Can I wash my vulva with soap?

The female vulva is a relatively private area, and the skin in this area is particularly delicate. You must pay attention to timely cleaning. When cleaning, do not use ordinary soap, because this type of soap contains some chemical substances, which will cause adverse stimulation to the delicate skin. You can choose baby bath soap with less irritation, or buy some professional private area washes for cleaning.

How to clean the female vulva?

1. Gently wash the vulva with warm water every night. If you must use soap, choose baby bath soap with less irritation.

2. Do not use sanitary pads at ordinary times to avoid increasing friction and irritation to the skin of the vulva, which will cause local accumulation of moisture and heat and cause vulvar inflammation.

3. During menstruation, wash the vulva frequently with warm water and change sanitary napkins frequently to prevent blood stains from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. It is best to heat the entire pack of sanitary napkins in a microwave for 1 to 2 minutes to disinfect and sterilize them.

4. Prepare your own special cleaning basin and towel. The cleaning basin should be cleaned before use, and the towel should be dried in the sun or in a ventilated place after use. Towels that are not exposed to sunlight for a long time are prone to breed bacteria and fungi.

5. After defecation, develop the habit of wiping from front to back with toilet paper and washing or flushing the anus with warm water. If it is not wiped clean, fecal stains will remain at the anus and contaminate the underwear. The intestinal bacteria contained in the feces stains will take the opportunity to enter the vagina and cause inflammation. Therefore, you should clean your vagina at least twice a day, once for routine cleaning at night and once after defecation.

The female vulva is composed of:

Female external genitalia refers to the exposed part of the female reproductive organs. Includes: mons pubis, vestibular bulbs, urethral orifice, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, Bartholin's glands, vaginal vestibule, vaginal orifice and hymen. Its upper boundary is the mons pubis, its lower boundary is the perineum, and its two sides are located on the inner sides of the thighs. More detailed information is as follows:

1. Mons pubis

It is the part of the vulva that raises in front of the pubic symphysis, and is composed of skin and a very thick layer of fat. Pubic hair begins to grow during puberty in the form of a triangle with a downward-pointing tip.

2. Vestibular bulb

It is a pair of spongy tissues, also known as the corpus cavernosum, which has erectile properties. Located on both sides of the vaginal opening. It is connected to the clitoral vein in front and the Bartholin's gland in the back, and its surface is covered by the bulbospongiosus muscle. Bleeding easily after injury.

3. Urethra

Between the lower edge of the pubic symphysis and the vaginal opening is an irregular oval hole through which urine flows out. There is a pair of glands on the posterior wall, called paraurethral glands, which open on the posterior wall of the urethra and are often where bacteria lurk.

4. Labia majora

It is a pair of oblong raised skin folds on both sides of the vulva, close to the inner side of the thighs. It is connected to the mons pubis in front and the perineum in the back; it stretches downward and backward from the mons pubis. The left and right labia majora in front unite to form the anterior commissure, and the two ends in the back join to form the posterior commissure. The posterior commissure is located in front of the anus, but is not as obvious as the anterior commissure.

There is pubic hair outside the labia majora. Subcutaneous tissue contains adipose tissue, elastic fibers and venous plexus, which are prone to hematoma after injury. The labia majora of unmarried women close naturally, covering the vaginal opening and urethral opening. The labia majora of multiparous women spread apart due to the impact of childbirth.

5. Labia minora

It is a pair of mucosal folds on the inner side of the labia majora, with a moist surface. The upper ends of the left and right sides of the labia minora are forked and connected to each other. The skin fold above is called the clitoral hood, and the skin fold below is called the clitoral frenulum. The clitoris is located in the middle of them. The lower ends of the labia minora meet at the bottom of the vaginal opening, called the frenulum. There are abundant nerves under the labia minora mucosa, so the sensitivity is keen.

6. Clitoris

Located at the top between the labia minora on both sides, it is a small oblong organ with a round head at the end and the inner end connected to a thin bundle of erectile tissue. Erectile tissue is a kind of spongy tissue with rich venous plexus and nerve endings, so it is sensitive and prone to bleeding after injury. A woman's clitoris is equivalent to the glans of a man's penis.