Learn what your vagina needs for best health.The vagina is ever changing. It changes over a lifetime and over the course of a single menstrual cycle. Bacteria: Home Team & Visiting Team Understanding the ecology of your vagina is important. You can have the best vaginal hygiene yet still get an infection.  Every woman has vaginal bacteria: the home team and visiting team.The home team contains probiotics like Lactobacillus. These are the bacteria you want. It’s good for your vagina to be acidic so the home team survives. The visiting team is not your friend. Members include STIs and viruses; both can disturb the ecosystem in your vagina. The visiting team has a better chance at sticking around for women in perimenopause or menopause when the area isn’t moisturized by estrogen. The bad guys prefer a more alkaline environment. Some members of your home team are a bit more inviting to the visiting team, making it easier for other bacteria to hang around longer. Blood has a higher pH than your vagina’s preferred acidity. The spread of infections can be more of a problem during the menstrual flow. Detoxifying Your Vagina? First, anything that’s supposed to give you a pleasant aroma should be avoided. Vaginal tissue is quite sensitive. Don’t irritate it with allergens and scented products. Second, the vagina is like a self-cleaning oven. It doesn’t need to be steamed. Don’t risk burning it with steam because the vagina is delicate. Finally, you want happy, healthy vaginal flora. Don’t monkey with them in the name of detoxification. Listen as Dr. Mary Jane Minkin joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how you can support your vagina’s optimal health. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins