environmentally-Friendly FeminineHygiene Products
This Site ofParticular Interest For
Dads Who Are
"Raising Girls Without Women"
Inipads™
Safer, Healthier, Environmentally-Friendly
Feminine Hygiene Products, Information, Education and Resources
www.Inipads.com
Femgyn Health's Inipads™ are like a pantyliner - but NOT a pantyliner..... |
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Our"Green" Inipads™ are Helping the
"Green Menstruation" Revolution!
What is "Green Menstruation"?
GreenMenstruation - is "choosing to be personally responsible for yourmenstruation and menstrual fluids, as well as your choices in feminine hygieneproducts, all of which can have significant and long-term (negative)consequences on 'everyone's health' and 'everyone's environment.'"
Moreand more people are becoming aware of the damage and harm their personalconsumer choices have on the environment, and their personal health. Thishas now reached the feminine hygiene markets with new choices for women who cannow "go green" with their monthly menstruation flows. The net resultis that with these greater choices and ability to be green with theirmenstruation, more andmore women are, in fact, choosing "GreenMenstruation" optionsand feminine hygiene products.
Recenttrends are emerging that indicate there is a growing backlash against productsthat have negative and long-lasting effects on the environment, and thisincludes used and discarded Feminine Hygiene products that may take hundreds ofyears to decompose in a landfill.
Andwhen just one woman can use as many as 12,000 pads, tampons, and pantilinersover the course of her menstruating life, that adds up to a considerable burdenon our landfills and the environment. Especially when these feminine hygieneproducts are made from synthetic materials as opposed to materials such asorganically grown cotton.
Thereare increasingly greater amounts of Green Menstruationproducts such as:
* Natural Sea Sponge Tampons
Natural Sea Sponge tampons are made from "sea sponges" that naturally grow in theoceans and can be cultivated and harvested like any "land crop." After the sea sponge reaches harvest-size, they are then harvested and are thencleaned, disinfected, trimmed and re-shaped to "vagina-size."
SeaSponge Tampons are worn inside the vagina just like a tampon duringmenstruation, and they absorb the menstrual flow just like a tampon. Unlike a tampon, a natural sea sponge tampon can be reused over and over again -of course, you will want to disinfect each Sea Sponge Tampon before re-insertinginto the vagina!
Sea Sponge Tampons are similar to regular tampons in that they arecomfortable to wear, they work like a tampon, and have the added benefit thatthey will not dry out your vagina like a typical tampon will toward the end ofyour period.
Afteryou receive your new Sea Sponge Tampons, you will want to see how they feelinside your vagina before your next period. If the Sea Sponge Tampon feelstoo big, you can use scissors to cut or trim away some of the Sea Sponge Tamponto make it a more comfortable fit that best conforms to your own vagina.
* Menstrual Cups
MenstrualCups are small cups that are worn inside the vagina that "catch" themenstrual fluids during menstruation. There are several brands ofMenstrual Cups that are made from various materials.
Insteadof changing a tampon every several hours, women using Menstrual Cups simplyremoves the menstrual cup from their vagina by the tip, and pull it out. The best time to do this is when going to the bathroom and sitting on the toiletwhere she can simply empty the menstrual fluids collected in her menstrual cup,right into the toilet. She may have a spare menstrual cup in her purse,or, she can simply place some toilet paper in her panties - walk over to thesink, and wash out the menstrual cup, and return to the stall, replacing thetoilet paper by re-inserting the clean menstrual cup back into thevagina.
MenstrualCups can last up to 10 years or longer. They come in 2 sizes - beforevaginal childbirth size - and after vaginal childbirth size.
* Organic Cotton Tampons, Menstrual Pads and Pantiliners
Ifyou're going to use a feminine hygiene product that is worn inside your vagina,or next to your vulva, shouldn't it be made from a source that is as natural asit can possibly be, and made from materials that were grown without the use ofpesticides, herbicides and other poisons?!? Especially since your used anddiscarded feminine hygiene products may spend several hundred years decomposingin a landfill!
Ourrecommendations - if you are going to use a feminine hygiene product that isgoing to outlast you by several hundred years, is to choose feminine hygieneproducts that are made from certified, organically grown cotton - which is bestfor you and everyone else's environment!
Yes,there are now several feminine hygiene products, including organiccotton tampons, pads and pantiliners, that are now made from certified,organically-grown cotton!
Formore information about Green Menstruation,clickhere.
Whendo girls become young ladies, i.e. start to menstruate?
Manypeople recognize the transition of a little girl into a young lady when she hasher first period. "Menarche" is a young lady's firstmenstruation, or the date she has her first menstrual period, and when she begins menstruating.
