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Home , Feminine hygiene, Planned Parenthood, Vagina

FEMININE HYGIENE TIPS: KEEPING YOUR HEALTHY To find a health center nearest you call 800-230-PLAN (7526) • You do not need to do anything to clean inside www.ppsouthtexas.org your vagina. The vagina cleans itself. sprays, and douching are Why choose ? not necessary. In fact, scented and antibacterial For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood has been here products can be harmful to the vagina (even for you. Our health centers in South provide: “sensitive skin” products or baby soaps). • Accessible & affordable quality care • Mild unscented soap or just plain water is all you • A confidential & nonjudgmental environment need to keep the outer folds of your clean. • Easy-to-use online appointment scheduling • Personalized care tailored to your needs • Avoid bubble baths and bath oils. Taking • Discounts based on family size & income showers rather than tub baths may help you • Same day appointments avoid getting . • Walk-in visits • Convenient locations with extended hours • Cotton underwear and loose clothing are helpful • An on-site pharmacy to save you time & money because they allow air to reach the vaginal area. • A secure Patient Portal to check your lab results & pay your bill

• Change out of sweaty gym clothes and wet Planned Parenthood provides a full range of services and swimsuits after the activity is over. patient education, including:

• It is fine to use and panty liners but be • control options sure that they are unscented and change them at • least every three to four hours to prevent odor and • Well- exams possible vaginal infection. • Pelvic exams • Clinical exams • When you use the bathroom be sure to wipe from • “Stop Cervical ” care: HPV screening, Pap screening & front to back to prevent bacteria from getting into follow-up the vagina. • care • Referral for mammograms • Before and after having , practice good hygiene • testing such as washing, washing your genital area, • Gestational dating sonogram brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth. • Pregnancy options • Referral for • Use a new latex barrier/ every time you • Referral for have sex and when moving between oral, anal and • care (License #130241, #140015, #140016) vaginal areas. • Male exams • STD testing & treatment • HIV testing • PrEP: HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Discharge: What is Normal? • hormone therapy Urinary Tract Infections • Testing & treatment for UTIs • evaluation & treatment Types of Vaginitis Feminine Hygiene Tips Our Services Continue To Grow. Call Us Today! 800-230-PLAN (7526) @ppsouthtexas Planned Parenthood accepts cash/checks, insurance, , Visa, Mastercard and Discover at all locations.

©Planned Parenthood South Texas / Rev. 2/20 (“TRICH”) VAGINITIS (UTI)/BLADDER INFECTION (“YEAST INFECTION”) Trichomoniasis (Trich) is an infection different Vaginitis is a general term for of the Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection Yeast is a fungus that naturally lives in the from BV and yeast because it is spread through vagina. Vaginitis is very common. The vagina of the parts of the body that carry and store vagina. When too much yeast grows it sex. Women and men can get trich. Men often has normal bacteria that keep things in a (pee). UTIs are common in both women becomes a yeast infection. Itching can range do not show symptoms. healthy balance. Anything that changes the balance of normal bacteria in the vagina can and men. from mild to severe with yeast infections. Women may notice: lead to vaginitis. The three most common types Some women notice swelling of the vulva • a yellowish green that Symptoms may include: of vaginitis are , candidiasis (vaginal ) or burning when they urinate. has a foul or bad odor. • urgent and frequent , usually in or yeast infections and trichomoniasis. By • vaginal itching or pain. small amounts. Discharge with a yeast infection: looking at your discharge under a microscope, • pain during sex. • pain or burning during urination. • is usually thick, like cottage cheese. your Planned Parenthood clinician can tell you • between periods. • pressure or cramps in the lower • is white or light yellow. if you have any of these infections on the day of during urination. • does not typically have an unusual odor. Men and woman may have pain when your visit. • bad-smelling and/or cloudy urine. urinating (peeing). Your Planned Parenthood Yeast infections can be treated with pills Some possible causes of vaginitis: • painful vaginal intercourse. clinician will prescribe medicine for the or vaginal creams. Some treatments for • or other medicines • pain in the mid-back (to the right or left of treatment of trich. It is very important that yeast infections are available without a • using scented or antibacterial soap the spine). anyone you’ve had sex with recently also gets prescription. If you are not sure you have a • douching/vaginal sprays or wipes treated—even if they do not have symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, call yeast infection or if you still have symptoms • wearing thong underwear Planned Parenthood to make an appointment. after treating yourself, call Planned If a partner does not get treated, and you have • sex without a latex barrier/condom Parenthood for an appointment. Do not use sex with that person again, you can get the • using flavored lubricants/oils any vaginal creams for at least 24 to 48 hours trich infection again. Do not have sex during • oral, anal or vaginal sex before your appointment so that you can be treatment and for at least two weeks after • having sex with a partner who does not properly examined. treatment to make sure that you do not get practice good hygiene re-infected. • using sex toys without proper cleaning • stress

NORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGE DISCHARGE THAT IS NOT NORMAL BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (“BV”)

The vagina is naturally moist. The vagina stays healthy and If you have a change in your normal discharge, you may have Bacterial vaginal (BV) infections are the most common type cleans itself by producing discharge. The amount of discharge an infection. of vaginitis. BV happens when normal vaginal bacteria is is different from woman to woman and depends on where you out of balance. BV is not a sexual transmitted disease (STD). are in your . Changes include: However, sexual activities may “throw off” your level of • discharge that is not clear or white. vaginal bacteria. Normal discharge: • a foul or bad odor. • is thick and whitish like , or slippery and clear. • pain, swelling, itching or irritation. BV discharge usually: • is yellow when dry on panties. • an unusually large amount of discharge that is irritating. • has a strange, “fishy” vaginal odor. • has a mild natural smell. • is thin, white, gray. If you have any of these symptoms, call • may be mildly irritating. Knowing your body and what is normal for you will help you Planned Parenthood to make an appointment. notice changes right away. Your Planned Parenthood clinician will prescribe medicine for the treatment of BV, either pills or a vaginal . Over-the- counter medicines for yeast infections do not cure BV.