The difficult factor is, not all lubes are created equal. Slathering on one which comprises glycerin (typically present in sure water-based choices, notably flavored or warming ones) can up your threat of contracting a vaginal an infection, Kate McClean, MD, MPH, a board-certified ob-gyn in Seattle and chief medical officer at vaginal well being care model Evvy, tells SELF. How? Glycerin is a sugar alcohol that may function gas for the microbes in your nether areas, specifically yeast. Whereas it’s completely regular to have some yeast hanging round down there, an overgrowth of it could possibly result in a yeast an infection (which may trigger irritation, swelling, and cottage-cheese-like discharge).
What to do as an alternative: At any time when you’ve got intercourse, use a hefty quantity of lube that’s freed from glycerin and different potential irritants like alcohol, parabens, petroleum, fragrances, and flavors. There are a bunch of fabulous choices in the marketplace that meet these parameters—take a look at our information to selecting the perfect sort of lube on your sexual scenario in addition to our all-time favourite picks.
4. You utilize any type of particular “hygiene” product in your vagina or in your vulva.
You’ve most likely heard that the vagina is a “self-cleaning oven”—and it’s true: It naturally creates its personal cleansing resolution, which you would possibly know as discharge. So it actually doesn’t want any soaps, wipes, scented sprays, deodorants, or different “female hygiene” gadgets of any form other than (unscented) interval merchandise, Dr. McClean says. In actual fact, utilizing any of the above can really knock out a few of the good micro organism dwelling therein, screw along with your vagina’s pH, and up your threat of an an infection. However as long as the cultural narrative persists round vaginas being unclean or smelly, corporations will proceed to create gadgets deemed to cleanse them. Don’t fall for the advertising!
The vulva, or exterior a part of your genitals together with the “lips” the place hair grows, can use a little bit of cleansing (extra on this in a sec). However even on this zone, you need to avoid the hygiene merchandise listed above—notably something scented, which may trigger irritation.
What to do as an alternative: Don’t—we repeat—don’t put something inside your vagina, it doesn’t matter what type of cleaning or freshness the product would possibly promise. With regards to your vulva, you’ll be able to simply gently wash it with heat water, Renita White, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology, in Atlanta, tells SELF. When you actually need to use a bit of one thing else, maybe to cleanse away particles or sweat within the hair-bearing areas, Dr. White says you’ll be able to go for a light, fragrance-free cleaning soap. (However if you happen to discover any burning or discomfort, cease utilizing it, and swap again to plain water.)
5. You have a tendency to depart a tampon chillin’ in your vagina for too lengthy.
Having a interval and needing to make use of menstrual merchandise is fairly inconvenient and costly as is, even earlier than you issue within the advice to vary your tampon each 4 to eight hours. So zero shade if you happen to’ve ever discovered your self attempting to stretch out that window, whether or not to attend till it feels “full” sufficient (and make a pack last more), keep away from one other rest room journey at work, or another motive.