A young lady's first period or menarche usually begins between the ages of 9 and 14,although sometimes as early as 8 and as late as 16. Her first period is also asign that pubertyhas begun. Formore information about your daughter's puberty, see our article; Puberty: When Your DaughterBecomes a Young Woman.
Special note to Dad's: Your daughter needs your love and supportnow more than ever. Be involved!! Menstruation and growing up is a normal partof YOUR daughter's life and not something to shy away from. Talk with your daughter about these topics, let her know that you know what shewill be experiencing and to feel free to ask you any questions she may have, andthat if you don't know the answer(s), that you will find out for her. Don't letyour daughter get the answers to her questions from her girlfriends, or otherunreliable sources. When she gets her first period, and sees blood comingfrom her vagina, she may be very frightened. Some girls, who were not preparedby her mother or father for their first period, absolutely thought they weredying. They were scared and afraid. Prepare your daughter, prepare yourself, andhave the talk with her!
And when she has her first period, celebrate the day andmake a big deal of it... take her out on a special daughter - daddy"date" to her favorite restaurant, buy her flowers, take hershopping.... let her know that you are thrilled about her becominga young lady!!
Whenwill a woman's periods/monthly menstruation stop?
Womennormally menstruate until they are 45 to 55 years old, when menopause begins.Menopause is when a female stops menstruation. An operation called ahysterectomy, which removes some or all of the female reproductive organs, alsostops menstruation.
Whathappens during menstruation?
Girlshave thousands of tiny eggs in their ovaries. Each month, or approximately every21 - 42 days, on average, one of the eggs leaves an ovary and travels through afallopian tube. When the egg leaves the ovary, this is called ovulation.Normally, the ovaries alternate each month, releasing an egg from the left ovaryone month and then releasing an egg from the right ovary the next month.
Asthe egg travels in the fallopian tube, a soft spongy lining forms in the uterus.This lining is mostly made of tiny blood vessels and is called the endometrium.The lining gives nourishment in case an egg and sperm meet to form an embryo, orbaby, that begins to grow in the uterus.
Ifthe egg is not joined by a sperm, the endometrium or lining of the uterus is notneeded. It flows out of the vagina. This bleeding is called a period. This wholecycle is called menstruation.
Menstruation is just one part of the menstrual cycle, in which awoman's body prepares for pregnancy each month. A cycle is counted from thefirst day of one period to the first day of the next. An average cycle is 28days, but anywhere from 23 to 35 days is normal.
Estrogen and progesterone levels are very low at the beginning ofthe cycle. During menstruation, levels of estrogen, made by the ovaries, startto rise and make the lining of the uterus grow and thicken. In the meantime, anegg (ovum) in one of the ovaries starts to mature. It is encased in a sac calledthe Graafian follicle, which continues to produce estrogen as the egg grows.
At about day 14 of a typical 28-day cycle, the sac bursts and theegg leaves the ovary, traveling through one of the fallopian tubes to theuterus. The release of the egg from the ovary is called ovulation. Some womenknow when they're ovulating, because at mid-cycle they have some pain--typicallya dull ache on either side of the lower abdomen lasting a few hours. The medicalword for this is mittelschmerz, from the German, meaning middle pain. Some womenalso have very light bleeding, or spotting, during ovulation.
After the egg is expelled, the sac--now called a corpus luteum--remainsin the ovary, where it starts producing mainly progesterone. The rising levelsof both estrogen and progesterone help build up the uterine lining to preparefor pregnancy.
The few days before, during and after ovulation are a woman's"fertile period"-the time when she can become pregnant. Because the length of menstrual cycles varies from one person to another,many woman ovulate earlier or later than day 14. It's even possible for a woman to ovulate while she still has her periodif that month's cycle is very short. Oftentimes, stress can play a role in thisoccurring.
If a woman has sex with a man during this time and conceptionoccurs (his sperm fertilizes the egg), she becomes pregnant.
The fertilized egg attaches to the uterus, and the corpus luteummakes all the progesterone needed to keep it implanted and growing until aplacenta (an organ connecting the fetus to the mother) develops. The placentathen makes hormones and provides nourishment from the mother to the baby.
If an egg is not fertilized that month and the woman doesn't getpregnant, the corpus luteum stops making hormones and gets reabsorbed in theovary. Hormone levels drop again, the lining of the uterus breaks down,menstruation begins, and the cycle repeats.
In the illustration below, an egg has left an ovary afterovulation and is on its way through a fallopian tube to the uterus.
Most menstrual periods last from three to five days, but anywherefrom two to seven days is normal. The amount of blood flow varies, too, but formost women, bleeding starts out light at first, followed by heavier flow for aday or two and then another light day or two. Sanitary pads or tampons, whichare made of cotton or another absorbent material, are worn to absorb the bloodflow.
