My Pussy Got Me F*cked Up: The Hygiene Edition!
This article was written by Lotus Flower Femme and originally appeared on the Lotus Flower Femme blog.
1. Stay Fresh...
Contrary to popular belief, vaginas are self-cleaning, acting in a way similar to an ecosystem - cleaning and maintaining themselves. You never need to use soaps, perfumes, or douches inside your vagina as they will likely kill off good bacteria and negatively affect your pH balance. To clean your vulva, simply opening your labia and using a towel and warm water to remove sweat and bacteria will do the trick.
2. And Clean
Always wipe from front to back to avoid bacterial contamination and lower the risk of bladder infection. Change sanitary pads and tampons regularly during your period. Tampons should be removed within 8 hours.
3. Dress The Part
Your vagina should stay clean and dry — and what you wear can affect that. Certain types of fabrics and tight-fitting clothing create warm, moist conditions in which yeast thrive. Wear breathable cotton underwear, avoiding thongs whenever possible!
4. Practice Safe Sex
Change condoms when switching from oral or anal sex to vaginal sex, to prevent the introduction of harmful bacteria into the vagina.
5. Discharge Is Normal...
A healthy vagina secretes small amounts of discharge as a part of its self-cleaning process. Additionally, all vaginas naturally have a smell but any notable changes in vaginal odor or color of discharge - possibly associated with pelvic discomfort or vulvar discomfort, itching, or burning - should be assessed by a medical professional.
6. Until It's Not
There are three common types of vaginal infections: yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. While yeast is a fungal infection, bacterial vaginosis is caused by bacterial overgrowth in the vagina and characterized by a “fishy” smell. Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a parasite and is sexually transmitted. Regardless of symptoms, seek medical attention to treat infections when they arise to avoid more serious health and reproductive complications.
7. Other Tips For Total Body Health
Other tips include: maintain a healthy diet, practice safe sex, always properly sanitize sex toys, and schedule regular gynecological exams! This article was written by Lotus Flower Femme and originally appeared on the Lotus Flower Femme blog.
