vulval health

The vulva is the delicate, hairless skin and tissue surrounding the vagina. You need to treat it with care, as it's prone to irritation.

How can I avoid vulval irritations?

You can take care of yourself by:

washing your vulva once a day with a small amount of warm water and gently patting it dry
using a soap substitute like QV (if you need a cleaning product)
wearing loose, cotton underwear
changing tampons and pads every 3-4 hours when you're menstruating
changing damp clothes as soon as possible
using lubrication when having sex
using condoms to protect yourself from sexually transmissible infections.

You should also avoid:

soap and excessive washing
vaginal sprays, perfume, talc and antiseptics
tight fitting clothes
perfumed toilet paper
excessive heat.

Avoiding soap and excessive washing is the single most important thing you can do. Some women worry irritation might be caused by lack of hygiene and wash more often, but this makes the problem worse.

Remember

It's common for women to have vulval irritation from time to time. If it happens repeatedly, see your doctor, especially if it's interfering with sex.

More detailed information on vulval irritation is available from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.