Sanitary pads are placed inside the panties; tampons are insertedinto the vagina.
The amount of bleeding varies from woman to woman becauseeverybody's body has a different way of building up the lining of the uterus. A lighter flow or heavier flow doesn't mean you can't get pregnant as easily oryou're never going to get pregnant, or that your periods will always stay thesame way. But if you're bleeding excessively-soaking one or more tampons or padsan hour-you should see a doctor to see if there's a problem."
Teenagers often are concerned if they expel blood clots duringtheir periods. This is very normal and not dangerous. The menstrual clots areclumps of pooled blood in the vagina. Sometimes, instead of flowing freely,blood drains from the uterus and stays in the vagina until there's a change inposition--say, from sitting to standing.
Youngwomen experiencing their first periods often wonder, "will my periods everbecome “regular?”
Whena girl starts to menstruate, her period may not come on a regular schedule forseveral years. Her periods may come three weeks apart, or even months apart.
Whyyour wife and daughter(s) need to keep track of their periods.
Agirl should keep a record so she'll know if her period is late. A late periodmay be sign of pregnancy or one or medical problems that you should immediatelyinform/visit your doctor. Also, your doctor can provide you with better care ifhe/she knows about your periods.
Howdoes my wife and daughter(s) keep track of their periods?
Thefirst day of your period is called Day 1.
Theperiod or bleeding usually lasts 3 to 5 days but 7 days is not uncommon.
Ovulation(when the egg is released) happens 12 to 16 days before your next period starts.Ovulation, and the days before and after, is the time when you are most likelyto get pregnant.
Ifthe female does not get pregnant, her period comes and the whole cycle beginsagain, with Day 1 starting over again when the next period starts. Thewhole cycle usually takes 21 to 36 days, but even 42 days is not unusual for acycle.
Whatabout menstrual cramps?
Crampsare a common complaint. More than half of menstruating women have cramp-like pain during their periods.The medical term for menstrual pain is dysmenorrhea. Cramps are usually felt inthe pelvic area and lower abdomen, but can radiate to the lower back or down thelegs.
Many girls have cramps severe enough to keep them home fromschool. In fact, according to Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology,dysmenorrhea is the most frequent cause of absenteeism from school among youngerwomen. Women seem to go through phases when cramps are severe, then get betterfor several years, and then maybe worsen again. Most women find they have lessmenstrual pain after having children.
Cramps are like labor pains. Just as the uterus contracts to openup the cervix (neck of the uterus) and push out a baby, it contracts to expelmenstrual blood. Often, after several years of menstruating or after childbirth,the cervical opening enlarges. The uterus doesn't have to contract as much todischarge the menstrual flow, so there is less cramping.
Menstrual pain may also come from the bleeding process itself.When the uterine lining separates from the wall, it releases chemicals calledprostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause blood vessels to narrow, impeding thesupply of oxygen to the uterus. Just as the pain of a heart attack comes frominsufficient blood to the muscles of the heart, too little blood to the uterinemuscle might cause the pain of menstrual cramps.
Menstrual pain can have other causes, although these are rareamong teenagers. They include tumors, fallopian tube infection, andendometriosis, a condition in which fragments of the lining of the uterus becomeembedded elsewhere in the body
Crampsare the actual uterus' contractions. The uterus, which is like a pear-shapedmuscle, helps get rid of the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, sinceno baby will be growing inside. These contractions, that sometimes feellike cramps, are the body's way of shedding, or getting rid the lining of theuterus, through the vagina, and out of the body, as the lining is no longerneeded that cycle.
Whatabout cramps?
Some girlshave cramps during their periods. For most they are mild and can be helped byexercise, a heating pad or aspirin. If there is a lot of pain, very long a heavyperiods. or very irregular periods or very irregular periods you should get acheckup.
Whatcan I do to help with cramps?
Crampsare usually mild. They can be helped by exercise, warm bath, use of a heatingpad or pain relievers such as aspirin.
If there is a lot of pain, long or "heavy" periods (heavy meaning morebleeding than normal), which means saturating a tampon or pad in less than 2-3hours, or if you have irregular periods, you should inform your parents and askthem to take you to your doctor for a checkup.
CanI take a bath or shower during my period? What about exercising?
Menstruationis a very normal part of every girl's life. During your period, you can doeverything you normally do, including daily baths or showers, exercising,dancing and playing sports are all fine. In fact, you will feel better bycontinuing your normal routine, and find that warm baths are a great way to helpwith any cramping you may have.
ShouldI choose sanitary napkins or tampons for my feminine hygiene choice?
Femininehygiene products come in all sorts of types, sizes, shapes, absorbencies, smells(vulva and vaginal “deodorant” protection – which we recommend NOT using)and materials.
