01/11/2018
19 Ways To Take Better Care Of Your Va**na
Letâs talk about what your va**na wants and needs.
So what can you actually do to take better care of your va**na?
1. Do less.
Youâve probably read about some of the things you can apparently stick up your va**na â from boric acid suppositories to herbal detox âpearls.â But according to the experts, the less you mess around in there, the better. "The va**na is like an incredible, self-cleaning oven and it has its own ways of maintaining an acidic pH to keep things balanced and prevent infection.
So your va**na â the internal muscular ca**l between your uterus and the outside world â can be left alone. "Doing too much in there can actually throw off the pH or disrupt the natural bacterial flora in the va**na, which keeps us healthy. Of course, if there's a problem, you should see a doctor, but you don't need to use special suppositories or steam-clean your va**na on the regular to stay healthy. Trust your va**na to do its job.
2. Say goodbye to douching for good.
Seriously, stop douching. As we mentioned, the va**na cleans itself â so you don't need to flush it out with water or vinegar or any other fluids. And that discharge in your underwear might be annoying, but it's not a sign of uncleanliness. Discharge is a healthy, normal bodily function and it doesnât need to be cleaned out of the va**na.
Besides, douching often does more harm than good. "Douching can kill off the âgood guy bacteria,â or lactobacilli, which we want in there to keep the pH balanced. Some douching kits sold at stores even contain harsh fragrances or antiseptics, which can irritate the va**na. So just donât do**he, ever.
3. Clean your v***a, properly
The va**na might be self-cleaning, but the v***a â the external part of your ge****ls, which includes the l***a â needs to be washed. Bacteria and sm**ma (a buildup of oils and dead skin) can hide in the folds of your v***a, and youâll want to clear it out from time to time. But chances are, youâre probably cleaning your v***a wrong. "When washing, just use your hands and some mild soap. You don't need to vigorously scrub down there with a loofah or washcloth to get it clean. And if you don't have soap, just plain old water will do.
4. Opt for gentle soaps without fragrances.
Harsh, scented soaps can cause irritation or an allergic reaction on the v***a. "We're talking about the most sensitive tissue in the body, so the less perfumes and chemicals, the better. The experts suggest using a mild, fragrance-free (not unscented, which can still contain masking fragrances) soap, such as Dove or a simple glycerin or castile soap. Save the apple-scented exfoliating shower gel for your pits and the rest of your body.
5. Lather up down there once a day at most.
You might shower once a day, but you don't necessarily need to lather up your l***a every single day, too. "Over-cleaning the v***a can strip the skin of natural oils which are protecting you. So don't worry about skipping the soap down there for a day or two. Even if you shower twice a day or feel the need to wash down there after s*x, still try to only lather up your v***a once.
6. Stop rubbing your v***a to death with a towel when
drying off.
The same rules for washing apply when you dry your v***a: Do not vigorously rub a towel back and forth down there â itâs probably too much for the delicate v***ar tissue. "All you need to do is gently pat the area dry with a clean towel. If your v***a is sore or irritated, use a blow dryer set to cool or the lowest heat setting and holding it about a foot away. "The air can feel soothing and it'll dry the v***a without rubbing.
7. Ease off the bath bombs and scented soaks.
Baths can be a relaxing part of any self-care routine. So why not add a fizzy bath bomb to make it colorful, scented, and Instagram worthy? Well for starters, your v***a and va**na probably don't appreciate soaking in all those fragrances for hours. "Bath bombs and bubble baths can disrupt the pH in your va**na, which can make you more susceptible to irritation or infection.
Does this mean you should toss your stash? No, but maybe limit the fizzy baths to once or twice a month, and definitely donât use bath bombs if youâre already itchy or sore down there. "Bath bombs and bubble baths aren't bad for everyone, but just know they can cause problems, and watch out for irritation after using them.
8. Stay away from deodorized pads and tampons.
First of all, menstrual blood doesnât need to smell a certain way or be masked by floral or other scents. Second, deodorized pads and tampons are full of harsh perfumes that you definitely don't want near your sensitive v***ar tissue or your pH-balanced va**na. "Scented tampons can disrupt things in the va**na and cause irritation or an allergic reaction, so stick with the fragrance-free products. And it doesnât really matter which type of tampons or pads you use â organic, nonorganic, plastic applicator, cardboard, etc â just as long as they arenât scented.
9. Make sure your other hygiene products arenât causing
any issues.
Your ge****ls could be irritated for a variety of reasons, so don't always assume you have a yeast infection when things get itchy. "A major cause of v***ar irritation is an allergy or sensitivity to ingredients in products we use every day, which can cause irritation, itching, and abnormal discharge.
These products include soaps, lotions, shaving creams, sprays, laundry detergents, and anything else that comes into contact (directly or indirectly) with your v***a or va**na. What you wipe with matters, too. âBeware of wet wipes â the chemicals in them can cause an itchy rash from the v***a to the a**s. If you want to be safe, choose products that are fragrance free and have fewer ingredients. Save the fancy lemon verbena lotion for your legs and arms.
If your v***ar irritation is from an allergy, it may take some time, patience, and an allergy test to find out which ingredients you need to avoid â but your OB-GYN and/or dermatologist can help you figure this out.
10. Get rid of your uncomfortable, impossibly tight
underwear.
