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Every woman has a monthly menstrual cycle soon after they hit puberty. A normal cycle is usually between 21-35 days long.  Composition of menstrual blood: It is composed of blood, old parts of uterine tissues, cells from the mucus lining of vagina and bacteria and making the vaginal flora, vaginal secretions containing electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. Content of menstrual blood: The content of menstrual blood varies from person to person, from one cycle to another, which depends on a woman's age and thickness of uterus. All these contents are found in lower concentration than in ordinary blood, e.g., there is more water, less iron and less hemoglobin. The pH level of menstrual blood is similar to that of normal blood. 

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The onset of menstruation is one of the changes that occur in a girl’s body during puberty. A menstrual cycle is usually 28 days long where the uterus prepares for pregnancy and develops a uterine lining made up of tissue and blood vessels called the endometrium. When pregnancy does not occur, the lining sheds and a mixture of blood and tissue exits through the vagina, this process is called menstruation or periods, as is more commonly known.  Some women go through periods with little to no problems. However, several women experience problems during their menstrual cycle which are known as menstrual disorders. These problems include the painful cramps one experiences in the days leading up to or even during periods, abnormally heavy bleeding during periods or not having any bleeding at all. Though variations in menstrual patterns can occur normally too, but one should be concerned if the cycle is less than 21 days or more than 3 months long. It is also a sign of a disorder if your periods last for more than 10 days. 

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A healthy vagina has many beneficial bacteria. Yeast is a fungus that lives in the vagina in very small numbers. However, when it grows in large quantities it means that you are suffering from vaginal yeast infections. They are a common infection and usually not serious. However, they can bother you a lot. What is the cause of yeast infection in vagina? The most common bacteria present in our vagina is Lactobacillus acidophilus that helps keep other organisms like yeast in control. However, the growth of yeast called Candida albicans causes yeast infection in the inner part of the vagina, and is a threat to our hygiene and safety. This happens when due to some reason the balance of these organisms’ changes. It can be because of intake of antibiotics, pregnancy resulting in high estrogen levels or hormonal therapy, or health problems like diabetes, HIV infection, etc.

Every month, a woman has periods on an average for 5 days, it can be less or more, as it varies from person to person. However, what is common in all of us is that at some point or another we all have faced those rashes on the bikini line, itchiness and foul smell due to sanitary napkins and tampons. We try our best to stay clean and fresh, we use different products so that the pad doesn’t irritate our skin, even change it as often as we can. Yet we face the same problems!  Do you know why? It’s because most of the pads and tampons are made of bleached rayon, cotton and plastics. Moreover, these products usually leave behind fibers that can lead to many bladder and vaginal infections. Further, it has also been discovered that tampons tend to absorb even the natural fluids and friendly bacteria that help in cleansing the vagina. 

We all know the vagina is a self-cleansing organ. The cervix that is located in our vagina is a gland that produces mucous. This mucous-like fluid flows down the vaginal canal opening and helps in flushing out the vaginal skin cells which are dead or exfoliated.  Vaginal discharge is this sticky liquid discharge from the vagina which is mostly the mixture of mucous, dead skin, and bacteria. This also provides a home for healthy bacteria lactobacillus, which prevents the growth of bad bacteria and yeast, by producing hydrogen peroxide keeping the vagina acidic.  Normal vaginal discharge is a healthy bodily function, and it’s your body’s way of cleaning and protecting the vagina. It’s normal for discharge to increase with exercise, sexual arousal, ovulation, birth control pill use, and emotional stress.

We all understand that the vagina is one of the most vital, as well as sensitive, parts of a woman’s body. But what most of us are unaware of, is the fact that our vagina is a self-cleansing organ. A healthy vagina is acidic in nature and naturally cleans itself as it contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria, and we do not need to use all those products available in the market to keep it clean and hygienic. Any interference often causes imbalance in the normal condition(s), which can lead to irritation or infection in our vagina; these however are not harmful in the long run.

Lubricants are gel-like substances that are used during sexual intercourse or masturbation to reduce friction.  When a woman is aroused, the first thing that happens is that she becomes ‘wet.’ This ‘wetness’ is a natural lubricant. However, the amount produced each time can vary according to certain factors like the woman’s menstrual time, age, stress levels, etc. But it isn’t necessary that we only use lubricants to overcome the dryness in the vagina. They can also be used to make sex and masturbation easier and enjoyable. It is known that lubricants increase the pleasure during sexual intercourse.