Sanitarynapkins or pads, absorb the blood from your period on the outside of yourvagina. Most sanitary napkins are made with adhesive strips that yousimply peel off the backing and then they will stick or adhere to your pantiesor pantyhose.
CanI still take a bath during my period, or should I take showers instead?
Menstruationis a very normal part of every girl's life. When you get your period, you cancontinue doing everything you normally do. This includes continuing to takebaths or showers. However, some girls may prefer to take showers during the daysof their period that bleeding is heavier.
Whatare sanitary napkins and how do they work?
Sanitarynapkins come in different shapes, styles, absorbencies, deodorant,non-deodorant, as well as thin pantiliners for light days and pads, for heavydays of menstrual bleeding. All sanitary napkins, pads and pantiliners are madewith removable strips of paper that reveal adhesive tape that is made to stickto your panties. Other pads and pantiliners have wrap-around"wings" that wrap under your panties to keep it from moving or"bunching."
Some youngladies don't like the feeling of sitting on a pad and may choose a tampon andpantiliner on their heavy days.
Whatare tampons and how do I use them?
Like padsand pantiliners, tampons come in many different brands, sizes, styles,absorbencies and deodorant, perfumed and non-deodorant choices. Also like padsand pantiliners, tampons absorb the menstrual blood, except tampons absorb themenstrual blood inside of the vagina, instead of on the outside. Tamponsabsorb the blood from your period like a pad or sanitary napkin, but theydo so by placing the tampon inside your vagina. Tampons can be usedwhether or not a girl has had intercourse and tampons cannot get lost insideyour body.
Tamponscome in different sizes and thicknesses. They come in applicator andnon-applicator styles. There are "slim" or "slender"tampons for young ladies who have never had intercourse, or given birth viavaginal delivery. Tampons can be used whether or not a girl has hadintercourse. Tampons cannot get lost inside a girl's body. Tampons areshaped so that they can be easily inserted into your vagina and absorb the menstrualblood before the blood comes out onto the pad the monthly period.
Many womenprefer to use a tampon to avoid any possible smells that are associated withmenstruation, as the menstrual blood that is absorbed by pads and pantiliners,are exposed to the air, and not changing a pad or pantiliner frequently enough,may produce a menstrual smell that some find objectionable.
TamponInsertion: How do I Insert a Tampon?
Inserting atampon the first time takes a little practice. It gets easier with each newperiod. You may want to go to the bathroom or close your bedroom door asyou will want some privacy. To insert a tampon, remove your panties,remove the wrapper of the tampon, and get into a comfortable position. Using amirror may help you find your vagina, and insert the tampon the first few times.The best positions are those that help expand the vaginal walls inside yourvagina, to help ease the tampon into place. Some women like a squattingposition, others are comfortable sitting on the toilet. In any case, you willwant to spread your legs apart, and then using one hand, spread the labia minora,so that you can see or feel the entrance to your vagina. Keeping your legsapart, while keeping your labia minora separated, slowly insert the tampontoward the small of your back. You may need to use a little vaginal lubricantspread on the outside of the tampon for easier insertion. Insert the tamponuntil the ridges of the tampon applicator come in contact with the entrance toyour vagina. Then, slowly insert or press down on the plunger, that pushes thetampon into the correct position inside your vagina. Once a tampon is properlyinserted, you shouldn't be able to feel it. Don't worry that the tamponcan "fall out" because the walls of your vagina hold it inplace. If you can feel the tampon,you are using the wrong size tampon, or may not have inserted the tampon farenough into your vagina. After pushing down on the plunger, and inserting thetampon, remove and discard the applicator, BUT NOT IN THE TOILET, THE TOILET MAYEASILY STOP UP AND THEN FLOOD THE BATHROOM AND HOUSE! Before pullingyour panties back up, make surethe string on the end of the tampon remains outside of your vagina, as this ishow you remove the tampon, by pulling the tampon string when it's time to changeyour tampon.
Urinatingwith a tampon in your vagina is really simple and easy. To urinate, simplygo to the bathroom as you normally would, but before you start urinating, move the tampon string toone side of your vulva so that you don't get urine on the tampon removalstring. Going to the restroom is also a great time to see if your tamponneeds to be changed. One way of determining whether your tampon needs to bechanged is by tugging slightly on the string. If your tampon seems to not wantto come out, it's probably not time to change your tampon, as it hasn't absorbedenough menstrual fluid, and is more dry, than more wet. If, however, yourtampon seems to slide easily, this is an indicator that your tampon issaturated, or has absorbed as much blood as it can hold. Another indicator thatit's time to change your tampon is that your vagina is leaking menstrual bloodonto your panties.
