Queens we all know that taking care of our personal hygiene is a must and it’s very important to make sure that the products you are using are safe. Many of you have already learned through experience that you can’t use every soap or body wash in your special parts due to possible irritation and even yeast infections. Leda Toussaint is the founder of GNTLE, a company she launched in 2018 to help women with sensitive vaginas to find healthy feminine care without the harsh ingredients of most popular sold store items. She is working with a goal to change the stigma around women’s health, sexual wellness, and bodies!
| Welcome Leda. Kudos to you for bringing awareness to women about our health, bodies, and sexual wellness. Take us through what made you want to make women aware of these taboo issues. I am humbled by your words and thank you for having me. This is a great question. When I started GNTLE, I remember having multiple conversations with women who lacked health awareness, education, and confidence in who they were. They didn’t have a safe space to talk about what was truly going on with them. I recall one conversation where a lady asked me, “What’s my vulva?” This question took me back to my own battle with recurring yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. These vaginal infections stole my confidence and forced me into isolation. And not just isolation from people, but isolation from information and answers to my problems. After reading this question, it was obvious that these women needed a safe, judgment-free zone to learn about their bodies and overall health. I felt compelled to create this safe space. It is a safe space for women to take back their power and confidence by learning about their health, bodies, and sexual wellness. There is something powerful about a well-informed woman. If you want, you can join us in our safe space every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST for Girl Talk Tuesday. We’d love to have you. Is there anything women should look out for when buying feminine products? Absolutely. I teach the GNTLE Lady Tribe a lot about detergents in these products, but ultimately, it is extremely important to look at the entire ingredient lists on these products. I know the front of the product is pretty but turn it around and look for that ingredients list. Many of these chemical ingredients can be hazardous and toxic to our bodies. If I could name a few: parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and chemical preservatives. The scientific name of these ingredients may be difficult to read and understand, so don’t be afraid to do a quick Google search. Taking the time to do this upfront will save you a lot of headaches and potential health effects in the long run. As a matter of fact, womensvoices.org has an excellent list for a quick reference. What do you suggest women do to avoid vaginal infections? I know there are a ton of gurus out there that would suggest every product known to man, but not here. The truth is that you can’t entirely avoid vaginal infections, but you can limit them throughout your lifetime if you adopt these suggestions. • Adjust your diet. Try to avoid as much dairy, processed sugar, and alcohol as possible.• Drink lots of water. Your reproductive system loves this!• Get an adequate amount of sleep. This is when your body is healing.• Practice good after-sex hygiene. Be sure to urinate and properly clean the vulva and anus after sex. • Start and maintain a self-care routine. We must keep the stress hormones low. Keep in mind, your gut and vagina are connected. If your gut is happy, your vagina is happy. Tell Us more about GNTLE. What does it stand for and how did you get it started? GNTLE is an all-natural feminine care company born out of my personal vulvovaginal issues. In full transparency, I was dealing with some personal vaginal issues that just wouldn’t go away. I tried all different types of feminine hygiene products in stores, but NOTHING seemed to work; these products made my situation worse! Talk about a shot to my confidence and self-esteem. So, I decided to go on a womb wellness journey; you know, taking a deep dive into detoxing my entire body, including my lady parts. During this detox, it came up that I needed to switch to a natural feminine wash. Because I had been burned before by other products, literally and figuratively, I decided to put my scientifically trained mind to work and created my own all-natural feminine wash. Hence, GNTLE was born. Initially, this was a self-serving journey, but ultimately, my mess became my message. I created a gentle and sophisticated feminine wash formula with four simple ingredients that aid in women’s vulva cleansing and healing process. Each ingredient in GNLTE’s products is natural and hand-selected to bring our customers the safest care possible. GNTLE is the way feminine care should be. Gentle! How can women be more of an advocate for themselves with their OBGYN? I love this question so much because empowering women to become their own advocates through education is part of my purpose and calling. “Through education” is the key phrase. Ask yourself, “How can I champion for myself if I am not informed about myself?” I encourage women to learn about their health, bodies, and sexual wellness. One way is through self-exploration and self-examination. Learn what normal looks like and feels like for you. Another way is through community conversation like GNTLE’s weekly Girl Talk Tuesday sessions, where we talk about all things womanhood. As we learn, we build our confidence. This information and boost in self-esteem help us formulate the right questions while keeping an open mind for more details. With that in mind, you can confidently advocate for yourself. You’re not a “know it all.” You are an educated patient who wants to play a serious role in your health. Let me tell you, OBGYN’s appreciate those kinds of patients. What is next for you and your GNTLE organization? The GNTLE train is moving along and helping and educating as many women as we can. First, our GNTLE Wellness program will also become available this year to help guide women through a womb healing journey. Soon I’ll be accepting wellness clients who may suffer from the vulva and vaginal issues. Over the last two years, I have successfully helped a number of women with vulvar dermatitis, recurring yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, excessive vaginal sweating, chronic vaginal dryness, and more. Next, we have GNTLE Getaways. This will help women take self-care to a whole new level. Without giving away too much, just think destination wellness retreat for the GNTLE Lady Tribe. I’m so excited about this. I’ll be sure to keep you posted. |
Queens let’s come together and do what it takes to educate ourselves on feminine care after all this is your body and what happens to it, matters! Treat it well!
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