The most embarrassing question a woman will encounter in her life

When faced with embarrassing gynecological problems, most women are too embarrassed to talk about them or just endure it. This is due to the lack of sex education and the neglect of women's health. The editor has compiled the top 10 common gynecological problems for you and asked experts to answer them one by one.

1. Is vaginal cleaning necessary?

Answer: It is necessary to clean the vulva every day, especially during menstruation. Use warm water to clean the vulva properly to prevent external pathogens from entering the vagina.

Do not flush the vagina unless necessary and do not use gynecological washes to maintain the natural defense line of the female reproductive tract and not disrupt the acid-base balance in the vagina.

You will need your own special washing basin and special towels. Cleaning utensils should be washed before use, and towels should be dried in the sun or in a ventilated place after use. It is best to expose them to the sun to facilitate sterilization and disinfection.

2. Is irregular menstruation caused by endocrine disorders? What are the standards for normal female endocrine system?

Answer: Sex hormone levels are affected by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries. The hypothalamus is the "supreme headquarters" that releases a certain amount of hormones to issue instructions to the subordinates (pituitary gland). The pituitary gland also sends signals to regulate the subordinate glands.

For the ovaries, this signal is the follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, and prolactin is also produced during lactation. These hormones act on some organs, causing corresponding changes.

If these regulatory mechanisms are out of balance, a series of manifestations will occur, which are called endocrine disorders. Regular menstruation only means that some of the regulatory mechanisms are normal, but it does not mean that there is no endocrine disorder.

Generally speaking, the manifestations of normal female endocrine system include: normal menstrual cycle and volume, normal body hair and weight, smooth skin without obvious dark spots, normal breasts, normal pregnancy, stable personality, etc.

3. What is the reason for the “fishy” smell in your private parts?

A: Many women are often troubled by a suspicious "fishy" smell, which they think is unique to them and makes them feel at a loss.

In fact, if you consult an obstetrician and gynecologist, you will know that this odor is usually a symptom of bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal infection is the most common gynecological problem in young women and in most cases, there are no serious complications and the infection clears up on its own.

If the problem is more serious, you need to go to the hospital for treatment. Vaginal health is particularly important, especially for pregnant women.

4. Some people say that semen can moisturize the vagina and is good for the female body. Is this true?

Answer: Although there has not yet been comprehensive and authoritative confirmation that semen can promote women's health, many experts and scholars have pointed out after research that semen does have certain health benefits for women. Such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

In addition, it may have a positive effect on the hormonal balance in women, which can reduce the risk of cancer.

In addition, semen can promote the secretion of female sex hormones, making the breasts fuller, the buttocks plumper, and the skin tender; it can moisturize the vagina, improve the quality of sex life, enhance sexual psychological satisfaction, and is beneficial to the health care role of sex.

5. Will frequent sexual intercourse cause damage to the vagina?

Answer: Too frequent sexual intercourse can easily cause the vagina to be in a state of congestion for a long time, which can easily cause damage to the vaginal mucosa and reduce the resistance of the vagina, thereby causing gynecological inflammations such as vaginitis and cervicitis. Therefore, sexual intercourse should not be too frequent.

6. Many women say that stress can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, is that true? How to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease?

Answer: High stress will not directly lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, but high stress, lack of exercise, and sitting for long periods of time can cause poor blood return to the pelvis and chronic pelvic congestion. Combined with weak resistance and bacterial infection, this can lead to chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.

To prevent pelvic inflammatory disease, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

(1) Pay attention to sexual life and menstrual hygiene, and keep the perineum clean and dry;

(2) After an abortion or an IUD insertion or removal, sexual intercourse, swimming, bathing in a tub, or taking a sauna must be avoided, because the body's resistance is reduced at this time, and pathogens can easily take advantage of the opportunity to enter and cause infection;

(3) Proper contraception and minimize the trauma of artificial abortion;

(4) Strengthen exercise, improve physical fitness, combine work and rest, and enhance the body's resistance to disease.

7. How can ordinary women prevent cervical cancer?

Answer: The prevention of cervical cancer mainly focuses on the following aspects:

(1) Pay attention to late marriage and late childbearing;

(2) Pay attention to sexual and menstrual hygiene, and seek prompt treatment for cervicitis;

(3) Gynecological examinations should be conducted regularly. Women over 35 years old are advised to undergo cancer prevention examinations once a year.

8. Will having sex for too long at a time cause harm to a woman’s body? How long is appropriate?

Answer: Prolonged single sexual intercourse will cause prolonged pelvic congestion, making it easy for bacteria to invade, thus causing gynecological inflammation. Generally, it is advisable that single sexual intercourse should not exceed 30 minutes.

9. Does using vaginal lubricant have any side effects on the vagina?

Answer: Under normal circumstances, there is no need to use vaginal lubricants. They can be used in special circumstances when vaginal secretions are less. Vaginal lubricants include pure lubricants, contraction lubricants, silicone lubricants, etc., which generally have no side effects.

10. What is HPV infection? In what situations should we be alert?

Answer: HPV stands for human papillomavirus. Infection can cause epithelial hyperplasia and the formation of papillary lesions called genital warts.

HPV infection of the reproductive tract is a long process and can remain latent in cells for several years. Once the body's immunity is reduced, the latent virus can become active again. HPV is widely present in nature. Some people are susceptible to infection with this virus, while others are not.

Women who have sexual activity too early, have multiple sexual partners, use birth control pills too early or for a long time, smoke and drink, etc. should be alert to the possibility of HPV infection.