- January 22, 2025
Every day we try to avoid factors that can cause typical female infections - especially in public toilets, we take care of proper hygiene. During the summer, and especially during holidays, it is very difficult to do so. Frequent swimming in the pool, use of hotel towels or long journeys without access to running water can all cause problems with our intimate health.
High temperature and humidity are an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi, which cause infections in intimate areas. It is worth knowing what to pay attention to in order to avoid unpleasant ailments of the genitourinary system and thus not to spoil your holiday.
Good hygiene is essential!
It sounds banal, but not many of us realize that apart from taking care of the cleanliness of intimate places, it is equally important to maintain the right pH. The key to this is to avoid cleaning products whose reaction is not acidic. Therefore, we should not wash intimate areas with ordinary shower gels or soap, because they will dry out the mucous membranes and expose us to infections. When going on holiday as one of the priorities in our luggage we should treat the already tried and tested by us intimate hygiene gel. If you start to use a different agent on the way out, you may irritate the sensitive mucous membrane, itchiness or even infection. In the hygiene of intimate places it is also important to wash only the external genitals, avoiding unnecessary irrigation or "washing" the interior of the vagina. Our intervention upsets the balance in it by leaching the beneficial lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria protect us from bacterial and fungal infections. During holidays, it is also worth remembering to wash intimate places with the use of gels after each exit from the pool or the sea, this will allow you to maintain the correct pH and remove bacteria.
Introduce probiotics into your diet
Probiotics are preparations containing living cultures of lactic bacteria. Probiotics can be taken as tablets or vaginal globules. If we want to act faster, the globules will be better. Before you plan to go on holiday, you should decide to replenish our natural bacterial flora by taking additional probiotics. This will strengthen our natural resistance to infections.
Proper clothing matters
On summer days, when it's hot, the healthiest way to avoid tight clothing. Close-fitting shorts and skirts restrict airflow in the intimate area. This creates a warm, humid environment, which favours the development of pathogenic microorganisms. During the summer heat, we should especially avoid underwear made of artificial, unforeseen materials. The best one will be made of 100% cotton, preferably slightly looser.
Hygienic inserts - help in hot weather
Hygienic insoles allow for maintaining dryness and additionally prevent irritation of intimate areas by underwear. Thus, wearing them in hot weather reduces the risk of infection of the genitourinary tract. However, you should remember to change them frequently enough. The moisture they absorb creates an ideal environment for bacteria growth. Regular change of the inserts will protect us not only against infections, but also against unpleasant smell.
What to do in case of infection?
Intimate infections, whether bacterial or fungal, can be recognized when floats appear. Vaginal discharge with unpleasant smell and changed colour testify to the developing inflammation in our vagina. When we deal with mycosis very often there is also a troublesome, difficult to ignore pruritus. It accompanies bacterial infections much less frequently. If you suspect a fungal or bacterial infection, see a gynaecologist as soon as possible. Only by performing appropriate tests will it be possible to identify the fungus or bacterium you are dealing with and how to treat the infection effectively. Remember never to ignore worrying symptoms, as chronic infections of the reproductive tract can even lead to infertility!
