TIPS FOR VULVAR CARE

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The vagina is a part of the body that needs adequate care. Here are some ways to care for the vagina:

   #Use only warm water to wash the vulva. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel. (If the vulva is very irritated, you can try drying it with a blow dryer set on cool.)

·         #The vagina cleanses itself naturally in the form of normal, vaginal discharge. Avoid using douches unless prescribed by your physician. These products can upset the natural balance of organisms.

·         #Wear only white, 100 percent cotton underwear. Avoid wearing nylon, acetate, or other manmade fibers.

·        # Avoid wearing thongs.

·        # Rinse underclothes carefully after washing. Or, double-rinse.

·         #Wash new underclothes before wearing.

·         #Use a mild soap for washing underclothes. Do not use detergents or fabric softeners.

·         #Use soft toilet tissue (white only).

·       #  Use chemical free menstrual napkins to control menstrual bleeding.

·         #Don't scratch.

·        # Avoid wearing nylon pantyhose or panty girdles. They trap heat and moisture, providing an ideal breeding environment for organisms. When nylons or leggings are required, wear cotton or nylons with a cotton panty.

·         #Avoid these feminine hygiene products, which can irritate the vulva: sanitary pads, feminine spray and deodorants, Vaseline^®, oils, greases, bubble baths, bath oils, talc, or powder.

TIPS FOR VULVAR CAR

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   #Use only warm water to wash the vulva. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel. (If the vulva is very irritated, you can try drying it with a blow dryer set on cool.)

·         #The vagina cleanses itself naturally in the form of normal, vaginal discharge. Avoid using douches unless prescribed by your physician. These products can upset the natural balance of organisms.

·         #Wear only white, 100 percent cotton underwear. Avoid wearing nylon, acetate, or other manmade fibers.

·        # Avoid wearing thongs.

·        # Rinse underclothes carefully after washing. Or, double-rinse.

·         #Wash new underclothes before wearing.

·         #Use a mild soap for washing underclothes. Do not use detergents or fabric softeners.

·         #Use soft toilet tissue (white only).

·       #  Use chemical free menstrual napkins to control menstrual bleeding.

·         #Don't scratch.

·        # Avoid wearing nylon pantyhose or panty girdles. They trap heat and moisture, providing an ideal breeding environment for organisms. When nylons or leggings are required, wear cotton or nylons with a cotton panty.

·         #Avoid these feminine hygiene products, which can irritate the vulva: sanitary pads, feminine spray and deodorants, Vaseline^®, oils, greases, bubble baths, bath oils, talc, or powder.

CNN PUBLICATION QUESTIONS HOW SAFE THE DISPOSABLE SANITARY PADS AND TAMPON ARE.

CNN in their publication on the link: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/13/health/whats-in-your-pad-or-tampon/

By Nadia Kounang, CNN

Updated 1619 GMT (0019 HKT) November 13, 2015 questioned how safe the disposables pads and Tampons are. 

Story highlights

·         FDA doesn't require manufacturers to disclose tampon ingredients

·         In the past few weeks, both P&G and Kimberly-Clark have published additional information on their websites

(CNN)About 70% of all American women use tampons. On average, a woman will use between 11,000 and16,000 tampons in her lifetime.

In fact, tampon-like devices have been used since ancient Rome, where women fashioned devices out of wool to absorb menstrual flow. Rolls of grass were used in parts of Africa, and Hawaiian women used ferns.

But what is actually in a modern-day tampon and pads?

Generally, tampons are blends of cotton and rayon, along with synthetic fibers, but each manufacturer's products are different and considered proprietary.

Consumer groups in the United States have been wanting to know more since the 1980s. A growing environmental movement and awareness about toxic shock syndrome prompted women to ask what was in these products because manufacturers weren't required to fully disclose what goes into a tampon or pad. That's because they are regulated and approved as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration and full disclosure is not required.

Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York has introduced legislation nine times since 1997 that would require manufacturers to be more transparent and disclose the complete makeup of tampons, pads, and other feminine hygiene products. She wants companies to clearly label not only the fabrics used, but also any contaminants, fragrances, colorants, dyes and preservatives. Her bill directs the National Institutes of Health to look at the health effects of these products, because, she says, there is little research in this area.

But her bill has failed to move beyond the floor, every time.

Demands for more transparency

Last month, members of the consumer group Women's Voices for the Earthdressed up as boxes of tampons and pads and protested in front of Procter & Gamble's corporate headquarters. They held up signs that said, "My uterus loves accurate labels."

According to market research group Euroshare, P&G is the largest manufacturers of feminine products, with 44% of the United States market share. Women's Voices for the Earth wants manufacturers such as P&G to fully disclose what goes into tampons, sanitary pads and wipes.

