Vaginas can be complicated – one wrong move and BOOM! Yeast infection.
The wonderful thing about vaginas? They pretty much take care of themselves. They’re self-cleaning, and as long as you don’t put anything in or near them that throws off their pH balance and upsets them, you’re pretty much good to go.
Thing is, no one really tells us the do’s and don’t’s of what can actually negatively effect the health of your vagina. So, what are your vagina’s worst enemies?
- Fruits & Vegetables – you might be thinking, ‘why on earth would I put produce down there?’. But hey, I don’t know what you like, and I’m not judging. Except even well-washed produce can still be home to bacteria, pesticides and even teeny tiny bugs… Also, no one wants to end up at A&E with a cucumber stuck in places cucumbers shouldn’t be.
- Scented/Flavoured Lubes – first of all, this is so unneccessary. Second of all, these lubes contain glucose which is a one-way ticket to thrust city. Same goes for flavoured condoms – only use these during oral sex.
- Perfumes – news flash! A vagina is meant to smell like a vagina. Not flowers, not fruits, not fresh linen – a VAGINA. Perfumes have so many chemicals in them that will kill off your good bacteria, making way for (you guessed it) a yeast infection.
- Douches – one great thing about vaginas is that they are self-cleaning, which is why discharge is actually the exact opposite of gross. It’s literally your body cleaning itself. Douching will only cause an overgrowth of bad bacteria, and lead to a yeast infection or BV.
- Tea Tree Oil – undiluted tea tree oil will damage or burn the muscosal membrane of your vag, which helps it to secrete fluids and keep things moist. Tea tree oil will also strip away your healthy bacteria.
- Whipped Cream, Chocolate Syrup etc – basically, anything sugary. I’m not saying you have to give up your freaky food play (far from it, go off sis), but just keep it away from your more delicate areas.
So, what CAN you put inside or around your vagina without the risk of upsetting it?
A (consensual) penis
Fingers (please wash your hands before and after, you detty pig)
Lube (check the ingredients are vulva friendly)
Sex toys (always clean after use)
We’re taught to take care of our bodies the best we can – eat well, excersise, drink water, skincare. But why do we never talk about our intimate care? Taking care of our genitals is just as important as caring for every other inch of our body. Let’s start talking about it.
Pleasureful 