Ladies, be careful in this complex world of vaginas!

Author: Jiang Zhuangliang, Jiangxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital

Source｜Medical World Obstetrics and Gynecology Channel

Without conflict, there is no drama. Without conflict, there is no martial arts world. But as Mr. Gu Long said, wherever there are people, there is a martial arts world.

Anyone who has seen "Hail the Judge" knows this hilarious scene: Leopard Head is caught in a trap, his mouth is gagged, and he is put into a human-shaped wooden box.

Bao Youwei: You're an expert, aren't you? Haha... (puts a mouse inside)

Bao Longxing: What are you doing? Are you having fun? I asked you to do something, and you let a rat bite people? Lord Leopard, don't be afraid, I'll let a snake in to kill that rat.

In the natural ecosystem, snakes and rats are interdependent, their existence intertwined and mutually dependent. If snakes are over-hunted, rats will proliferate; if rats die out excessively, snakes will eventually face food shortages, leading to a decline in their population and even threatening their survival. In fact, the human body itself also has a similar "ecosystem."

The vaginal microbiome, the inherent "world" of the vagina.

In a healthy human body, a large number of microbial communities coexist harmoniously—this is the natural world. They live in harmony and adapt to each other, achieving a dynamic balance. Once this balance is broken, the situation spirals out of control.

The vagina is part of the human body and contains a large number of microbial species, forming a small microbial community. Just as there are many sects in the microbial community, such as Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Kunlun, Hengshan, and Kongtong, the vagina itself contains Gram-positive aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, Gram-negative aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, obligate anaerobes, mycoplasma, and Candida albicans, among others.

In this small world, various microorganisms form an ecological balance, thus maintaining health.

Lactobacilli, estrogen, and the vaginal pH are like the forces of nature, playing a decisive and crucial role in maintaining the vaginal ecosystem's balance. Estrogen, in particular, causes the vaginal epithelium to thicken and proliferate, increasing intracellular sugar content and breaking down glycogen into monosaccharides. Vaginal lactobacilli then convert these monosaccharides into lactic acid. This acidic environment helps inhibit the growth of other pathogens. This is the vagina's self-cleaning mechanism.

Among all the martial arts sects, Shaolin is the largest and the embodiment of justice. During times of famine and war, they frequently distributed porridge and food to relieve the suffering of the people, and even appeared in the martial world to fight against evil forces and maintain peace. Therefore, lactobacillus is Shaolin's dominant bacteria. The hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins it produces can inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. At the same time, through a competitive mechanism, it prevents pathogenic microorganisms from adhering to vaginal epithelial cells, maintaining the microecological balance of this small martial world.

Prolonged use of antibiotics, weakened immunity, decreased estrogen levels, and elevated vaginal pH (due to frequent sexual activity and vaginal douching) all inhibit the growth of lactobacilli. This disrupts the delicate balance of the microecology, allowing other bacteria to become dominant, leading to a chaotic and unhealthy ecosystem.

So here's the question: when traveling the world, enduring wind and rain, is it necessary to carry some feminine wash? Is it necessary to wash for better health?

Washing makes you healthier? It depends on how you wash!

Here's the key point: Yes, it's necessary, but plain water is enough, and it depends on the quality. Why?

Because of the complex terrain, the location is bordered by multiple areas, with the urethra in front and the anus behind, making it susceptible to contamination. Furthermore, it is a busy thoroughfare for both land and water transportation, and its functions and uses are extremely diverse (for example, it is an essential route for sexual intercourse, childbirth, and intrauterine procedures).

Teaching people through experience is worse than teaching them through reason. Cuihua, bring the chestnuts.

A while ago, a news story circulated online: a 23-year-old woman developed vulvar precancerous lesions because she didn't change her underwear or wash her vulva for a month.

In most people's eyes, neglecting personal hygiene might not seem like a big deal, just a matter of personal habits. However, a 23-year-old woman in Wuhan developed precancerous lesions of vulvar cancer due to poor personal hygiene. Although it's not cancer yet, if left undetected, it can easily develop into vulvar cancer.

The culprit behind all of this was her lack of attention to personal hygiene, such as not washing her vulva, wearing the same underwear for a month without changing it, and not cleaning her vulva. Coupled with an irregular lifestyle and frequent late nights, the clutches of disease reached out to her.

Therefore, a light, quick cleaning is necessary.

The girl in the picture above developed gynecological diseases because she was too lazy to change her underwear and clean her vulva. Blindly loving cleanliness, or even being a clean freak, can also backfire.

As a clinical student, I've never encountered female colleagues who are overly diligent, frequently using the five essential seasonings of the kitchen (vinegar, salt, oil, soy sauce, and Sichuan peppercorns) to launch a massive sweep behind enemy lines (even using various vaginal washes), claiming it can kill bacteria.

I can't help but ask, girl, are you going to cook for someone else or become a head chef?

This is a deeper level of "hygiene," but too much of a good thing can be bad.

Why?

It has disrupted the vaginal pH balance!

Correctly identify vaginal abnormalities and avoid DIY treatment.

So, ladies, you might ask, what should we do?

Dr. Jiang is here to tell you: Change your underwear and sanitary napkins frequently, wash your vulva often, and keep your vulva dry. These tasks are yours to do.

Other diseases you may not know or have never even heard of, such as nonspecific vulvitis, trichomonal vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis, don't worry about them. You don't need to worry about those countless clinical manifestations and symptoms either.

I'll teach you a trick that will guarantee you success and make you rich forever. What is this trick?

Remember: A normal woman has a certain amount of vaginal discharge. It should be clear, transparent, odorless, and not cause vulvar irritation. Anything else is abnormal. It indicates a problem and needs treatment. You need to see a doctor and leave the task to them. Otherwise, if you knew everything and could do everything yourself, what would be the point of having doctors? Doctors would be out of a job.

"Two rabbits run side by side, how can you tell which is male and which is female?" Even if you feel normal, you still need to have regular gynecological checkups because you are not a doctor and often cannot distinguish between physiological and pathological conditions.

So ladies, let's be frank, when navigating the world, following our official WeChat account is definitely a must.