Removingyour tampon is also very easy. When you believe your tampon has absorbed as muchmenstrual blood as it can hold, it's time to change your tampon. Simply pull onthe string of the tampon in your vagina. This will remove the saturatedtampon. Then discard the used tampon in the trash - NOT IN THE TOILET! Andinsert a new tampon.
NEVER SLEEPOVERNIGHT WITH A TAMPON IN YOUR VAGINA AS THIS MAY CAUSE TOXIC SHOCKSYNDROME.
Mosttampons come with a plastic or cardboard applicator to make it easier to putthem in. Only the tampon remains inside the body.
For womenwho have had a vaginal birth, they wouldn't use the slender tampons becausetheir vaginas have been enlarged due to vaginal childbirth. If they diduse a slender tampon during their period, the slender tampon would not absorball of the menstrual blood, and she would have leakage of menstrual blood fromher vagina.
Adult womenwho have delivered vaginally, will choose the wider, thicker tampons that arelarger than the slender tampons, due to the enlargement of their vaginas.
Howoften should tampons, pantiliners, pads or alternative feminine hygiene productbe changed?
Pads,pantiliners, tampons or other alternative feminine hygiene productsshould be changed often enough so that there is no unpleasant odor or yourclothes do not get stained as the feminine hygiene product cannot hold anyadditional menstrual blood. Changing tampons, pads, pantiliners, often can help preventinfections. During the heaviest days of your period, you may need to change themevery 3-4 hours.
Dependingon how heavy or light your menstrual flow is - which varies during each day ofyour period, from light bleeding, to heavy, almost “gushing” bleeding, backto light bleeding again, heavy – will determine the type(s) of femininehygiene product you may use. Somewomen start out by using a pantyliner only. While the menstrual flow increases,they may switch to a pad, and many women find they need to use a pad and atampon simultaneously for the best feminine hygiene results.
Itis very common for women to use a pad as "back-up" to a tampon, as atampon will leak if it is not changed when it is saturated.
Mosttampons come with a plastic or cardboard applicator to make it easier to putthem inside your vagina. Only the tampon remains inside the body, theapplicator, if you use this type, is dis-carded in the trash can after youinsert it.
NEVER FLUSH A TAMPON DOWN THE TOILET AS THIS
IMPORTANT! NEVER LEAVE ATAMPON IN YOUR VAGINA FOR MORE
IMPORTANT!NEVER USE OR APPLY TALCUM POWDER
Changingtampons and napkins often can help prevent infections.
Whatis Toxic ShockSyndrome?
Toxicshock syndrome is a rare infection that can happen during a woman's period. Thesymptoms include a sudden fever of over 101 degrees or more, diarrhea (theruns), vomiting (throwing up), muscle aches and a sunburn-like rash. If you havethese symptoms during you period, see a doctor right away.
Tohelp prevent toxic shock syndrome, you should follow these guidelines:
1. Wash your hands before unwrapping and placing a new tampon in your vagina.
2. Never use super-absorbent or deodorant tampons.
3. Change your tampon at least every 4-6 hours (read the tampon manufacturersinformation inside the box).
4. Do not use tampons all the time and switch to a pad for part of each day.
5. Do not use a birth control sponge or diaphragm during your period. During yourperiod it is preferable to use other methods such as condoms and/or foam.
Whatis Premenstrual Syndrome?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms occur in the week or two weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). The symptoms usually go away after your period starts. PMS may interfere with your normal activities at home, school, or work. Menopause, when monthly periods stop, brings an end to PMS.
Formore information on Premenstrual Syndrome, see our article at:
www.femininehygiene.com/premenstrual_syndrome.htm
Whatis "Natural Female Enhancement"
"NaturalFemale Enhancement" deals with the embarrassing problems a woman mayhave that includes a loose vagina and vaginal odors and how a husband can helpaddress these problems they may be experiencing.
Is YourDaughter Suffering from Depression?
Read More About the Links Between Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle, andDepression Here.
Depression Help
How To Overcome Depression
The Importance of ProperFeminine Hygiene
and Vulva Care
Importanceof proper feminine hygiene and vulva care
Baby girlsare born with special glands that are located on the inner surfaces of theclitoral hood. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum thatlubricates the glans of the clitoris. The glans of the clitoris is the end orthe tip of the clitoris that is sometimes exposed or can be exposed when youretract the clitoral "hood." The clitoral hood is that portionof the vulva where the labia minora come together above the vagina and urethraand looks like an inverted "v" ^ . The clitoral hoodprotects the clitoris and in particular, the glans of the clitoris which is verysensitive.
The sebum that comes from the glands that surround the clitoris produces a shinyappearance on the glans of the clitoris. When the sebum or oily substances arenot regulary cleaned or bathed away, it accumulates, and then it is calledsmegma. Smegma has a white cheesy appearance, that becomes sticky andbegins to adhere to the skin surrounding the vulva with greater, the longer itis not cleaned or washed away.
