(NewsUSA) - The pandemic created a major shift in the way people consume - and, more importantly, trust - information, especially as it relates to vaginal health. In fact, a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of RepHresh of 2,000 American women age 24-34 reveals that two in five women named Google as their go-to source of information over a physician when experiencing discomfort or vaginal health symptoms.

Many women are also turning to social media for health advice. For example, on TikTok, hashtags relating to the words "sex education" have over 70 million views. A now infamous TikTok video, providing a tutorial on how to relieve constipation through "vaginal splinting" has racked up over 3 million views and the latest popular #icecubechallenge claims to tighten the vagina and curb bacterial overgrowth.

While these trending DIY/at-home medical hacks can be entertaining, many of these practices are not only ineffective at controlling the natural balance of good and bad bacteria, but can be dangerous and cause more harm than good. Melting an ice cube in the vagina can elevate the natural pH balance and trigger a bacterial infection as the pH of water (7.5-8) is higher than the normal vaginal pH (3.5-4.5). And, while vaginal splinting is a scientific method used by medical professionals, experts caution trying it at home as it poses a risk of bacterial spread if not done properly.

The RepHresh survey found that over half (51%) thought a vagina should have a neutral pH, and only 12% correctly identified "moderately acidic" as the ideal pH balance. In addition, the top three most Googled phrases and questions respondents needed answers about included "vaginal discharge" (44%), "do I have a yeast infection?" (39%) and "vaginal odor" (37%).

With an uptick in misinformation, most women frequently misdiagnose their vaginal symptoms. That's why it's more critical than ever that women turn to trusted health care professionals for advice, proper diagnosis and remedies for the actual problem.

Here are a few important things women might not know, but need to know to maintain good vaginal health:

1. Vaginal odor is completely normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Refrain from using unnecessary scented products, including wipes and washes that claim to eliminate odor with fruity or flowery fragrances, as this will not solve the root cause of the issue, which is an unbalanced pH. Do look for clinically-backed and doctor-recommended products for vaginal health, such as over-the-counter RepHresh Gel, which rebalances pH to a healthy range, eliminates odor, and lasts up to three days.

2. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections can present similar symptoms, such as unusual vaginal discharge and discomfort, so when women run to the drug store and buy an OTC yeast medication such as Monistat, they are not addressing the root cause of the problem. Two out of three times it is BV, which must be treated with an antibiotic from their health care provider. But, antibiotics can kill the good and bad bacteria and cause a yeast infection, so make sure to take a vaginal probiotic once a day such as RepHresh Pro-B as it contains 2 strains of vaginal lactobacilli to keep the vaginal flora in balance and eat foods high in probiotics like a healthy no-sugar-added Greek yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or miso.

3. High sugar and alcohol intake can elevate pH imbalances and contribute to an overgrowth of yeast. Maintain a healthy moderation of sugary drinks and junk food as excess amounts not only impact vaginal health, but overall weight gain and wellness.

4. Vaginal discharge is a completely normal function in which the vagina naturally removes old cells to keep the environment healthy and clean. Some women have more discharge, while others might experience very little, and it can change in color and thickness depending on the ovulation cycle. However, discharge accompanied with itching, burning, fishy odor, swelling, unusual color, or pelvic pain should be brought to a doctor's attention as it can be a bacterial infection or STI and must be treated appropriately.

Before trying something new, consult with your healthcare provider especially when things seem off to ensure the safety and efficacy of the method or product you are considering. And, don't miss your annual OB/GYN visit.

Maria Sophocles, MD, OB/GYN is the Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton in Princeton, NJ.

"He'll Be Waiting"
by Liz Alterman

When Tess Porter agrees to pick up her boyfriend's college pal at the airport on a snowy December night, she has no idea she's about to embark on the most dangerous ride of her life. Two days later, the 17-year-old wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, unable to remember how she got there.

Her parents are acting strangely, and neither James, her boyfriend, nor her best friend Izzy has visited. As she struggles to physically recover, Tess wrestles with haunting questions: What happened? Will her memory ever return? And what if she's better off not recalling any of it? Purchase at https://amzn.to/2PtOUHi.

"Ellerslie"
by William Francis

"Who is the Lady of Ellerslie?" F. Scott Fitzgerald is hoping for a quiet retreat to write his next novel following "The Great Gatsby." He and his wife Zelda rent a mansion in Delaware known as Ellerslie. Their stay is anything but quiet. There is another guest staying at Ellerslie -- a female spirit who roams the property.

