No matter where you're working out, you're probably sweating — a lot! Have you thought about what that means for your vagina? Probably not, but board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Jodie Horton, MD believes you should!
Exercising is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind, but what can exercise do to your vagina? "There's a lot of sweating and friction that can wreak havoc down there," Dr. Horton said, especially if you wear skin-tight leggings. After your workout, it's important to freshen up, and you need to make sure to pay extra attention to your vagina in order to prevent uncomfortable or painful infections like yeast infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Dr. Horton explained that we have bacteria all over our body to protect us against bad bacteria that want to enter the body to cause disease. These good bacteria act like guards to fight the harmful bacteria that can make us sick. This happens in the vagina, too. "Normal vaginal flora is made up mainly of Lactobacillus species [a good bacteria], which promotes a healthy vaginal environment. Lactobacilli produce hydrogen peroxide that makes the vaginal pH acidic between 3.8 and 4.5," she said. This acidic environment makes it difficult for harmful bacteria and yeast to grow and cause common infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.
When you exercise, all that sweating can introduce extra moisture and bad bacteria that can be a breeding ground that leads to infection. Here are her tips to keep your vagina fresh and clean during and after a workout.