Feminine Hygiene and Vulva Care

This Banner Ad Now Available!

Feminine Hygiene & Vulva Care

Everything Dads & Husbands Must Know About:
Feminine Hygiene, Gynecology, Menstruation, Vulvovaginal Health
and Safer, Healthier Environmentally-Friendly Products

Especially For Dads who are "Raising Girls Without Women"

Advertising Inquiries:
Email: femgynhealth @ yahoo . com
Tel. (716207)2419141-141312919

Feminine Hygiene & Vulva Care

Everything Dads & Husbands Must Know About:
Feminine Hygiene, Gynecology & Menstruation
and Safer, Healthier Environmentally-Friendly Products

Especially For Dads "Raising Girls Without Women"

Baby girls are born with special glands that are located on the inner surfaces of the clitoral hood. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum that lubricates the glans of the clitoris. The glans of the clitoris is the end or the tip of the clitoris that is sometimes exposed or can be exposed when you retract the clitoral "hood." The clitoral hood is that portion of the vulva where the labia minora come together above the vagina and urethra and looks like an inverted "v" ^ . The clitoral hood protects the clitoris and in particular, the glans of the clitoris which is very sensitive.

Without proper care and hygiene, the smegma will collect under the hood that covers the clitoris and the glans of the clitoris, which can result in pain, irritation and/or inability to experience orgasm. When the smegma is not properly cleansed from the vulva, and in particular, the areas surrounding and under the clitoral hood, the clitoral hood will adhere to the glans of the clitoris, which is referred to as a "clitoral adhesion." When the clitoral hood adheres to the clitoris, either partially or entirely, this prevents the hood from properly protecting and caressing the glans, making orgasm difficult or impossible.

It is very important for the glans of the clitoris to have adequate lubrication. This permits the the clitoral hood to slide over the glans of the clitoris easily and without undue sensitivity or discomfort. The clitoris, and especially the glans of the clitoris, is usually most sensitive to frictional stimulation, versus direct pressure. Womens masturbation methods almost always involve sliding the clitoral hood in various back and forth or circular motions across and over the glans of the clitoris. Without proper lubrication from the glands next to the clitoris, pain will result in the stimulation of the clitoris and when there is movement of the clitoral hood.

The smegma accumulations of the vulva, specifically in the area of the clitoris, needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise, the smegma can accumulate and dry out, causing the smegma to harden beneath the clitoral hood, which causes resulting irritation leading to significant pain. This can result in pain during masturbation, vaginal intercourse, and perhaps when walking, or wearing tight pants. In addition, using sanitary napkins may be painful.

This accumulation of smegma also occurs in infants and preadolescent girls. Parents should check their daughter's vulva for these accumulations of smegma at every diaper change and bath by gently separating the vulva and looking for the cheesy-white accumulations and gently wiping/cleaning away. Always be sure to wipe her from the top of the vulva toward the bottom or rectum to prevent germs and bacteria from entering her vagina. In mild cases the dried smegma may only slightly irritate the clitoris, resulting in your daughter's need to rub or scratch it. This can result in infants and young girls masturbating frequently. The resulting redness, irritation, caused by the frequent masturbation may conceal the primary problem. Adult women may also be distracted by this mild irritation, feeling a need to masturbate or engage in sex frequently. This sensation should not be confused with that of having an erect clitoris. When the irritation is severe though, while the desire to touch the area is there, the inflammation makes any contact extremely painful. So accumulated smegma can either increase the desire for sexual contact, or make it impossible.

Proper bathing and care of the vulva prevents clitoral adhesions

Preventing clitoral hood adhesions means that you need to retract the clitoral hood each time you bathe or shower, and wash out the secretions from this area. Most women need to be aware that simply wiping their vulva with a washcloth or their hand may not be enough to keep it clean. The spaces between the labia minora, labia majora and the area under the clitoral hood can retain the sebum from the glands around the clitoris, as well as other accumulations such as sweat, vaginal lubrication, toilet paper, menstrual fluid, urine, bacteria and feminine hygiene products. The normal body fluids don't expose a woman to any harm as long as they are removed before bacteria that are normally present are able to reproduce, resulting in infection and odor.

Special "feminine" soaps and washes are not necessary to clean your vulva. All one needs to use to clean the vulva is plain water. In fact, the use of soap and feminine hygiene products can irritate the delicate genital tissues. And douching is rarely, if ever needed, to cleanse your vagina.

Douches, vaginal deodorants or vulva deodorants, and chemical additives pose unnecessary risks when applied to the vulva and vagina. These products have been linked to increased cases of vulvovaginitis and yeast infections.

Clitoral adhesions

Clitoral adhesions or labial adhesions limits or prevents the clitoral hood to slide across the glans of the clitoris. If you have adhesions, when you pull on your clitoral hood, the glans of the clitoris moves with it instead of the hood retracting by itself, i.e., the glans of the clitoris moves with your pulling the clitoral hood. This can be very painful.

You may not be able to pull the hood back far enough to expose the entire glans if you have clitoral adhesions. This could make cleaning the clitoral area difficult if not impossible.

Minor clitoral adhesions may be remedied by without the need for a doctor's intervention. The clitoral adhesions may be released through pressure on the clitoral hood. Things like bathing, masturbation, bicycle riding, and horseback riding. If you do not properly wash your vulva in a manner that places traction on her hood, or masturbate in a manner that causes you to pull back the clitoral hood, you may not separate any clitoral adhesions that form, or prevent the formation of adhesions in the future.

If you believe you have clitoral or labial adhesions, you may be able to eliminate them by repeatedly pulling on your clitoral hood, in 360 degree directions (up, down, left, right, rotating in circles as well), or by taking a hot bath.

Clitoral adhesions will not disappear immediately as it took some time for the clitoral adhesions to form.

Women who experience pain can ask their partner or doctor to examine their vulva, and separating the labia, attempt to locate the source of the pain or by using a mirror and seeking the source of the pain themselves. If you experience a clitoral adhesion, either you or your partner can moisten a q-tip with baby oil or vitamin E to clean and loosen the secretions. Remember, the clitoral hood needs to "glide" easily over the clitoris. To lubricate the clitoral hood and loosen the secretions underneath, you or your partner may want to massage the area with a topical cream or baby oil. This may require you and/or your partner to do this for several days or for several weeks. Due to the sensitive nature of the clitoris and clitoral glans, it may be painful during the cleaning or massage due to the adhesions.

In the event you are unable to treat the symptoms of clitoral adhesions, and you or your partner cannot determine the reason for the pain, a doctor may need to be consulted. If your clitoral hood extends well past the glans, or if your clitoral hood is thick or closed, the adhesions may be totally concealed, with no visible indications. You should be very explicit in your office visit with the physician regarding your pain and show him the exact location of the any pain, even retracting your clitoral hood, if necessary for his viewing.

The clitoral adhesions caused by the accumulated smegma is caused by the two tissues surfaces growing together, due to failure to wash away these accumulations. As a result, the body tries to heal and eliminate the source of the irritation, thus causing the tissues to fuse as adhesions. These clitoral adhesions, or labial adhesions in the event the labia minora fuse together, may also form as a result of the hood laying in constant contact with the glans of the clitoris.

Additionally, either you or your partner may want to massage baby oil, vitamin E, or a petroleum based lubricant or antibacterial ointment up under your clitoral hood and on the glans of the clitoris.

Naturally, one of the best ways to keep from having clitoral adhesions is through proper washing of the vulva and to wash away the secretions before they turn into smegma. Proper care of your vulva or your daughter’s vulva means to wash away these secretions at every bath or shower. When you wash your vulva, it is important for you to retract the clitoral hood and wash this area. Also, be sure to wash the inner and outer portions and folds of the labia minora.

Parents can teach their daughters how to properly wash their vulva and help prevent them from experiencing the pain of clitoral or labial adhesions. Parents need to educate their young daughters about the various parts of their vulva so that they know they have more than "just a vagina," which they can't see, but a clitoris, clitoral hood, labia minora and labia majora, that they can see.

Proper cleaning of your daughter's vulva includes the following;

1. Gently spread the inner and outer labia and wash between them.

2. Place upward traction on the clitoral hood (in the direction of her bellybutton) while washing the exposed surfaces.

3. The glans of the clitoris may not be exposed when you do this. If there are adhesions, don't forcibly try to remove them.

4. Do not use any soap or other harsh ointments while cleaning away the, sebum, secretions or smegma.

5. You may need to use a q-tip or cotton ball moistened with baby oil or vitamin E to help loosen any stubborn smegma collections. If doing this, use another q-tip or cotton ball that is moistened with water to remove the baby oil or vitamin E.

6. Make sure that you are very gentle and use only light pressure when cleaning your daughter's vulva due to the sensitivity.

