The V Zone: A Woman's Guide to Intimate Health Care - Couverture souple

Bouchez, Colette

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0684870975 ISBN 13 : 9780684870977

Editeur : Atria, 2001

Synopsis

Book by Colette Bouchez

A propos du livre

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Chapter One: Understanding Your V Zone
What You Need to Know About Your Intimate Health

If you're like most other women, it's likely you pay very little attention to your intimate anatomy until a problem occurs. Then you panic, as you begin to realize how little you really know about some areas of your body. Indeed, studies show that, by and large, most of us are far more familiar with the pores on our nose than we are with our V zone, the area between our belly button and our thighs. And that can be a big mistake.

Why? First, the more you know about your intimate anatomy, the greater is your chance of having not only a happier and more satisfying sex life but, more important, a healthier one, for you and your partner.

More important, not being familiar with how this area of your body functions can have some dire consequences. Indeed, the placement and structure of a woman's intimate geography is such that each of us is at risk for a variety of diseases and conditions, several of which carry some potentially serious complications. If you're not familiar with what's normal for you, then you may have a real problem figuring out when something goes wrong -- at least early enough to get the kind of comprehensive treatment that offsets the risk of any of those serious health consequences from occurring.

What's that you say? You're counting on your doctor to provide you with all the V zone protection you need? Then you may be surprised to learn studies have shown that your gynecologist may not be offering you the care you deserve. Indeed, at least one new report, a 1999 survey of doctors conducted by the National Vaginitis Association, revealed that the majority of gynecologists sometimes bypass offering patients treatment for even potentially serious vaginal infections unless they themselves bring symptoms to their doctor's attention. And this can be the case even when the doctor notices problems during the exam. Perhaps the worst part is that the doctors surveyed didn't even provide a reason. They simply said they don't do it!

Indeed, if you are to be ensured the best, most progressive, most preventative health care possible, you must become an active participant in that health care. And ultimately that means knowing enough about your body to enable you to recognize when something does go wrong.

When it comes to learning about your V zone, the best place to start is with a little healthy self-exploration, done with a keen eye toward becoming familiar with form and function. In short, you need to know not only how your intimate anatomy looks and feels under normal conditions of optimum health, but also how it acts and reacts.

With that goal in mind, this book begins with a kind of personal road map -- a "geography," if you will -- of a woman's most intimate parts, with emphasis on helping you learn more about what's normal for you -- and what's not.

If you already believe you know more about your body than you probably will ever need to, feel free to skim this chapter and proceed to the areas of the book that apply to your V zone health needs right now.

But if you're not really sure about how much you do or don't know, then I invite you to pay special attention to this chapter. If, in fact, you take only one message from this book, let it be that you can have power over your body and your health care -- once you take the time to get to know yourself.

Your V Zone Road Map: Where to Begin

Your journey of self-exploration starts with the area just below your "bikini line" -- the area of your V zone known as the vulva. For most of us, the portion we are most familiar with is the mons veneris, or mound of Venus, a wad of fatty tissue that lies just on top of the opening to the vagina. Usually covered with pubic hair, it acts as a protective cover particularly during vigorous intercourse, helping to absorb impact and sheltering the more delicate organs and bones in and around the pelvis. Not coincidentally, this section of your V zone is also among the most erotic areas of your body, highly sensitive to the touch. In fact, the pubic hair found here can be so responsive that even a light touch can cause a sensual, electric-like shock sensation that travels right to the inside of your vagina.

Following the mound of Venus downward, you will come to the labia majora, or outside vaginal lips. Also made up of pads of fatty tissue covered with pubic hair, these "lips" are also extremely sensitive to both touch and temperature. In fact, much like a man's testicles, which shrink and wrinkle in response to cold temperatures, so do a woman's labia. They also swell and become puffy and softer in warmer temperatures, particularly when you are bathing in a hot tub or sauna or when you are sexually aroused. For some women, simply stroking the outside of the labia majora can act as powerful foreplay.

Inside the labia majora is a second set of "lips," known as the labia minora. Composed of a thin tissue with an elastic quality, they work to protect the interior of your vagina. In some women the labia minora are hardly visible; in others they are large and protruding. Both types, and anything in between, are considered normal.