Looking to sell Ellerslie, the owner hires April Ross, the only female student at the University of Delaware's History Department, to research the estate's history. It doesn't take long before April realizes the true reason she was hired -- to uncover the identity of the ghost. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3l8Jmxe.

"Walking with Ghosts on Ward's Pond"
by Heidi Sprouse

In 1906, the murder of factory worker Grace Brown, found dead in a lake, rocks the nation. Her lover, Chester Gillette, is the main suspect. Journalist Charlie Baxter goes to the former home of Judge Ward, prosecutor in the case, where he finds himself haunted by Chester's ghost. He hears a scream and is stunned to meet Katherine Grace Brown, a woman who shares the name of the murder victim.

Katherine is tortured by nightmares of the same man and woman in a boat on a summer's night. She resembles the woman and feels her terror the moment she falls overboard. Katherine is hoping to find peace, but instead finds herself pulled into an old murder case. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rO2e7w. 

"Love Him/Hate Him"
by Chris Bedell

Seventeen-year-old Connor doesn't believe his best friend Evelyn's death was an accident. Falling down the stairs was random, and Connor can't help but wonder if someone might've pushed her. Determined to find out the truth, Connor starts his own investigation.

He suspects a married man with whom she was having an affair, but he has an airtight alibi.

Complicating the situation is Connor's unexpected hookup with Evelyn's twin brother, Liam, who is trapped between his attraction to Connor and his abusive father. Connor struggles with his growing attraction for Liam. Their secret rendezvous are fun, but if Connor is going to have more with Liam, he'll have to be honest about his feelings and his suspicions of who killed Evelyn. Will either survive the truth? Purchase at https://amzn.to/38An9n0.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

These tips from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can help:

- Set priorities. Make sure the basic expenses are covered, then consider how much you might have to spend on summer activities. Set a budget to prevent overspending, and cut back on some areas if you can to put more in the summer fun fund. Summer is for fun, but not at the expense of sabotaging your smart financial goals.

- Find deals. If you want to travel, take advantage of flexible bookings now offered by many airlines and hotels to attract cautious customers. Other ways to save on travel include using rewards points and traveling at off-peak times. If you want to stay close to home, take advantage of free local activities, festivals, parks, trails, and museums, more of which are opening every day.

If you like to summer in the same spot, and know that it will be a longtime family tradition, consider the financial pros and cons of investing in a vacation home, says CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional Joshua Charles CFP®.

"Many people will purchase the second home with the idea of renting it when they are not using it (Vacation Rental by Owner - VRBO), or use a management company to find renters and manage the property," says Charles. "This can help offset the monthly expenditures, but be careful as you might be dedicating more money, time and energy than you expected to for the venture," he cautions.

Other options for investing in your favorite getaway without the headaches of ownership include:

- Timeshares. Timeshares require less work than homeownership, but they may have pricey recurring fees, so read the fine print, says Charles.

- Fractionals. If you buy a vacation home with a group of people, family, friends, or other investors, the upfront cost is less and there is no need for offseason rental. Plus, there are potential tax deductions.

A CFP® professional can provide guidance and advice to help you plan your best summer ever, whether planning this year's vacation or setting the stage for years of memories.

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org for more advice about vacation planning and vacation-home investments.

"Moments Like This"
by Nina Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha

After Andie Matthews chooses her career over a marriage proposal and then loses a promotion she worked so hard for, she jumps at the chance to take a break and help run a friend's coffee shop.

As luck would have it, she meets the mysterious Warren Yates. They share coffee and conversation, and even a moment, which leads to many more in the coming weeks. When Andie learns who Warren really is -- and what he actually wants -- she is torn between her feelings and his deception. But will Warren be able to win her heart back? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3dCbOnI.

"If Not You, Then Who?"
by David and Emberli Pridham

If you like fun, informative, and factual kids books such as The Magic School Bus, then you'll love the new STEM series If Not You, Then Who?

In The Inventor in the Pink Pajamas, 10-year-old Brooke Fairley learns about the inventions that contribute to her success. In Noah's Treehouse, Brooke's younger brother Noah is out to build the ultimate tree house and read about the inventions he uses along the way. In Let the Games Begin, Brooke and Noah create their own games and learn about the inventions that make sports safe and fun.

The series shows no dream is too big, and no dreamer is too small to succeed. Purchase at http://amzn.to/3hcbYE4.

 "Mompreneur"
by Tanisha Jamison

A lot of "mompreneurs" are failing at the task because they lack the proper mindset. If you're one of them, it's time to make some adjustments so you can make significant progress in your business and your household. To become a successful mompreneur, you need support. Running a family and your own business is not easy. This guide will help you get there in stride.