7. When your daughter is old enough to understand how to wash her vulva, may also be the right time to teach her the correct parts of her vulva, as well as explaining that her vulva is "private," and that she should be the one that cares for it. Also, when she is old enough, ask her permission to wash her vulva at bath-time, or ask her if she wants to wash her own vulva, following your directions to make sure that she removes the accumulated secretions or smegma.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Talcum powder has been linked to numerous cancers, including vulva, vaginal, cervical, uterine and ovarian. NEVER USE TALCUM POWDER NEAR YOUR DAUGHTER'S VULVA.

Instead of using talcum powder, you may want to consider the use of corn starch in this area, making sure that the corn starch is used externally and never placed in or near her vagina.

The doctor says that our daughter has labial adhesions. What are labial adhesions?

Young girls, and even adult women may get “labial adhesions.” Labial adhesions occur when the labia minora (sometimes the labia majora) or the “lips” of the vulva surrounding the vagina — have become stuck together. This happens to about 5% to 10% percent of all young girls. Young girls and women with labia that are stuck or fused together should immediately be seen by a pediatrician or gynecologist as the urine flow (and menstrual flow in adult women) can become blocked and a serious infection or infections are very likely to occur if she is not seen by a doctor.

What causes labial adhesions?

This probably happened because your daughter has little to no estrogen. Baby girls get a large dose of estrogen while they're still in the uterus. About one to two months after her birth, the maternal estrogen level drops off, and this hormonal change can affect many parts of a baby's body, including the lining of a girl's labia. Her labia may even stick together. This "adhesion" of her labia can continue or come and go throughout childhood, according to many pediatricians.

What can be done to treat labial adhesions?

First of all, parents should NOT try to pull or separate your daughter's labia apart, since that might hurt. Unless the adhesion is causing any problems, it's best to leave it alone. The idea of your daughter having labial adhesion probably worries you more than it bothers her. However, if the adhesion extends to cover the opening of the urethra and is trapping urine in the genital area, then you'll definitely want to see your child's doctor about treatment. Trapped urine can cause irritation and possibly infection. You'll know if your daughter's labial adhesions are covering the urethral opening if you find less urine in her diaper (for a young child) or she's having trouble peeing, or if her genital area looks irritated, she's irritable and crying, and she has a fever (due to infection).

Normally doctors prescribe a topical estrogen cream to treat the problem. Your doctor will tell you to apply this cream directly to the affected tissue, and in about two weeks it should unseal the labia. You'll probably start by applying the cream two or three times a day, then two times a day, then just once a day. It's important to reduce the amount of estrogen cream you use gradually. If you just stop the treatment suddenly, the labia will close up again.

Will our daughter always have labial adhesions?

Your daughter may continue to have adhesion off and on throughout childhood, but the labia tend to unstick when a girl approaches puberty and her body starts producing higher levels of estrogen. Until then, though, there's no reason to worry about the adhesion if it's not causing any problems. Many little girls never even know they have it.

By the time your daughter reaches puberty, she should already be able to properly care for her vulva, and her parents, have already taught her proper feminine hygiene and vulva care.

Puberty in girls is the time when she changes from a girl into a young woman, who is able to become pregnant and become a mother. There are many changes that take place but the biggest change a girl will experience will be menstruation.

Special note to Dad's: Your daughter needs your love and support now more than ever. Be involved!! Menstruation and growing up is a normal part of YOUR daughter's life and not something to shy away from. Talk with your daughter about these topics, let her know that you know what she will be experiencing. And when she has her first period, celebrate the day and make a big deal of it... take her out on a special “daughter - daddy date" to her favorite restaurant, buy her flowers, take her shopping.... let her know that you are thrilled about her becoming a young lady!!

Some of the other changes a girl will notice will be that she changes from a girl's body to a young woman's body. All girls develop and mature at their own pace. In girls, puberty can start anywhere between age 9 and 14.

Her whole body grows in height, weight and her waists expand and become contoured in order to have the room in her pelvis for a baby.

Her breasts grow. Starting about 2 years before menarche or first menstruation, the nipples start to bud and the breast begins to grow.

Her genitals grow. This includes the vulva, labia majora, labia minora and clitoris, all of which begin to expand and grow. Before her first period, she may notice a discharge from the vagina that may be whitish in color. Immediately prior to first menstruation, the color may change to light brown. The labia minora, or inner lips, begin to elongate and may protrude from the labia majora or outer lips. The clitoral hood becomes more pronounced.

Also, her emotions will be changing as well. BE PREPARED!!

Parents need to be prepared for all of these changes and this starts with having good communication skills with your daughter. Do not neglect this important time in her life. Talk to her, encourage her and educate her. Make sure she can talk to you about these changes, before these changes start!! If you are too embarrassed to talk to her about sex, menstruation or what she will soon be experiencing, buy a book on the subject, let her read it and make sure that she asks you any questions she may have.