Although most often we think of our intimate secretions and discharges as coming from the vagina, in fact, most come from the walls lining the outside and inside of the outer vulvar lips. Both the labia majora and labia minora contain an abundance of sweat, scent, and oil glands that continuously secrete the fluids that keep the vagina moist and healthy and provide the characteristic musky scent and extra "wet" sensation when you are sexually aroused. These secretions also help protect the vagina from acids and other irritating chemicals in urine and menstrual blood, as well as help block the passage of some bacteria into the reproductive tract.

Nestled neatly into the folds of the labia is your actual vagina. Although it is only about 3?4 of an inch wide and extends just 3 to 4 inches inward, it is composed of highly elastic tissue and stretches dramatically to many times its original size. This makes it possible not only to give birth but also to comfortably accommodate a penis of virtually any size. To help make intercourse easier and more pleasurable for both sexes, the inside of the vagina also has a pleated-like surface called rugae. Similar to the folds found in corrugated cardboard, the rugae help grip the penis and ease it deeper inside. After intercourse, as well as childbirth, your vagina contracts back to its normal size.

Located deeper inside the vagina is the hymen, a thin membrane that in the not too distant past was thought to function as a kind of archaic "virginity meter." As the myth went, on first intercourse the hymen would tear, causing bleeding to occur. If that characteristic bloodshed didn't take place, a woman's virginity was put into question. Today we know just how foolish (if not insulting) this myth really is. Indeed, so many factors can cause the hymen to tear, including most sporting activities, that even a doctor can't tell if a woman is a virgin simply by looking to this membrane for clues.

Although its shape and size is as individual as the woman herself (hymens can range from a thin, wispy membrane to a tough, fibrous layer), in some women it can be so thick that it won't break even during sex, which can cause any attempt at intercourse to be extremely painful. In fact, if you have always experienced pain or discomfort during intercourse, one of the first areas your doctor should check is your hymen. Should it be exceptionally thick, your gynecologist can remove it by a relatively fast and simple in-office procedure.

More V Zone Anatomy:

What Else You Need to Know

In addition to your vulva, your intimate anatomy also involves the following areas:

Urethra -- Located just below your clitoris, this is the passageway for urine. About 3 inches long, it extends inward and is connected to your bladder. Containing mucus-secreting glands, it also helps produce a fluid that keeps your bladder opening moist and less likely to become irritated.

Perineum -- A short piece of skin that stretches from the bottom of the vagina to the anal opening. Because the perineum can tear during childbirth, some obstetricians recommend cutting the skin just before the baby is ready to leave the birth channel. This, however, is considered controversial, and not all physicians agree it's necessary.

Bartholin's glands -- Located on either side of the vaginal opening, these tiny glands produce small amounts of lubricating fluid, particularly during sex. Sometimes these glands can become inflamed, causing pain and swelling and, ultimately, infection (see Chapter 4).

Cervix -- Located at the end of the vagina and composed of smooth muscle and collagen fibers, the cervix acts as the gateway to the uterus. Its size can range from 1 to 3 millimeters (between 0.04 and 0.12 inches), changing in response to various stages of a single menstrual cycle. Although it is technically part of the vagina, the cells lining the inside of the cervix look and grow differently, making them much more susceptible to infection.

Uterus -- Shaped much like a small pear and about the same size, the uterus is the main organ of your entire reproductive system (see illustration). It is lined with layers of cells, one of which responds to hormonal stimulation. This stimulation causes the lining to grow thick during each menstrual cycle and be shed in the form of menstrual blood each month. Should pregnancy occur, the lining becomes the spongy nest where your fertilized egg implants and where your baby grows and develops.

Ovaries -- Attached to the uterus by strong but thin ligaments are the ovaries, the main producers of the primary female hormone estrogen. In addition, the ovaries also play host to some 400,000 egg follicles -- or "fertility seeds" -- one of which develops into a fertile egg and is ovulated, usually every month during the childbearing years.

Fallopian tubes -- Just 3 to 4 inches in length and a delicate 1?3 of an inch in diameter, these slender tubes jut out from either side of the uterus and slope gently downward toward the ovary. The finger-like ends, which resemble the open petals of a flower, reach out to catch an ovulated egg. The fallopian tubes also act as the transport lane for sperm, which swim toward the egg in anticipation of fertilization. If fertilization does occur, tiny hairs (called cilia), which line the inside of the tube, help shuttle the fertilized egg into the uterus, where it can implant and begin to grow.

Your Healthy Body: Know the Signs

When it comes to a healthy V zone, there are three major factors to look for. They include the way your vulva looks and feels to the touch, how it smells, and the quality of your intimate secretions or discharge. All three factors, alone or together, can help you determine if your V zone is healthy or if you are in need of medical attention and care. Here's what to look for.

