Global Vagina Health

About Global Vagina Health Android App

You’re probably pretty familiar with cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, but there’s another cancer of the female reproductive organs that doesn’t get a lot of attention: vaginal cancer. Why haven't you heard about it? Well, vaginal cancer is pretty rare, especially in young women. According to the American Cancer Society, only about one out of every 1,100 women will develop it in her lifetime, and only 15 percent of cases happen in women under the age of 40. But it does still happen. About 4,810 new cases of vaginal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and an estimated 1,240 women will die of the disease.vaginal cancer isn't the same as cervical cancer. With cervical cancer, the cervix, a narrow structure that connects the uterus to the vagina contains cancerous cells, while, with vaginal cancer, those cells threaten the actual vaginal canal. However, the American Cancer Society points out that if a woman has cancer in both her vagina and cervix, it's usually referred to as cervical cancer. After all, everything's connected; cancerous cells can readily spread from the vagina to the cervix and vice versa.(Kick-start your new, healthy routine with Women's Health's 12-Week Total-Body Transformation!)Doctors aren’t totally sure what causes vaginal cancer, but it’s been linked with HPV and exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, says Jack Jacoub, M.D., a medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.So how can you reduce your risk of vaginal cancer—and if cancerous symptoms do strike, spot them ASAP? Here, ob-gyns and oncologists share everything you need to know about vaginal cancer.
-Learn about the safety and effectiveness of the vaginal ring, aka the Nuva ring.
-Learn about vaginal rejuvenation from plastic surgeon Robert J. Morin, M.D.
-Learn about the vaginal ring, aka the Nuva ring.
-Learn about the possible side effects of a birth control sponge.
-Learn about the possible side effects of the vaginal ring, aka the Nuva ring.
-Learn about the four main risks of vaginal plastic surgeries from plastic surgeon Robert J. Morin, M.D.
Many people feel paranoid about how they smell "down there" — you are not alone! The truth is, every person with a vagina has their own signature scent, and if you have a sexual partner, your partner probably doesn't mind it a bit. At the same time, if you're feeling a little insecure, then it won't hurt to make sure that you're covering all of the bases when you wash your vaginal area. You deserve to feel clean and confident.
Vaginal odor sounds off-putting, but every woman has their own particular, natural odor, often described as “musky”. It’s nothing to be ashamed or worried about. There are even some natural substances that can slightly alter it without concern, such as certain fruit, or during menstruation when it can become slightly metallic. But if the smell becomes unpleasant, this may be a sign that something is wrong. There are a few different possible causes of unpleasant vaginal odor, and one of the main, and most common, is bacterial vaginosis.

This is a must anyway, to avoid contamination from other sources. For example, always make sure to wipe from front to back on visiting the bathroom. When menstruating, make sure to change tampons and pads frequently. Dry around your vagina after washing, swimming and working out, and always change your underwear regularly – especially after exercise. Washing is extremely important before and after intercourse, as many foreign substances can be introduced.

Vaginas actually clean themselves naturally, so all you need to do is let it. Mostly, you just need clean water, and showers are better for this than baths. Although there are many times when you might need to clean that area, don’t do it too often, either, as you can wash away the positive bacteria that it needs. Keep to natural washing and allow your body to organically clean and balance itself.