Women tell us what they think it looks like.
Women tell us what they think it looks like.
“Just like no two faces look identical, no two vulvas look the same – the surface, size and thickness diff er from one woman to another, and change as we go through diff erent stages in life, from pre-pubescent childhood to post-menopausal.”– Dr Chee Jing Jye, obstetrician, gynaecologist and medical director at The Obstetrics & Gynaecology Centre
“I’ve not seen how mine looks, but I think it’s probably quite ugly.”
“I think it looks like a half-cut avocado.”
“The shape you make when you roll your tongue.”
“Mine looks like a rambutan – only because I don’t like Brazilian waxing!”
“It looks like a cut-in-half strawberry.”
“It reminds me of a cut-in-half onion.”
“A cut-in-half straw mushroom.”
“I’ve never seen myself down there, but if I had to make a guess, I would say it looks like an apple sliced in half.”
“An oyster.”
“The top view of a partially opened purse.”
“I have never seen myself down there because I can’t bend that far.”
“After examining myself in the mirror, I think it looks like a cut-in-half kiwi.”
HERE’S WHEN YOU SHOULD, ERM, BE MORE INTIMATE WITH YOUR PRIVATE ZONE.
1.You’re bleeding, but it’s between periods
This random spotting could be due to a hormonal imbalance, which happens when you skip a birth control pill. However, if abnormal bleeding happens more than once, it could be due to infection, abnormal growths or trauma to the vagina.
2.There’s weird discharge
It lasts for more than three days, looks thick, greenish or yellowish, and smells. This could be due to a fungal infection.
3.You feel pain for more than two days
If the pain is accompanied by a lump, that could be a sign of an abscess caused by an infection, ingrown hair or oily skin, which can be treated with antibiotics if detected early. If there is a crop of painful blisters, this could be due to herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.
4.It itches
This is most commonly due to a fungal infection, which is usually associated with a greenish-yellowish curd-like discharge. It could also be part of skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema.
5.There is a bump
It could be a harmless skin tag, which looks like a skin-coloured bump hanging from a stalk, and is usually caused by chafing (when skin rubs against skin). A more serious problem might be genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection.
EXPERT SOURCE: Dr Chee Jing Jye, obstetrician, gynaecologist and medical director at The Obstetrics & Gynaecology Centre, a Singapore Medical Group clinic
A HEALTHY VAGINA…
… is a happy one. Take note.
Get him to change condoms when switching from oral to vaginal sex, so you don’t introduce bacteria into your privates.
Keep it loose. Avoid wearing too-tight jeans, thongs or wet bathing suits for prolonged periods. These retain heat and moisture, creating ripe conditions for a yeast infection, says Dr Christopher Ng, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Gynae MD Women’s & Rejuvenation Clinic.
Wash with caution. When showering, clean just your vulva with a gentle soap – your vagina self-cleanses with discharge. Also, avoid douching, which can reduce the pH levels of your vadge, leading to yeast infections.
Have a V-friendly diet. Fill up on vitamin A-rich soya, tofu and flaxseed to relieve vaginal dryness. Love yogurt? Good – it contains lactobacillus, which could help stave off a urinary tract infection (UTI), says Dr Ng.
Pee after sex. This is reportedly one of the best ways to ward offUTI because it helps to flush out bacteria in the urethra.
See your gynae. Go for a Pap smear once you turn 21 or become sexually active (whichever is earlier). Get one every three years until you’re 65, advises Dr Ng.
Skip panty liners.They absorb vaginal discharge and trap heat down there, increasing your risk of a yeast infection.