"Our concerns of the care products ... was out of the lack of ingredient disclosure," said Alexandra Scranton, director of science and research for Women's Voices for the Earth. The group has been leading a two-year campaign it calls "Detox the Box."

When the group tested P&G's Always pads, it found the sanitary napkins emitted chemicals, like styrene, chloroethane and chloroform. The World Health Organization classifies styrene as a carcinogen. And the EPA says short-term exposure to high concentrations of chloromethane can have neurological effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says high levels of exposure to chloroethane can result in lack of muscle coordination and unconsciousness.

However, all the levels are accpetable under federal regulations. In a statement, Women's Voices for the Earth said, "While the levels of the toxic chemicals emitted by Always pads were relatively low, their presence warrants health concerns for women."

Tonia Elrod, a P&G spokeswoman, said the company hasn't seen the complete study, but pointed out that these are naturally occurring chemicals found in the ambient air, and that the study did not measure the composition in their product.

Tucker Helmes, executive director of the Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, an industry trade group, said there should be no concern about these chemicals. "There is more styrene in strawberries than there is in the air sample they measured in this study," said Helmes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates the industry, reviews all designs and materials. In May, the organization addressed concerns, responding to Internet allegations, which alleged that tampons are contaminated by asbestos and dioxin, which can lead to toxic shock syndrome.

The agency said, "The available scientific evidence does not support these rumors."

Manufacturers release more information

In the past few weeks, both P&G, maker of Always pads and Tampax tampons, and Kimberly-Clark, maker of Kotex tampons and pads, have publishedadditional information on their websites.

But microbiologist Philip Tierno of the New York University School of Medicinesaid that's not enough. "Even if they list some ingredients, they may not be listing all of them."

Tierno was one of the scientists who helped discover the link between toxic shock syndrome and tampons in the 1980s. He connected TSS to the synthetic materials that were used in superabsorbent tampons at the time.

The FDA says those synthetic products are no longer used in tampons sold in the United States.

"Those fibers amplified the bacteria staph, if a toxigenic strain was present," Tierno said. About 20% of people naturally have the bacteria staph. At the height of the TSS scare in 1980, there were 890 cases reported to the CDC.

According to voluntary reports to the CDC, the number of TSS cases since 1998 has varied between 138 to as low as 65 in 2012.

But Tierno said there are still products using viscose rayon, which he called "the best of the four bad ingredients."

'A lot of dioxin'

Rayon is a synthetic made from sawdust and a byproduct of it is dioxin, which the EPA says is likely carcinogenic. The FDA says that trace amounts of dioxin are not of concern for human health and that rayon tampons don't have higher incidences of TSS.

"Sure, one tampon is trace," said Tierno, "but consider the menstrual lifetime of a woman. They use approximately 12,000 tampons in a lifetime. That means 12,000 exposures of dioxin ... five, six, seven times a day. That's a lot of dioxin absorbed directly through the vagina. It goes directly into the blood."

"Vaginal tissue isn't like other skin. It's covered in mucous membranes, it's very permeable. It's a direct route to your reproductive organs. We need to be really careful of these products," said Scranton, of Women's Voices for the Earth.

Bob Brand, spokesperson for Kimberly-Clark, said "Kimberly-Clark's U by Kotex tampons are manufactured by a process that is both chlorine and dioxin-free. However, since dioxins can be found in the environment, Kimberly-Clark regularly tests for dioxins to ensure the safety of our products." P&G said it also used a similar process.

And while companies are required to track their dioxin levels, neither company would offer to make those measurements public when asked.

'Our products are safe'

"Our member companies take into consideration lifetime use of these products, the materials they are made from, and the body areas they contact as part of their rigorous safety assessments," said Helmes of the industry trade group.

But what may be of greater concern, said both Tierno and Scranton, are ingredients like "superabsorbent foam," found in pads, or "fragrance" that doesn't list any other details.

"We want to know what 'flexfoam' is made of. Is it rayon or cotton or both? What are the 'fiber finishes'?" asked Scranton.

"Every single product contained in a tampon has to be researched. We already know the fibers contain dozens (of chemicals), polyester contains hundreds of chemicals. It's not just a fiber you put in the vaginal vault," said Tierno.

And the concern is not just for TSS, they say, but for adverse and allergic reactions. The FDA does catalog such complaints. Since 2014, there have been270 claims made about tampons, and 12 claims about pads.

The complaints allege everything from TSS to the products breaking apart to allergic reactions.

Elrod of Proctor & Gamble stated plainly, "Our products are safe. That's the foundation of everything that we do. We're working with university scientists, FDA. Women can use our products safely."