Without proper care and hygiene, the smegma will collect under the hood thatcovers the clitoris and the glans of the clitoris, which can result in pain,irritation and/or inability to experience orgasm. When the smegma is notproperly cleansed from the vulva, and in particular, the areas surrounding andunder the clitoral hood, the clitoral hood will adhere to the glans of theclitoris, which is referred to as a "clitoral adhesion." When the clitoral hood adheres to the clitoris, either partially or entirely,this prevents the hood from properly protecting and caressing the glans, makingorgasm difficult or impossible.
It is very important for the glans of the clitoris to have adequate lubrication. This permits the the clitoral hood to slide over the glans of the clitoriseasily and without undue sensitivity or discomfort. The clitoris, andespecially the glans of the clitoris, is usually most sensitive to frictionalstimulation, versus direct pressure. Womens masturbation methods almost alwaysinvolve sliding the clitoral hood in various back and forth or circular motionsacross and over the glans of the clitoris. Without proper lubrication fromthe glands next to the clitoris, pain will result in the stimulation of theclitoris and when there is movement of the clitoral hood.
Importanceof washing and cleaning the vulva
The smegmaaccumulations of the vulva, specifically in the area of the clitoris, needs tobe cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise, the smegma can accumulate anddry out, causing the smegma to harden beneath the clitoral hood, which causesresulting irritation leading to significant pain. This can result in painduring masturbation, vaginal intercourse, and perhaps when walking, or wearingtight pants. In addition, using sanitary napkins may be painful.
Thisaccumulation of smegma also occurs in infants and preadolescent girls. Parentsshould check their daughter's vulva for these accumulations of smegma at everydiaper change and bath by gently separating the vulva and looking for thecheesy-white accumulations and gently wiping/cleaning away. Always be sureto wipe her from the top of the vulva toward the bottom or rectum to preventgerms and bacteria from entering her vagina. In mild cases the driedsmegma may only slightly irritate the clitoris, resulting in your daughter'sneed to rub or scratch it. This can result in infants and young girlsmasturbating frequently. The resulting redness, irritation, caused by thefrequent masturbation may conceal the primary problem. Adult women may also bedistracted by this mild irritation, feeling a need to masturbate or engage insex frequently. This sensation should not be confused with that of having anerect clitoris. When the irritation is severe though, while the desire to touchthe area is there, the inflammation makes any contact extremely painful. Soaccumulated smegma can either increase the desire for sexual contact, or make itimpossible.
Proper bathing and care of the vulva prevents clitoral adhesions
Preventing clitoral hood adhesions means that you need to retract the clitoralhood each time you bathe or shower, and wash out the secretions from this area.Most women need to be aware that simply wiping their vulva with a washcloth ortheir hand may not be enough to keep it clean. The spaces between thelabia minora, labia majora and the area under the clitoral hood can retain thesebum from the glands around the clitoris, as well as other accumulations suchas sweat, vaginal lubrication, toilet paper, menstrual fluid, urine, bacteriaand feminine hygiene products. The normal body fluids don't expose a woman toany harm as long as they are removed before bacteria that are normally presentare able to reproduce, resulting in infection and odor.
Special "feminine" soaps and washes are not necessary to clean yourvulva. All one needs to use to wash and clean the vulva is plain water. In fact,the use of soap and feminine hygiene products can irritate the delicate genitaltissues. And douching is rarely, if ever needed, to cleanse your vagina.
Douches, vaginal deodorants or vulva deodorants, and chemical additives poseunnecessary risks when applied to the vulva and placed inside the vagina. These products have beenlinked to increased cases of vulvovaginitis andvaginal yeast infections.
Clitoral adhesions
Clitoral adhesions or labial adhesions limits or prevents the clitoral hood toslide across the glans of the clitoris. If you have adhesions, when youpull on your clitoral hood, the glans of the clitoris moves with it instead ofthe hood retracting by itself, i.e., the glans of the clitoris moves with yourpulling the clitoral hood. This can be very painful.
You may notbe able to pull the hood back far enough to expose the entire glans if you haveclitoral adhesions. This could make cleaning the clitoral area difficultif not impossible.
Minorclitoral adhesions may be remedied by without the need for a doctor'sintervention. The clitoral adhesions may be released through pressure on theclitoral hood. Things like bathing, masturbation, bicycle riding, and horsebackriding. If you do not properly wash your vulva in a manner that placesupward traction on the clitoral hood to expose the glans and areas under the clitoral hood, you may not separate anyclitoral adhesions that form, or preventthe formation of adhesions in the future.