Factor #1: Discharge

Medically known as leukorrhea, many women believe that a noticeable vaginal discharge is always an indication of a problem. In reality, however, it's one of the most important signs of good vaginal health. Indeed, the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, and discharge is one way it rids itself of old cells, bacteria, and other microorganisms that might otherwise cause harm.

What's Normal: According to experts at the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, look for a discharge that is milky, cloudy white, or clear. If it dries on your panties, it may take on a yellow tinge or contain white flecks. Since the amount of discharge is different for every woman -- and it changes from week to week in direct response to the menstrual cycle -- it's difficult to say what's normal in this respect. That said, for the most part, discharge should be visible but not so abundant as to make you feel you are wetting your panties all day long. You should know, however, that stress can affect vaginal discharge (increasing or decreasing it), as can birth control pills. Sexual arousal will almost always increase production (that's normal!), while just after pregnancy and during breast-feeding, discharge often decreases, making your vagina feel somewhat drier.

Red Flags: Problems include discharge that appears grayish-white or yellow-green in color; is clumpy or "cheesy" looking; a frothy or foaming discharge of any color; and exceptional amounts of discharge, particularly if it is runny, watery, or very thin.

What This Means to You: For the large majority of women these particular red flags usually signal the presence of any number of simple vaginal infections -- and you'll learn more about what they are and how they are treated later in this book. In a few rare instances, however, they could signal the presence of more complicated and serious problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease or even cancer. However, as with all other medical problems, the faster you are diagnosed, the more likely it is that you will suffer no permanent consequences. So don't panic -- but don't avoid seeing your doctor.

Factor #2: Vaginal Odors

Every woman has a personal intimate scent unique to her, and it's generally magnified during sexual arousal as well as during ovulation and sometimes menstruation. In fact, some studies have shown that it is this natural scent of "reproduction" that throws a man back to his most primal mating instincts, causing him to feel more "turned on" to a woman when she is the most fertile.

What's Normal: Under healthy circumstances, a vagina should have no offensive odor -- but that doesn't mean you won't smell something. In addition to your personal biochemical scent, most healthy women will also notice a faint salty or slightly musky odor.

Red Flags: Look for a "fishy" or foul odor -- sometimes described as a bitter or sour smell. Also note any pungent smell that seems obvious, such as overly salty or oily, or any disturbing odors that appear directly after intercourse. All can signal the beginnings of a vaginal infection. Also be on the lookout for what can only be described as a vague smell of freshly baked bread. It could signal a yeast infection. At the same time, remember that what may seem like an intimate odor could actually be coming from an area outside the vagina, such as the groin, where many women tend to sweat profusely during warm weather. In addition, certain foods can change the scent of your urine (sometimes making it smell stronger or more ammonia-like), which may make it seem as if your vagina is emanating an odor when it's not. These smells do not indicate a vaginal problem and should not be confused with true, intimate odors.

What This Means to You: Most often a vaginal odor that does not disappear with good hygiene is usually the sign of some type of infection. (You'll learn more about what those infections are in upcoming chapters.) In the meantime, you should also check the presence of any accompanying discharge (see Factor #1 above), as this can help narrow down the possible causes of the odor itself.

But with or without discharge, do bring the odor to your doctor's attention. Important note: When you see your doctor (and all abnormal odors and discharges should be checked firsthand and not diagnosed over the telephone), do not attempt to cover up the smell by using a scented body wash ...

Présentation de l'éditeur :

THE V ZONE addresses the difficult and embarrassing questions women often are unable to ask their own doctors. In non-threatening, easy to understand language, Colette Bouchez demystifies the newest, most important medical data and offers women a clear plan for dealing with the most common gynaecological complaints, including yeast infections, vaginal pain, rashes, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to the traditional medical solutions offered, THE V ZONE also gives women natural and alternative solutions and helps readers navigate the wide array of over the counter treatments, indicating what's safe to use, what's not, when to self-treat, and when to seek professional care.
Featuring sidebars from more than two dozen experts, THE V ZONE also offers readers the most definitive health data available on some of the most popular female health products on the market today, including menstrual aids, home test kits and douches. THE V ZONE is an invaluable contribution to the field of women's health, a resource millions of women will turn to for guidance in every day health matters, as well as for help in treating specific problems.

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Atria
• Date d'édition: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0684870975
• ISBN 13: 9780684870977
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 260