Brand of Kimberly-Clark said "Nothing is of greater concern to Kimberly-Clark than the quality of our products and the well-being of the consumers who use them. "

The FDA says women should choose a tampon with the minimum absorbency they need, and should consult their doctors.

The FDA requires manufacturers to provide labeling on packaging about the signs of TSS, and how to minimize risk.

7 REASONS YOU SHOULD SWITCH TO WASHABLE SANITARY PAD

1. You will reduce your menstrual cramps, infections and skin rashes.

If you suffer intense pain during your period and are using disposable pad, consider using alternatives like washable pads or 100% organic cotton products. Disposable pads also use plastics, which block airflow to your vagina, and not surprisingly, can encourage a painful rash. Disposables also use synthetic fibers like rayon which are super-absorbent, but will also absorb all the moisture in your vagina, increasing your chances of severe pain and infections -- especially if you are wearing one for hours, all day, and all week. Once I switched to reusable cloth pads, my own severe cramping was reduced to nil -- a real menstrual miracle.

2. Reusable options are much healthier for you.

Disposables are typically made with a combination of plastics, cotton, synthetic fibers and wood pulp. Conventionally produced cotton is one of the most toxic crops grown, using 20 percent of the world’s pesticide and herbicides. These materials are then bleached with chlorine dioxide, creating polluting, harmful and bio-accumulative byproducts like dioxin, which not only end up in the environment, but also remain in our bodies for decades. Add other synthetic chemicals and artificial fragrances to the mix, and you've got a recipe for side effects like allergic reactions, hormone disruption, reproductive and gynecological disorders like endometriosis.  .

3. You will save loads of money.

If the health reasons don't sway you, maybe the numbers will be more convincing. Granted, reusables have a larger initial cost, but they last much, much longer. With proper care, cloth pads can last for years (my own cloth napkins are six years old and are still going strong). Compare this to the disposable that has a lifespan of a few hours before it's thrown away, forcing you to buy more and more -- all of them ending up in a landfill.

You can do the math: assuming a woman menstruates for 40 years, buys a N450 pack for a month, you can do the rest.

4. You will help save the environment.

Switching to reusables is a striking example of how seemingly small personal choices can have a tremendous positive impact on our environment. The plastics in a pad will take hundreds of years to decompose. The process of manufacturing these disposables also pollutes our waterways, air and animal habitats. Switching to reusables can make a difference.

5. You will support independent companies.

If you are already leery of handing your money over to big, faceless corporations that probably don't have your best interests in mind, check out the companies that specialize in providing safe and healthier alternatives.

6. Its sanitary, doesn't leak and easier to clean than you think.

When talking about reusable options, one is inevitably faced with the questions: "is it clean?" and "will it leak?" Our washable pads use a removable liner for extra absorption, and many have a waterproof lining sewn inside. It may be a tad bulkier, but occasional bulk is infinitely better than a lifetime of health problems. With the right maintenance, reusable products are just as sanitary. For washable pads, we recommend soaking them overnight in water before washing.

7. Heck, it's pretty. And empowering.

Forget those boring, bleached white synthetic products -- reusable options are bursting with color, patterns, unique designs -- personality. I don't know what the background science may be, but surely bright colors can help alleviate any premenstrual syndrome-related moodiness.

We would also do well to remember that non-disposables are nothing new; women have been using sea sponges and rags forever. The culture of concealment surrounding menstruation has influenced women to feel ashamed about their bodies, and this imposed shame makes us docile, unquestioning consumers of products that are neither good for us, nor the environment.

WHY GIRLS MENSTRUATE!

 (LET’S KNOW MORE ABOUT MENSTRUATION)

Puberty and Periods

Menstruation (a period) is a major stage of puberty in girls. It's one of the many physical signs that a girl is turning into a woman.

Menstruation can be confusing, just like a lot of the other changes that come with puberty. Some girls can't wait to start their periods. Others may feel afraid or anxious. Many girls (and most guys!) don't have a complete understanding of a woman's reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle. That can make the process seem even more mysterious.

Girls usually start to go through puberty between the ages of 8 and 13. Their bodies and minds change in many ways. Hormones kick off changes like growth and breast development. About 2 to 2½ years after a girl's breasts begin to develop, she usually gets her first menstrual period.

About 6 months or so before getting her first period, a girl might notice an increased amount of clear vaginal discharge. This discharge is common. There's no need for a girl to worry about discharge unless it has a strong odor or causes itchiness.