Mompreneur: Running a Family While Being a Boss will help you organize your thoughts and develop a new perspective for success. It will address a number of important issues such as optimism, leadership ability, capacity to initiate, resilience, ethics and the ability to listen. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3bm2rHM.

 "Restoring Trust in the Catholic Parish "
by Marijka Eeuwes Lampard

"We have to do something. We're going to lose the Church as we know it," writes Marijka Lampard.

The Catholic Church has existed for over 20 centuries. It still exists, although broken. It encountered the same problems and issues for decades, and then sex scandals have catapulted the crisis in more recent times.

This book is an honest, unflinching examination of the parishioner culture in the diocese of Buffalo, NY, which is indicative of many other dioceses. Well conceptualized and easy to read, it offers practical solutions and applications to restore hope and faith back to the church. It is a spiritual exploration of the Church pre-Vatican II and the 21st century church in the U.S. and abroad. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3u9bcOb.

NOTE: BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. For more reading ideas, visit BookTrib.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Although there is cause for optimism, video meetings and face masks will likely be with us for some time. That means that all eyes are on our eyes and the wrinkles surrounding them, especially that stubborn spot between the brows, where vertical wrinkles known as "elevens" develop over time. These wrinkles can be some of the most challenging to address, and many eye-care products don't do the job.

"Wrinkles in the eye area are a concern for many of our patients, especially now that everyone is paying more attention to each other's eyes for communication while wearing masks and attending video meetings," says Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, board-certified New York dermatologist and founder of Entiere Dermatology.

"The eye area can be difficult to treat, but the right products and sun protection can make a difference," Dr. Levin says.

An upgraded eye-care product from StriVectin is specifically formulated not only to improve the appearance of stubborn elevens, but also crow's feet and under-eye- lines and puffiness.

The new Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles PLUS has demonstrated visible improvement in wrinkles and skin puffiness around the eye area, starting in just five days. The cream also includes ingredients to help reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Key ingredients include a patented form of niacin known as NIA-114 that has been shown to strengthen the skin barrier, plus horse chestnut flower extract to target skin collagen and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The skin around the eye area is uniquely delicate compared to other parts of the face, so a cream designed specifically for this area can have a noticeable impact on appearance.

In addition, arctic marine ferment, sourced from the Arctic Ocean, promotes hydration and helps neutralize the visible effects of blue light exposure to skin -- a valid concern given how much time people are spending in front of their screens due to the pandemic.

The cream is fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested, and non-milia inducing, and is designed for use on clean skin in the morning and evening.

StriVectin® Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles PLUS is available at department stores, specialty stores, Ulta, and StriVectin.com

For more information about the cream and other StriVectin products, visit strivectin.com.

Whether you are spending more time at home or have returned part-time to in-person work or school, smart, effective cleaning strategies can help keep your home and family safe and healthy.

Safe and simple are key criteria for choosing from among the wide variety of today's home cleaning products. However, consumers also want cleaners that are tough and effective, that don't just eliminate stains and spots, but also kill germs, viruses, and bacteria.

To that point, many people want to make cleaning easier, and that includes one-stop shopping.

One such product, all-n-all, tackles cleaning, stain removal and deodorizing in one single step.

The multipurpose cleanser contains ingredients derived from renewable resources, natural products including hydrogen peroxide and plant derived essential oils. It is designed to deliver a tough cleaning punch throughout the home, and the formula kills 99 percent of germs, bacteria, and viruses on hard, porous/non-porous surfaces when used correctly.

"Added surfactants help to break down those stubborn stains, giving you a one-step cleaning solution for your whole home," says Jason Bailey, president of all-n-all.

To that end, all-n-all is engineered to clean the entire house:

• Kitchen: all-n-all can help keep countertops and floors germ-free while tackling kitchen appliance cleaning from the sink, refrigerator, to tough stove top grease and grime.
• Living room: Stain-removal properties can take on challenges such as wine, coffee and pet stains from carpet, clean light switches, remotes, and tables.
• Bathroom: Remove iron deposits, hard water and calcium deposits from faucets and shower fixtures, clean sinks, bathtubs and countertops in one simple step.
• Nursery: It's safe and gentle enough to use on children's highchairs, furniture, toys, and game controllers.

All-n-all contains no dyes, phosphates, bleach, chlorine, or sodium lauryl sulfate, and is manufactured in the USA, with no harsh or abrasive chemicals.

Visit Lowes.com for more information and to purchase all-n-all natural cleaner.