Every spring, people revive their New Year’s resolutions long enough to get themselves in shape for summer sports and swimwear. As national organizations recognize Stress Awareness Month, we are also encouraged to focus on our bodies for reasons other than the competitive or aesthetic. But, with so much noise about improving yourself physically, it’s often difficult to remember that your main goal should be having good health.

Dr Barbara North, medical director for Instead, Inc., a company devoted to developing better alternatives for women’s health, says women have distinct needs when it comes to attaining and maintaining good health. Dr. North says feminine health is often neglected, but that it is key to overall good health. She offers the following tips to help ensure it is not overlooked.

Washing and washes: Everyday cleansing is crucial to feminine hygiene, but certain feminine washes can actually be harmful to your health. Studies have shown douching can increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical cancer. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women avoid it because it can hide symptoms of an infection or push the infection farther up into their reproductive tract.

Preventing infections: Women can contract urinary tract infections (UTIs) from seemingly harmless sources. Typical culprits can be bubble baths, infrequent urination, tight clothing or improper wiping. The best protective measures are drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice, and keeping clean with mild soap and proper wiping.

It’s also important to use the restroom as soon as you need too – waiting too long can be both harmful and painful to your body www.softcup.com.

Managing cycles: For some women, tampons and pads can cause more problems than they solve. From irritation caused by fibers or chemicals, to risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), the traditional choices are not always the best solutions. One option is the Instead Softcup feminine hygiene product, which eliminates the threat of TSS by collecting, rather than absorbing, flow, while also promoting comfort. It’s available at www.softcup.com.

Achieving balance: Taking antibiotics can alter the balance of a woman’s system, often resulting in a yeast infection. When killing the body’s “bad" bacteria, antibiotics suppress the naturally occurring “good" bacteria that control yeast fungus. Women who take oral antibiotics or steroids should consult their doctors to determine the best course of action for continuing treatment.

Women need to know how to achieve and maintain good health on a daily basis – both through nutrition and with feminine hygiene. Dr. North says that a thorough understanding of feminine hygiene may be the key to helping more women achieve good health this spring.