Oxygen USA – July-August 2019

112 summer 2019

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A UTI happens when bacteria sneak into your bladder
through your urethra — the tube that leads from your
bladder to the outside world. These bacteria quickly
multiply, causing the lining of your urinary tract to swell and
in turn causing many uncomfortable, painful symptoms.

PROBABLE CAUSE
Empty your bladder before a workout as well as directly
afterward. “People who exercise tend to drink a lot of water,
but they are also likely to delay urination in order to keep
their workout moving along,” Ross says. But when you hold it,
you’re also holding in all those germs.

PREVENT IT
Pee on the Reg Take regular bathroom breaks, even if
you only have to go a little, and although the bathroom visits
might be dreadful, emptying your bladder helps flush out any
hunkering bacteria.

See Your Doc — Like Now Over-the-counter meds might
mask the pain, but they won’t oust the bacteria, which will
likely need a course of antibiotics to be evicted. “Waiting
too long to start antibiotics could allow the infection to
progress from a simple bladder infection to a complex kidney
infection,” Ross warns.

Sports Vagina — aka Sports V
Though not an official medical condition, experts agree that
sports V is a real thing. “The outer tissues of the vagina can
create a lot of friction over the inner vaginal areas,” says
Michele Olson, Ph.D., exercise physiologist and adjunct
professor of sports science at Huntingdon College in
Montgomery, Alabama. Just like your feet can slide around in
your shoes without protection from socks, your vagina can be
similarly chafed and rubbed raw without cushioning, she adds.

PROBABLE CAUSE
If you don’t have enough layers on when performing high-
friction movements such as Spinning, cycling, walking or
running, you are at risk for sports V: In one study, 60 percent
of cyclists reported some degree of genital discomfort from
riding. “The way the vagina is positioned on a bicycle seat
[creates] pressure on the delicate, soft tissues of the labia
majora and minora,” Ross explains. On a prolonged bike
ride, pressure on the tailbone, lower back and groin also
restricts blood flow and increases skin irritation, resulting
in genital pain and/or vaginal numbness — especially in the
area of the clitoris.

PREVENT IT
Be Crotch-Conscious Ross recommends wearing cycling tights or shorts with a
chamois — a padded crotch lining — to reduce the risk of sports V. Also, applying a thin
layer of emollient such as Vaseline or A&D ointment to your lady parts before exercise
serves as a protectant from friction and chaffing.

Leave a Landing Strip In other words, don’t over she-scape. “A nice trim of the pubic
hair is fine, but don’t shave it completely,” Ross recommends. “The remaining hair serves
as a cushion.”

AN OUNCE OF

PREVENTION

Avoid having to procure a pound of

cure with these three tips that can

reduce your chances of developing

an issue down below.

Skip the Thong

Don’t wear thongs that slide around a

lot when you’re exercising. “Bacteria

from the anus and colon are intro-

duced to the bladder through the

urethra when you wear a thong,”

Sherry A. Ross adds. And because

the urethra is a lot shorter in women

than in men, women tend to get more

bladder infections and UTIs. If you

must wear panties, make sure they are

made from a breathable, natural fiber

such as cotton or bamboo that wicks

moisture away from your vagina.

Don’t Be a Douche

Your vagina is a perfectly bal-

anced ecosystem and does not

need anything such as a douche to

help it “smell better.” In fact, douch-

ing changes the equilibrium of your

vaginal pH, increasing your likelihood

of infection, according to Ross. She

does, however, recommend feminine

wipes for a little postworkout pat-

down to clean away excess sweat and

moisture and maintain a healthy pH.

Alternately, add some coconut oil to

a hot bath to moisturize the skin of

the vulva and prevent dryness and

itching. Bonus: Coconut oil also can

resolve ingrown hairs and bumps.

Push Through Your Period

Though it might be the last thing you

want to do when Aunt Flow comes

calling, working out can actually

relieve menstrual symptoms like

uterine cramping, vomiting, nausea

and back pain. “When you exercise,

your body increases blood flow to

the uterus and boosts its produc-

tion of endorphins,” Michele Olson

says. Those feel-good hormones can

counter any cramping and combat

your postworkout cravings. What’s

more, the effectiveness of your work-

outs — period or not — remains the

same, according to a study in the

International Journal of Neuroscience

done on female athletes. Yes, it may

be harder to motivate and to work at

your usual intensity, but your body is

still capable of hard work no matter

what the date on the calendar, so

don’t let your uterus talk you out of^

a sweat sesh.

UTI

Sexual activity

also can introduce

bacteria into your

urethra, leading

to a UTI. Urinate

as soon after

intercourse as

possible to reduce

your likelihood of

contraction.

UTI SYMPTOMS

A frequent urge

to urinate

A burning sensa-

tion when you do

urinate

Pelvic pain

An inability to

urinate or passing

frequent, small

amounts of urine

Urine that

appears cloudy

or reddish-pink (a

sign of blood in the

urine)

Strong-smelling

urine

SPORTS VAGINA

SYMPTOMS

Burning,

redness and

itching

numbness

skin infections

swelling

lymphatic

damage

S

U