Simple tips for a happy V

Learn how to prevent infection and promote intimate comfort

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Don’t wash with water alone

Water has a cleansing effect but does not protect the natural balance of the intimate zone. Compare it to the rest of your skin – you wouldn’t cleanse, nurture, and protect it with just water, would you?
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Watch out with regular soap

Regular soaps are often alkaline, and have a pH higher than the natural pH of the intimate zone. Therefore, soaps can disrupt your natural balance by decreasing your natural protection. Making you more vulnerable to problems and irritations. All Lactacyd products are soap-free and have an adapted pH.
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Use the bathroom after sex

Peeing before and after sex helps to prevent urinary tract infections, which can occur when germs in the vagina are pushed into the urethra during sex. Also, be sure to wash your hands before and after sex to help prevent the spread of bacteria.
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Strengthen your pelvic floor

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles is essential to a lifetime of good intimate health – not to mention the perks of more exhilarating sex and better bladder control!
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Visit your gynecologist regularly

If you’re 18 or older, you should consult your gynecologist regularly to check for infections, abnormalities, and cervical cancer. It’s not the most pleasant appointment on the calendar, but in reality it’s relatively quick and painless, and the health benefits are worth it.
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Wash your towels regularly and use a clean washcloth

Use only your own towel and wash it regularly. Washcloths are breeding grounds for bacteria, so use a clean one with every wash.
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Change your tampons or pads regularly during menstruation

Blood has an alkaline pH, which can affect the natural acidity of the vagina. This makes your intimate zone more vulnerable to imbalance during menstruation. Change your tampons or pads regularly and use the lowest absorbency that works for you. Using protection with an overly high absorbency can create friction or dryness.
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Wear cotton underwear and change it daily

Lacy, synthetic thongs and panties can be very sexy, but they can also cause chafing and irritation. Try to wear cotton underwear as much as possible or choose sexy panties with a cotton crotch.
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Give your body room to breathe

Wearing tight clothing or materials that don’t breathe, such as polyester, can create a hot, moist environment that can cause chafing and irritate your vulva. To avoid irritation or infection, wear loose, permeable clothing made of natural materials like cotton whenever possible.
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Wash your intimate zone daily with a balanced intimate care product

Your intimate zone is one of the most sensitive places on your body. Since the vagina keeps its own delicate pH balance, which naturally keeps it clean, there is no need to wash internally (i.e. douching). Keep washing external and use products like Lactacyd, which are designed for intimate use and respect your body’s own mechanisms.
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Listen to your body

Pay attention to signs that something is off. Contact your doctor if you have any concerns regarding your intimate well-being. Remember that each body is different – an activity, product, piece of clothing, or sexual position that is just fine for one woman may create problems for another.
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Ingredients matter

Because your intimate zone is delicate, it’s important to select cleansers containing ingredients that harmonize with the female body’s exact needs. Soaps with strong fragrances or vaginal deodorants can cause irritation.
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All things in moderation

There really is such a thing as being too clean! Whether or not you realize it, your body is engaged in a constant balancing act, responding to even the smallest changes in your routine. Moderation is therefore a necessary factor in good hygiene. Excessive exposure to soap products – including bubble bath – could lead to infections, dryness, and discomfort.

Understanding pH and lactic acid

The vagina has a natural protective layer that acts as a defense mechanism against pathogens and infection. This protective layer is acidic in nature, which means that the vaginal pH fluctuates between 3.8 to 4.5.

A low pH creates balance between

good and bad bacteria

Lactobacilli are some of the main bacteria responsible for maintaining a healthy vaginal flora. Their production of lactic acid contributes to a healthy acidity of the vaginal environment.

A natural acidity is important, because bacteria that cause diseases don’t grow well and can’t reproduce easily in an acidic environment.

How it works?

Lactobacilli break down glycogen contained in the vaginal mucus. Lactic acid is then produced, and an acidic environment is formed. This acidic environment promotes the growth of more lactobacilli, inhibiting the presence of harmful bacteria and preventing infection. Your vagina takes care of itself as its walls continually produce secretions to provide lubrication, self-cleanse, and maintain the proper acidity to prevent infection.

