Dear LuvaBaby5,

A woman's vulva and vagina are not "dirty" and do not need to be cleansed before sexual intercourse or sex play. The vagina is self-cleaning — it gets rid of mucus, semen, menstrual fluid, and old cells that are no longer needed. Besides having menstrual periods, women may have other vaginal discharges — whitish-yellow secretions that are normal and healthy.

It's also normal to have a natural genital odor. Some women think they need to "douche" to clean their vaginas, but douching can sometimes upset the balance of vaginal bacteria, which can cause vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. If a woman feels self-conscious about odor, she can wash her vulva and vagina with water and soap that is free of dyes and perfumes.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.