Vaginal Infections

There are several kinds of vaginal infections (vaginitis). Not all of these are caused by having sex. But they can be spread that way. The most common vaginal infections are Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections.

Tips for keeping the vagina healthy

• Always wipe yourself from front to back when you go to the bathroom. Wipe from the opening that urine comes out of (above the vaginal opening) towards your rectal area. This can keep germs from your anus away from your vagina.
• Don't douche. You don't need to clean inside your vagina. It keeps clean by itself. When you douche, you may be washing away what the vagina needs to keep healthy.
• Wear cotton underwear. Don't wear tight pantyhose. This will keep you cool and dry so bacteria won't grow as easily.