Women of all ages contemplate important questions about their bodies. All too many of these inquiries about sexual and reproductive health are persistently unanswered.

Is it because, as women, we are hesitant or embarrassed to bring up our concerns with our physicians? Worse yet, do we ignore our concerns because we do not trust our health care providers? As a practicing Obstetrician-Gynecologist, I am quite familiar with the concerns of my patients.

In this series, I will dissect commonly discussed concerns and answer frequently asked questions in the context of each decade of a woman’s life. Let us start with the rapidly evolving 20s. What does it mean to find health and wellness in your 20s?

Ideally, a 20-year-old woman will have visited her gynecologist at least once before. The ideal time to have a first Gyn visit is between ages 13 to 15. She should understand the basics of vulvar hygiene, period physiology, contraception, sexual health, proper vaccination, and overall wellness. Unfortunately, I often see first-time patients in their early to mid-20s. Many of these women have a mixed bag of under education, unfortunate myths, and inconsistent practices. To get caught up, I recommend to my 20-something patients to focus on tracking their periods to identify any abnormalities in their cycles, deciding on a routine form of birth control, establishing a monthly routine for self-breast exams (always at the same time each month) and ensuring they’re up to date on their HPV vaccination, as a starting point.

There’s a common misconception that scrubbing, douching, or using strong or scented cleansers near or inside the vagina will keep odors at bay. In fact, this is one of the worst things a young woman can decide to do. The vagina is an amazing muscular organ fully capable of self-cleaning. Not only is it unnecessary to clean, scrub or douche inside the vagina, it can also be detrimental to the delicate balance of the organ. I recommend washing the area with water, and using a gentle cleanser if desired and only on the vulva – never inside the vagina. If there is still an issue with undesirable odor, a simple, holistic boric acid product is usually the best way to support normal vaginal balance.

While a woman’s 20s are peak timing for hormonal performance and conception odds, this period can also be a confusing and challenging time in other ways. I’ve met and known many 20-something women who were concerned about issues like sexual dysfunction, achieving orgasm and low libido, pain with intercourse, spontaneous or terminated pregnancy loss, and mental health-related to sexual and reproductive issues. We have to do more to normalize, de-stigmatize, and openly discuss these issues. They are much more common than most young women realize. It’s okay to bring it up, ask questions and seek out the care and support we
need. The more we open up about our sexual and reproductive health, the less often we’ll live with potentially dangerous or unhealthy conditions, and the less often we’ll suffer in silence.

To build the foundation for a healthy sexual and reproductive future, first, establish a relationship with a local ob-gyn if you don’t already have one. Then show up prepared for your next visit. To prepare:

Finally, prepare a list of questions for your doctor, and bring your notepad into the examination room. If you feel nervous, it can be helpful to read the questions straight from a piece of paper. Consider asking about:

Your 20s should be an exciting and life-affirming decade. With a little courage, plus some preparation and initiative, you can address and manage your medical questions and concerns. Then you’ll find yourself free to fully experience the fun of your youth while enjoying robust sexual and reproductive well-being. That’s my dream for each of you.