Sports vagina: when you feel discomfort when exercising –

Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, improves mood and increases energy. It also promotes sleep health and reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. Still, many women face a negative side effect of exercise called “vaginal discomfort”, also known as “sports vagina”.

Read on to learn more about this rarely discussed condition and what you can do about it.

WHAT IS SPORTS VAGINA

Sporting vagina is not an official medical condition. It’s a term for vaginal discomfort that occurs with exercise. Your vulvar and vaginal areas produce sweat, which can cause vaginal discomfort when you hit the gym, especially if you don’t wear proper clothing.

The vaginal region is a very delicate area that needs care to prevent this waste from accumulating and reaching the internal region, which will lead to the development of diseases such as candidíasetrichomonymase, bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infection or cystitis. “With the increase in humidity and temperature, the spread of fungi and bacteria is greater”, warns the doctor Loreta Canivilogynecologist.

The labia are responsible for protecting the female genitourinary tract. (Dainis Graveris / Pexels/Disclosure)

SYMPTOMS OF THE SPORTS VAGINA

Sports vagina symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the type of exercise, the intensity of the exercise, and how often you exercise. Symptoms can include:

Vaginal itching Vaginal redness Vaginal irritation Vaginal chafing Strong vaginal odor

HOW TO AVOID THE SPORTS VAGINA

Many women don’t think about their vaginal health when they exercise – until something goes wrong. Follow these steps to minimize or prevent vaginal discomfort during and after exercise:

Cleaning: don’t go home or run errands after practice without going to the locker room. If possible, take a shower. At the very least, wash the vaginal area and change out of sweat-soaked panties and pants.

Wear appropriate gym clothes: Tight yoga pants may look good, but too many are not breathable and cause chafing during exercise. Wear cotton underwear and choose looser workout clothes made from natural materials that repel moisture.

Apply protector: It is no longer recommended to use talcum powder on the genitals. Instead, you can apply a thin layer of emollient such as Calmoseptine, Vaseline or A+D ointment before exercise.

Do not ignore the symptoms: some vaginal itching or irritation after vigorous exercise is not uncommon. If it persists, don’t expect it to go away on its own. You may have an infection.

Take a shower right after leaving the gym (Vladimir Simovic/Thinkstock/Getty Images)

INFECTIONS CAUSED BY SPORTS VAGINA

Sporting vagina can cause a yeast infection, which is an overgrowth of the Candida fungus. Yeast thrives in warm, moist environments, like a sweaty vagina. Symptoms of a yeast infection can include:

thick, white discharge that resembles cottage cheese vaginal itching, which can be intense vaginal burning, especially when in contact with urine painful sex vaginal redness

Most yeast infections do not go away on their own. Treatment options include over-the-counter antifungal suppositories and creams, prescription vaginal antifungal medications, and prescription oral antifungal medications. Taking probiotics and eating foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, can help prevent yeast infections.

Another infection that thrives in hot, sweaty environments is bacterial vaginosis (BV). It’s caused when the balance of good and bad bacteria in your vagina gets out of whack. BV can cause a fishy vaginal odor and gray discharge. Not everyone with BV has symptoms.

Sometimes BV goes away without treatment, but persistent BV can be treated with prescription drugs such as metronidazole or clindamycin.

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EXERCISE X PELVIS ORGANS

Organ prolapse occurs when the muscles in the pelvic area weaken and the pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, and rectum, move out of place and press against the vagina. This creates a bulge in the vagina.

Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, such as Kegel exercises, can help prevent pelvic organ prolapse. But some exercises, such as weight lifting, jumping rope, jumping on a trampoline, intense abdominal work, running, and high-impact aerobics, can make the prolapse worse. If you have a prolapse, it may take trial and error to determine which exercises won’t make the condition worse.

CONCLUSION

If you regularly experience vaginal discomfort during exercise, it’s time to evaluate your workout habits. Take a look at your workout wardrobe. Replace any tight clothing with looser clothing made from breathable fabrics. If you’re a fan of cycling or indoor cycling, which puts pressure on your vagina, try something different to see if your condition improves.

If vaginal irritation persists, you may have an infection or another condition that requires treatment. See your doctor for an evaluation.