If you believe you have clitoral adhesions or labial adhesions, you may be able toeliminate them by repeatedly pulling on your clitoral hood, in 360 degreedirections (up, down, left, right, rotating in circles as well), or by taking ahot bath.
Women whoexperience pain can ask their partner or doctor to examine their vulva, and by separating the labia, attempt to locate the source of the pain or by using amirror and seeking the source of the pain themselves. If you experience aclitoral adhesion, either you or your partner can moisten a q-tip with baby oilor vitamin E to clean and loosen the secretions. Remember, the clitoral hoodneeds to "glide" easily over the clitoris. To lubricate the clitoralhood and loosen the secretions underneath, you or your partner may want tomassage the area with a topical cream or baby oil. This may require youand/or your partner to do this for several days or for several weeks. Dueto the sensitive nature of the clitoris and clitoral glans, it may be painfulduring the cleaning or massage due to the adhesions.
In the eventyou are unable to treat the symptoms of clitoral adhesions, and you or yourpartner cannot determine the reason for the pain, a doctor may need to beconsulted. If your clitoral hood extends well past the glans, or if yourclitoral hood is thick or closed, the adhesions may be totally concealed, withno visible indications. You should be very explicit in your office visit withthe physician regarding your pain and show him the exact location of the anypain, even retracting your clitoral hood, if necessary for his viewing.
The clitoral adhesions caused by the accumulated smegma is caused by the twotissues surfaces growing together, due to failure to wash away theseaccumulations. As a result, the body tries to heal and eliminate the source ofthe irritation, thus causing the tissues to fuse as adhesions. These clitoral adhesions, or labial adhesions in the event the labia minora fuse together, mayalso form as a result of the hood laying in constant contact with the glans ofthe clitoris.
Additionally, either you or your husband may want to massage baby oil, vitaminE, or a petroleum based lubricant or antibacterial ointment up under yourclitoral hood and on the glans of the clitoris.
| More About Clitoral Adhesions | |||||||
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The clitoris has a "clitoral hood" or foreskin that produces a oily, lubricating fluid called sebum that allows the hood or foreskin of the clitoris to move back and forth over the smooth and healthy glans, or the tip of the clitoris. When the vulva is not properly cleaned, wherein the oily, lubricating fluid (sebum) is not washed away regularly, it will accumulate and turn into a cheese-like substance called smegma. This smegma can dry out and irritate and "adhere" to the clitoris. The irritation can be relatively mild or lead to a persistent inflammation and cause severe pain. Over time, the accumulation and build-up of smegma under the clitoral hood, causes the clitoris' foreskin or hood to adhere to the glans of the clitoris and to the body of the clitoris well under the hood. Because of these clitoral adhesions, the foreskin has essentially become stuck, or glued to the clitoris, and can no longer be moved back and forth over the glans of the clitoris. This causes pain in young girls and makes sexual intercourse in adult women practically impossible, depending on the severity. Clitoral adhesions may also be responsible for female sexual arousal disorder and female orgasmic disorder in some adult women. Some adult women may not know they have clitoral adhesions and may explain why sex is painful and why they are not able to fully enjoy sexual intercourse with their husbands. |
Properwashing and cleaning of the vulva
Naturally,one of the best ways to keep from having clitoral adhesions is through properwashing of the vulva and to wash away the secretions before they turn intosmegma. Proper care of your vulva or your daughter’s vulva means to wash awaythese secretions at every bath or shower. When you wash your vulva, it isimportant for you to retract the clitoral hood and wash this area. Also, be sureto wash the inner and outer portions and folds of the labia minora.
Parents canteach their daughters how to properly wash their vulva and help prevent themfrom experiencing the pain of clitoral or labial adhesions. Parents need toeducate their young daughters about the various parts of their vulva so thatthey know they have more than "just a vagina," which they can't see,but a clitoris, clitoral hood, labia minora and labia majora, that they can see.
Propercleaning of your daughter's vulva includes the following;
1. Gently spread the inner and outer labia and wash between them.
2. Place upward traction on the clitoral hood (in the direction of herbellybutton) while washing the exposed surfaces.
3. The glans of the clitoris may not be exposed when you do this. If there areadhesions, don't forcibly try to remove them.
4. Do not use any soap or other harsh ointments while cleaning away the, sebum,secretions or smegma.
5. You may need to use a q-tip or cotton ball moistened with baby oil or vitaminE to help loosen any stubborn smegma collections. If doing this, use anotherq-tip or cotton ball that is moistened with water to remove the baby oil orvitamin E.
6. Make sure that you are very gentle and use only light pressure when cleaningyour daughter's vulva due to the sensitivity.