Lactic acid is vital in protecting your intimate zone. By keeping the pH in the vagina low, it maintains the vagina’s acidic protective layer.

lactacyd-pharma-moisturizing-1That’s why you find lactic acid and other natural ingredients in all Lactacyd products.

Conditions in the human vagina vary during different life stages (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause) and other daily activities. As conditions change, the natural balance of the bacteria also changes, which can lead to discomfort, irritation, and even infection.

Factors of inbalance

Many factors can disturb the natural balanced protective flora of the vaginal area, and if the disturbance is too great, these flora can no longer adapt, which may result in discomfort or vaginal infections. Factors that can affect the natural balance include:

Exercise
Certain medications and antibiotics
Soaps or normal shower gels
Sexual activity
Stress, fatigue or a weakened immune system
Syntetic or tight underwear
Agressive fabric softeners (used on underwear)
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Menopause

Experiencing discomforts or special moments

Learn more about the discomforts you might experience due to the factors mentioned here above.

Vaginal discharge

Know that it is normal to have discharge from the vagina. It is the female body’s way of cleansing itself. This discharge is usually heavier and thicker.Read More »

Smelly vagina

Feminine odor is entirely normal and many women experience it. Normal odors can be caused by sweat, bacteria, and hormonal fluctuations.Read More »

Irritation ( and/or itchiness)

Is your intimate zone red or slightly swollen? Do you suffer from itching? Then you may have a vaginal irritation, for which there may be a number of causes.Read More »

Dry vagina

Dryness is another common discomfort in the intimate zone. This dryness may be due to a change in hormones as a consequence of menstruation, menopause, or because of a weakened resistance.Read More »

Yeast

Yeast is a fungus, naturally present in the vagina. Normally, the amount of yeast is small. A yeast infection is when an abnormal amount of yeast cell builds up in the vagina.Read More »

Bacterial Vaginosis

The vagina normally contains many different types of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are ‘friendly’ but others are potentially harmful – there is a delicate balance between the two types.Read More »

Menstruation

Under the influence of hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, the natural balance of your intimate zone may be temporarily disrupted. Lactacyd Pharma with Antibacterials…Read More »

Pregnancy

Pregnancy, next to one of the most beautiful times of your life also a time of changes in your body. In this article we answer all questions about pregnancy and your intimate zone.Read More »

Menopause

When your body enters menopause it produces less estrogen. This causes the vaginal walls to become thinner and drier, and a reduction in lubricant production…Read More »

Intimate questions

Some frequently asked questions regarding your intimate zone

Why is washing with water not enough?

Many women wash their intimate zone with water alone. Water has a cleansing effect but does not protect the natural balance of the intimate zone. Compare it to the rest of your skin – you wouldn’t cleanse, nurture, and protect it with just water, would you?
By using Lactacyd, you help to protect the balance of your intimate zone while also cleansing and refreshing.

Why are regular soaps not recommended?

Regular soaps are often alkaline, and have a pH higher than the natural pH of the intimate zone. Therefore, soaps can disrupt the natural balance of your intimate zone by decreasing your natural protection and making you more vulnerable to problems and irritations. Soap can also harm or weaken the protective biofilm.
All Lactacyd products are soap-free and have an adapted pH to match that of your intimate zone.

What does vaginal pH balance mean?

The healthy vagina contains both good and bad bacteria. Normally, the good bacteria predominate and they keep the vaginal pH between 3.8 to 4.5 (slightly acidic). But sometimes women go through changes that can cause the bad bacteria to overgrow. When this happens, the bad bacteria proliferate and a vaginal infection may occur. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections (Candida) are the most common of these. With BV, the vaginal pH can go up to 6.0, or even higher in some cases. With yeast infections the pH does not change.
Lactacyd products are formulated with a pH of 3.5 or 5.2. The pH in Lactacyd products is maintained by the main ingredient, lactic acid, in harmony with the other components of this special formulation. This fairly low pH does not encourage the growth of the bad bacteria.