Due to the action of Gram-positive lactobacilli in the vagina, glycogen in vaginal epithelial cells produces lactic acid, making vaginal secretions weakly acidic. This inhibits the growth of other bacteria and keeps the vagina clean, a process known as "vaginal self-cleaning."
How effective is the vagina's self-cleaning function?
This depends on the glycogen content within the vaginal epithelial cells, which is regulated by the level of estrogen secreted by the ovaries. Higher estrogen levels result in higher glycogen content. If ovarian function is impaired, it can affect the glycogen content of the vaginal epithelial cells.
Early childhood: The ovaries do not secrete estrogen, the vaginal epithelium lacks glycogen, and the vagina's self-cleaning function is low, making it susceptible to infection during this period.
Youth (i.e., puberty) and adulthood (i.e., reproductive age): Women have vigorous ovarian function, abundant vaginal lactobacilli and vaginal epithelial cells with glycogen, and a strong vaginal self-cleaning function.
During pregnancy and the premenstrual period: The alkaline secretions in the cervical canal increase and flow into the vagina, making the vaginal secretions alkaline and weakening the vagina's self-cleaning function.
Postmenopausal women (i.e., elderly women): Ovarian function disappears, vaginal epithelial cells lack glycogen, vaginal lactobacilli decrease, other bacteria increase, vaginal secretions gradually change from acidic to alkaline, making them prone to infection, which may lead to inflammatory leukorrhea.
What's the most effective way to maintain vaginal "youthfulness" through exercise?
The traditional Chinese health exercise "Anal Contraction and Breathing" is an excellent way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. The method is as follows: Every morning and evening in a place with fresh air, take a deep breath and hold it. Simultaneously, contract your anus as if holding back urination or defecation. Repeat this more than 100 times. Once you get used to it, you can do this exercise anytime in your daily life, regardless of the number of repetitions. With consistent training, the tension of the pelvic floor muscles will greatly improve, and the muscles around the vagina will become fuller and stronger, thus curing vaginal laxity without medication.
Meanwhile, "interrupted urination" training, practiced abroad, can also improve the muscle tone around the vagina. The method is as follows: When urinating, practice interrupting the flow by holding back halfway through urination, pausing briefly, and then continuing to urinate. Repeat this process. After a period of training, the muscle tone around the vagina will improve, and the vagina can truly regain its "youthful" state.