7. When your daughter is old enough to understand how to wash her vulva, mayalso be the right time to teach her the correct parts of her vulva, as well asexplaining that her vulva is "private," and that she should be the onethat cares for it. Also, when she is old enough, ask her permission to wash hervulva at bath-time, or ask her if she wants to wash her own vulva, followingyour directions to make sure that she removes the accumulated secretions orsmegma.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Talcum powder has been linked to numerous cancers, including vulva, vaginal,cervical, uterine and ovarian.NEVER USE TALCUM POWDER NEAR YOURDAUGHTER'S VULVA.
Instead of using talcum powder, you may want to consider the use of corn starch in this area, makingsure that the corn starch is used externally and never placed in or near hervagina.
Thedoctor says that our daughter has labialadhesions. What are labial adhesions?
Young girls, and even adult women may get “labialadhesions.” Labial adhesions are similar toclitoral adhesionsexcept the smegma adheres to thelabia minora (sometimes the labia majora) or the“lips” of the vulva surrounding the vagina — that has caused the labiaminora to fuse or become stuck together.This happens to about 5% to 10% percent of all young girls. Young girls and women with labia that are stuck or fused together shouldimmediately be seen by a pediatrician or gynecologist as the urine flow (andmenstrual flow in adult women) can become blocked and a serious infection orinfections are very likely to occur if she is not seen by a doctor.
What causes labialadhesions?
This probably happened because your daughter has little to no estrogen. Babygirls get a large dose of estrogen while they're still in the uterus. About one to two months after her birth, the maternal estrogen level drops off,and this hormonal change can affect many parts of a baby's body, including thelining of a girl's labia. Her labia may even stick together. This"adhesion" of her labia can continue or come and go throughoutchildhood, according to many pediatricians.
What can be done to treat labialadhesions?
First of all, parents should NOT try to pull or separate your daughter's labiaapart, since that might hurt. Unless the adhesion is causing any problems, it'sbest to leave it alone. The idea of your daughter having labial adhesionprobably worries you more than it bothers her. However, if the adhesionextends to cover the opening of the urethra and is trapping urine in the genitalarea, then you'll definitely want to see your child's doctor about treatment.Trapped urine can cause irritation and possibly infection. You'll know if yourdaughter's labial adhesionsare covering the urethral opening if you find lessurine in her diaper (for a young child) or she's having trouble peeing, or ifher genital area looks irritated, she's irritable and crying, and she has afever (due to infection).
Normally doctors prescribe a topical estrogen cream to treat the problem. Yourdoctor will tell you to apply this cream directly to the affected tissue, and inabout two weeks it should unseal the labia. You'll probably start by applyingthe cream two or three times a day, then two times a day, then just once a day.It's important to reduce the amount of estrogen cream you use gradually. If youjust stop the treatment suddenly, the labia will close up again.
Will our daughter always have labialadhesions?
Your daughter may continue to have clitoral adhesions or labial adhesionsoff and on throughout childhood, butthe labia tend to unstick when a girl approaches puberty and her body startsproducing higher levels of estrogen. Until then, though, there's no reason toworry about the adhesion(s) as long as they are not causing any problems. Many little girlsnever even know they have them.
DoYou Know Your Vagina's pH Levels?
The importance of proper vaginal pH and vaginal flora in maintaining a well-balanced vaginal ecosystem is well known and has been widelydescribed throughout the years.
The normal vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5.
When your vagina's pH is outside of the normal range, a number of vaginal healthproblems may occur - including; Bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and atrophic vaginitis- are often suspect when vaginal pH is higher than 4.5.
Are youor your wife/husband suffering from "Vaginal Relaxation"?
Did you know that about 70 - 80 million American women (and theirhusbands and partners) are suffering from “vaginalrelaxation”?
VaginalRelaxation, or a "loose vagina" markedly diminishes sexual pleasurefor him as well as for her. "VaginalRelaxation” is when the vagina looses its' tightness or ability to respondto sexual arousal - whether due to vaginal childbirth, age, or othervaginal trauma. The vagina has become relaxed, or loose, and now it has become aproblem for the woman, as well as her husband/partner.
Somewomen, as another symptom of VaginalRelaxation, have problems controlling theirurine in certain situations or notice changes in their bowel habits. Thesesymptoms of Vaginal Relaxation are typically related to one or more problemsthat occur as a result of vaginal childbirth, other vaginal trauma, aging or acombination of the above.
Thereis hope! Women, and theirhusbands/partners, no longer need to suffer from VaginalRelaxation. More and more doctors are treating women and couples suffering from VaginalRelaxation with treatments – sometimes including surgery – that willhelp them return to a life without the embarrassment, disappointments andheartache of the symptoms and discomforts associated with VaginalRelaxation.
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"What Every Dad andHusband Must Know about
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