Your vagina didn’t exactly come with an owner’s manual, but after a couple of decades of getting your period, seeing a gynecologist, having sex, and birthing kids, you pretty much know how to take care of it.
You know the basic rules: no douching, don't leave tampons in too long, and get regular Pap tests. But as you get older and especially as you approach perimenopause and menopause you may have new vaginal symptoms such as vaginal chafing syndrome or hormonal issues you’re not as prepared to deal with. And seemingly harmless habits including using talcum vaginal powder regularly can have a serious impact on everything from your sex life to your risk of cancer.
different factors can affect the health of your vagina, including:

• Sex While unprotected sex can result in a serious sexually transmitted infection that can cause infertility, forceful or harsh sex may also result in serious vaginal injury.

• Certain health conditions or treatments Endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause sex to be painful.Antibiotic usage can cause yeast infections that make the vagina inflamed, swollen, and itchy.

• Birth control and feminine-hygiene products Vaginal irritation can be caused by condoms, diaphragms, and spermicides. Leaving a tampon in the vagina for more than eight hours can increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening bacterial infection that needs immediate medical attention.

• Pregnancy and childbirth veginal discharge increases during pregnancy. Tears or incisions in the vagina and loss of vaginal muscle tone are common during childbirth.

• Psychological issues Chronic stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression can result in pain or discomfort during sex.

• Changes in hormone levels The decline in estrogen production after menopause and during breast-feeding causes the vaginal lining to become thinner, resulting in painful sex.