Health: Embarrassed to ask the doctor? We answer your intimate health worries

Frank answers to all your most intimate health queries

1 Up to 45% of women suffer with vaginal dryness

It’s particularly common during the menopause and after, but younger women can also experience it. It’s caused by a change in hormone levels; female sex hormones, particularly oestrogen, dip during the menopause. Less vaginal fluid is produced, and the skin in that area can become thinner, dry and uncomfortable. You may also have itching, burning and pain, which can make sex painful. Try a pessary or vaginal cream, such as Vagisan MoistCream (£14.99 for 50g) to ease dryness. It’s hormonefree, and you can use it as a lubricant before sex, too.

2 Three in four women will experience thrush

Although the yeast infection doesn’t always have symptoms, ‘You might notice itching, soreness and redness around the vagina, vulva or anus; unusual, thick, white discharge resembling cottage cheese or a yeasty smell; pain on urinating or during sex,’ says Natika Halil, Chief Executive of sexual-health charity FPA. Ask your GP, nurse or pharmacist about treatment. Canesten Thrush Combi (£12.49, lloydspharmacy.com) is a pessary and cream for internal and external treatment.

3 Did you know..?

Your vagina can smell sweet if you eat certain fruits, like oranges, lemons and grapefruit! Asparagus, onions, garlic and broccoli, however, can cause a less pleasant odour

down below.

4 One in three women will be affected by incontinence

you laugh or From small leaks when

problems trying sneeze to more serious

it’s commonly to get to the loo in time,

pelvic floor being caused by muscles in the

childbirth or weakened or damaged by

exercises ageing, so practise pelvic-floor

14, right). regularly (and see 12 and

5 Keeping clean

Your vagina self-cleans as fluid from glands inside it and your cervix carry away dead cells and bacteria to help prevent infection. ‘There’s no need to try and clean inside the vagina,’ says Natika Halil. ‘Using perfumed products, in particular, can do more harm than good. Just use plain, unperfumed soap and water to clean the vulva.’

6 Still itching?

Vaginal itching can be caused by things other than thrush, an STI or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Some medicines, such as steroids and antibiotics, can also have this effect – ask your GP for advice. Itching might be triggered by chafing or sweating due to tight-fitting clothing, or an allergy to shower gels, detergents or fabric softeners. Some brands of tampon or sanitary towel – especially the perfumed ones – can irritate, too. Try tampons made from organic, unbleached cotton, or a menstrual cup like The Diva Cup

(£21.99, Superdrug).

7 What’s that smell?

A healthy vagina does have a bit of a musky smell – that’s normal, as is vaginal discharge, in most cases. Normal discharge colour can range from clear to a milky whitish at different times of your cycle, and you may notice more when you’re ovulating, sexually aroused or breastfeeding. The smell may be different if you’re pregnant but, if you notice a fishy smell, it could be due to an infection (bacterial vaginosis, BV), while a yeasty smell could mean thrush (see 2, left). The STI trichomoniasis, caused by bacteria, could cause an odour, too.

8 Do I need a smear test?

The potentially life-saving NHS cervical screening (smear) test is free, and is offered five-yearly if you’re aged 50 to 64 years. If you’re aged 25-49, it’s offered every three years, and if you’re over 65, you only need one if you haven’t been tested since you were 50 or have had recent abnormal tests. It may be uncomfortable, but it’s a very simple swab that takes minutes to do. The test looks for abnormal cells on the cervix. Don’t miss it.

9 Take a supplement

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is due to a loss of lacticacid producing bacteria in the reproductive tract. ‘Symptoms include discharge, itching, soreness and a smell,’ says Dr Sarah Brewer. ‘Use a lactic-acid gel and take a probiotic supplement to replenish levels in the bowel which will find their way into the reproductive tract.’ Try Healthspan Super20 Pro, (£17.95 for 60 capsules, healthspan. co.uk). There’s good evidence that taking vitamin D3 supplements can help reduce BV symptoms, too.

10 Did you know..?

Your cervix rises and falls in your vagina depending upon the time of the month. It will dip lower in your vagina and feel hard, like the tip of your nose, when you start your period, and rise to the top and feel soft when you’re

nearing ovulation.

11 Can I test for STIs?

Yes, you can detect and treat common STIs at home. Superdrug’s Online Doctor service (onlinedoctor. superdrug.com) has easy-touse kits from £27.99, and medication from £16. STIs are passed from person to person through unprotected sex or genital contact, and some have no symptoms.

12 Five tips for bladder control

Top advice from Woman’s Weekly’s Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones:

If you’re overweight, shedding the pounds can reduce pressure on your bladder.

Don’t smoke – it weakens supportive tissues and makes you cough.

Drink plenty of water, but limit caffeine and alcohol which can irritate the bladder.

Avoid constipation, which can interfere with normal bladder emptying.

Cut out spicy and acidic foods if they seem to make things worse.

13 Pain when you pee?

It’s probably cystitis, a common bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). A study by Yale School of Medicine has found that, contrary to popular belief, cranberry juice doesn’t ease cystitis symptoms. Your best option is to flush out the infection by drinking at least two litres of water a day.

14 Try a pelvic gym

VSculpt by Joylux, (£375, vsculpt.com) is a home-use medical device, designed with obstetricians and gynaecologists. For a fraction of the cost of clinical treatment, it uses gentle vibration, heat and light therapy to stimulate, tone and repair vaginal tissues to improve pelvicfloor health and tone, and combat vaginal dryness and

incontinence.

15 Appoption

The FPA (Family Planning Association) has a free app for iPhone or Android.

It will help you find your nearest sexual-health clinic for advice and treatment. Just

visit fpa.org.uk/find-a-clinic.