You know those random pairs of super uncomfortable, ill-fitting underwear in the back of your drawer that you only wear out of desperation? Itâs time to toss them and any other pairs that don't fit you properly. It is recommended underwear that's cotton or has a cotton crotch, and the style â thong or panty â doesnât matter, as long as they're comfortable and breathable. âIf your v***a and va**na don't get any air, this can make you more prone to yeast infections. Yeast thrives in warm, moist places, so sitting in suffocating underwear all day isnât a good idea.
11. Embrace your va**naâs ~natural scent~.
Most people have their own unique va**nal smell that varies with the menstrual cycle and diet, but this is totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of. You donât need to cover it up and you really shouldn't use perfumes or sprays on your v***a, the experts say, because these can be very irritating. Obviously, if you have a foul va**nal odor or one thatâs accompanied by symptoms like itching, then go to the doctor. But most of the time, your va**naâs natural smell isnât anything to worry about. âYou are probably more concerned about the way you smell than others are.
12. Prevent ingrown hairs down there instead of picking at
them.
P***c hair follicles can become clogged and infected (folliculitis), which may look like a whitehead or a red bump. Sometimes these guys are just bad luck, but there are things you can do to help prevent them. Shaving with a fresh, clean razor and replacing it every one to two weeks. If you prefer waxing, go to a reputable place to get it done and gently exfoliate the p***c area before your wax. Another tip is to avoid sitting around in sweaty workout clothes for too long which can trap bacteria in the p***c area.
It may be satisfying to pop a pimple or extract an ingrown hair, but you really shouldnât. Breaking the skin down there can make you more susceptible to infection. Resist the urge to pick and use hot compresses instead â in most cases, the the angry hair follicle will go away on its own. And if any bumps donât go away, see your OB-GYN.
13. Start checking your v***a for new moles or marks.
Just because your v***a never sees the light of day doesnât mean you canât get skin cancer or other skin conditions down there. So make sure to check your v***a and the surrounding skin using a mirror when you do self-examinations to check for signs of skin cancer. âLook out for any new moles, birthmarks, or skin tags and anything thatâs repeatedly scabbing or bleeding. See a dermatologist if you notice anything weird.
14. Pick the right vi****or or s*x toy for your va**na.
Ma********on is an amazing s*xual outlet and itâs good for you, too! Toys can really help enhance pleasure during ma********on and they come in all shapes and sizes so you can pick the right one for your unique va**nal anatomy. The trick is finding out what gets you off, then buying a toy that can help you do that or do a better job.
"The ultimate pleasure site is the cl****is, but a lot of women find that there is a pleasure zone on the anterior surface, or the top and front, of their va**nal ca**l. You can find this spot by inserting a finger and moving it upward in a "come hither" motion. Wherever your ~spot~ is, find a s*x toy that will stimulate it and go have fun!!! Contact us for the best quality S*x toys.
15. Find a l**e that you love, and use a lot of it during
foreplay and s*x.
"L**e is underrated and underused. You should be well lubricated for s*x because it helps prevent microtears in and around the va**na, which can become infected. The va**na does self-lubricate when youâre aroused, but sometimes this isnât enough, or the va**na is dry due to things like hormones or medication. That's where l**e comes in handy.
Not all l**es are created equal, and you should pick the right kind for your individual needs. Water-based l**e is the safest bet, because silicone-based l**es can degrade s*x toys and oil-based l**e can destroy latex condoms. If you have sensitivities or allergies, choose a l**e with fewer ingredients and stay away from the scented or flavored stuff. Experts also suggests buying trial-size l**es to test before you invest in a big bottle.
16. If s*x is always painful, don't ignore it â go to the
doctor.
Penetrative s*x can be uncomfortable sometimes. But if you've tried using l**e and switching positions and s*x is still painful every time, it might be time to see a doctor to see if something else is going on. Problems that can make s*x painful include infections, va**nal dryness, muscle spasms, or even a condition called vulvodynia, which causes chronic pain around the v***a. "If the pain is deep in your pelvis, go see your health care provider right away because you could have a cyst or fibroids. In any case, s*x doesnât have to be a painful experience.
17. Find an OB-GYN you genuinely like, and talk to them
about everything.
Your OB-GYN is there to help keep you and your va**na as healthy as possible. You should find a provider who makes you feel comfortable, because youâll need to be able to tell them about anything and everything going on down there.
You should see your OB-GYN at least once a year for an annual exam and whenever else a visit is necessary. When you go in, make sure to ask all of your questions, even the embarrassing ones you google at 2 a.m.
18. And go see your OB-GYN instead of self-treating those "recurrent yeast infections."
Yeast infections are very common and nothing to panic about. But if you get them repeatedly and over-the-counter meds only help in the short term, there might be another problem going on down there. âWhen it comes to yeast infections, women only self-diagnose accurately about one-third of the time, so they are often wrong. It could actually be an allergy, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or another STI â but the only way to know is if you go to your OB-GYN so they can do the right tests and treat the problem.
19. Love your l***a.
There are a lot of procedures and surgeries out there to rejuvenate, tighten, or enhance things down there â but that does not mean your v***a needs fixing. According to the experts, one of the best things you can do is stop believing your v***a needs to look a certain way and stop comparing yourself to other people or images. âLabias come in all shapes and sizes and theyâre all variations of normal. It's never too late to start showing your l***a some love.