When a girl first gets her period, doctors call it menarche. Menarche doesn't happen until all the parts of a girl's reproductive system have matured and are working together

When a girl starts puberty, the pituitary gland releases hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce other hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones have many effects on a girl's body, including physical maturation, growth, and emotions.

About once a month, a tiny egg leaves one of the ovaries — a process called ovulation — and travels down one of the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. In the days before ovulation, the hormone estrogen stimulates the uterus to build up its lining with extra blood and tissue, making the walls of the uterus thick and cushioned. This happens to prepare the uterus for pregnancy: If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it travels to the uterus and attaches to the cushiony wall of the uterus, where it slowly develops into a baby.

If the egg isn't fertilized, though — which is the case during most of a woman's monthly cycles — it doesn't attach to the wall of the uterus. When this happens, the uterus sheds the extra tissue lining. The blood, tissue, and unfertilized egg leave the uterus, going through the vagina on the way out of the body. This is a menstrual period.

This cycle happens almost every month for several more decades (except, of course, when a female is pregnant) until a woman reaches menopause and no longer releases eggs from her ovaries.

How Often Does a Girl Get Her Period?

Just as some girls begin puberty earlier or later than others, the same applies to periods. Some girls may start menstruating as early as age 10, but others may not get their first period until they are 15 years old.

The amount of time between a girl's periods is called her menstrual cycle (the cycle is counted from the start of one period to the start of the next). Some girls will find that their menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, whereas others might have a 24-day cycle, a 30-day cycle, or even longer. Following menarche, menstrual cycles last 21–45 days. After a couple of years, cycles shorten to an adult length of 21–34 days.

Irregular periods are common in girls who are just beginning to menstruate. It may take the body a while to sort out all the changes going on, so a girl may have a 28-day cycle for 2 months, then miss a month, for example. Usually, after a year or two, the menstrual cycle will become more regular. Some women continue to have irregular periods into adulthood, though.

As a girl gets older and her periods settle down — or she gets more used to her own unique cycle — she will probably find that she can predict when her period will come. In the meantime, it's a good idea to keep track of your menstrual cycle with a calendar.

How Long and How Much?

The amount of time that a girl has her period also can vary. Some girls have periods that last just 2 or 3 days. Other girls may have periods that last 7 days. The menstrual flow — meaning how much blood comes out of the vagina — can vary from girl to girl, too.

Some girls may worry that they're losing too much blood. It can be a shock to see all that blood, but it's unlikely that a girl will lose too much, unless she has a medical condition like von willebranch disease.  Though it may look like a lot, the average amount of blood is only about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) for an entire period. Most girls change pads 3 to 6 times a day. They'll probably change pads more often when their period is heaviest, usually at the start of the period.

You may be worried about whether your period is normal in other ways. This is normal when a girl first gets her period and isn't sure what to expect. Your doctor or nurse can answer any questions about your period. Here are some times it's especially important to talk to a doctor or nurse if:

·         your period lasts longer than a week

·         your blood soaks thorough more than one pad every 1–2 hours

·         you go longer than 3 months between periods

·         you have bleeding in between periods

·         you have an unusual amount of pain before or during your period

·         your periods were regular then became irregular

Cramps

Lots of girls notice body or mood changes around the time of their periods. Menstrual cramps are pretty common. More than half of all women who get periods say they have cramps during the first few days. Doctors think that cramps are caused by a chemical called prostaglandin that causes the muscles of the uterus to contract.

Cramps can be dull and achy or sharp and intense. Sometimes a woman feels cramps in her back as well as her tummy area. Some girls find their cramps aren't as bad as they get older. Sometimes they go away completely.

Many girls and women find that over-the-counter pain medicine (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) can help cramps. So can taking a warm bath or putting a warm heating pad on the lower abdomen. Exercising regularly throughout the monthly cycle may help lessen cramps, too. If these things don't help, ask your doctor for advice.

PMS and Pimples

Some girls and women find that they feel sad or easily irritated during the few days or week before their periods. Others may get angry more quickly than normal or cry more than usual. Some girls crave certain foods. These types of emotional changes may be the result of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

PMS is related to changes in the body's hormones. As hormone levels rise and fall during a woman's menstrual cycle, they can affect the way she feels, both emotionally and physically. Some girls, in addition to feeling more intense emotions than they usually do, notice physical changes along with their periods — some feel bloated or puffy because of water retention, others notice swollen and sore breasts, and some get headaches.

PMS usually goes away soon after a period begins, but it can come back month after month. Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising may help relieve some of the symptoms of PMS. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your premenstrual symptoms.

It's also not uncommon for girls to have an acne flare-up during certain times of their cycle; again, this is due to hormones. Fortunately, the pimples associated with periods tend to become less of a problem as girls get older.