Her vagina gets longer and its walls get more elastic so they can stretch wider.

As girls go through puberty, they get taller, in a short time, they spurt in growth and many become taller than boys of the same age.

A girl becomes a young lady when she begins menstruating. Her first menstruation, or menstrual period, is called "menarche" which means the date she had her first period. A young lady's first period or menarche usually begins between the ages of 9 and 14, although sometimes as early as 8 and as late as 16. Her first period is also a sign that puberty has begun.

For more information about your daughter's puberty, see Puberty: When Your Daughter Becomes a Young Woman. Special note to Dad's: Your daughter needs your love and support now more than ever. Be involved!! Menstruation and growing up is a normal part of YOUR daughter's life and not something to shy away from. Talk with your daughter about these topics, let her know that you know what she will be experiencing. And when she has her first period, celebrate the day and make a big deal of it... take her out on a special daughter - daddy "date" to her favorite restaurant, buy her flowers, take her shopping.... let her know that you are thrilled about her becoming a young lady!!

Women normally menstruate until they are 45 to 55 years old, when menopause begins. Menopause is when a female stops menstruation. An operation called a hysterectomy, which removes some or all of the female reproductive organs, also stops menstruation.

Girls have thousands of tiny eggs in their ovaries. Each month, or approximately every 21 - 42 days, on average, one of the eggs leaves an ovary and travels through a fallopian tube. When the egg leaves the ovary, this is called ovulation. Normally, the ovaries alternate each month, releasing an egg from the left ovary one month and then releasing an egg from the right ovary the next month.

As the egg travels in the fallopian tube, a soft spongy lining forms in the uterus. This lining is mostly made of tiny blood vessels and is called the endometrium. The lining gives nourishment in case an egg and sperm meet to form an embryo, or baby, that begins to grow in the uterus.

If the egg is not joined by a sperm, the endometrium or lining of the uterus is not needed. It flows out of the vagina. This bleeding is called a period. This whole cycle is called menstruation.

Menstruation is just one part of the menstrual cycle, in which a woman's body prepares for pregnancy each month. A cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. An average cycle is 28 days, but anywhere from 23 to 35 days is normal.

Estrogen and progesterone levels are very low at the beginning of the cycle. During menstruation, levels of estrogen, made by the ovaries, start to rise and make the lining of the uterus grow and thicken. In the meantime, an egg (ovum) in one of the ovaries starts to mature. It is encased in a sac called the Graafian follicle, which continues to produce estrogen as the egg grows.

At about day 14 of a typical 28-day cycle, the sac bursts and the egg leaves the ovary, traveling through one of the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The release of the egg from the ovary is called ovulation. Some women know when they're ovulating, because at mid-cycle they have some pain--typically a dull ache on either side of the lower abdomen lasting a few hours. The medical word for this is mittelschmerz, from the German, meaning middle pain. Some women also have very light bleeding, or spotting, during ovulation.

After the egg is expelled, the sac--now called a corpus luteum--remains in the ovary, where it starts producing mainly progesterone. The rising levels of both estrogen and progesterone help build up the uterine lining to prepare for pregnancy.

The few days before, during and after ovulation are a woman's "fertile period"-the time when she can become pregnant. Because the length of menstrual cycles varies from one person to another, many woman ovulate earlier or later than day 14. It's even possible for a woman to ovulate while she still has her period if that month's cycle is very short. Oftentimes, stress can play a role in this occurring.

If a woman has sex with a man during this time and conception occurs (his sperm fertilizes the egg), she becomes pregnant.

The fertilized egg attaches to the uterus, and the corpus luteum makes all the progesterone needed to keep it implanted and growing until a placenta (an organ connecting the fetus to the mother) develops. The placenta then makes hormones and provides nourishment from the mother to the baby.

If an egg is not fertilized that month and the woman doesn't get pregnant, the corpus luteum stops making hormones and gets reabsorbed in the ovary. Hormone levels drop again, the lining of the uterus breaks down, menstruation begins, and the cycle repeats.

In the illustration below, an egg has left an ovary after ovulation and is on its way through a fallopian tube to the uterus.

Watch for our new book, now being reviewed by several leading publishers:

Gynecology for Guys
"What Every Dad and Husband Must Know about
Gynecology and Gynecological Health"

*Copyright and General Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all material on this is website is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without our express written consent. Information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program and before relying upon this or any other website's information. While we have made every effort to check, update and verify the accuracy of our information and resources, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. The information contained on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.