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Everyone seems to be talking about vaginas these days, from celebrities and gossip columnists to writers and grammer lovers and everyone in betwixt. It'south becoming more hard to sift through the dos and don'ts of having a vagina. Every bit a sex educator, one affair I'm a stickler for is language. Y'all'd exist surprised how many people — of any gender — utilize the terms "vulva" and "vagina" interchangeably. They're two very different things and it pays to know the divergence.

So before nosotros go into habits, allow's get a few facts straight.

What'southward a vagina?

A vagina is also known as the nascency culvert for those who bear children. The vagina connects with the cervix and, through that, the uterus.

The ovaries, located on either side of the uterus, release eggs in fertile people. These eggs travel down the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where, in conception, they see up with sperm for fertilization and implant along the uterine wall.

When fertilization doesn't happen, menstruation does. Until the egg is released, the uterus builds up extra lining to provide the near hospitable surroundings possible for a fertilized egg. When an egg isn't fertilized, though, this lining has to go somewhere. So it exits the torso during your period until menopause or whatsoever number of factors impact menstruation.

What's a vulva?

The vulva is the exterior portion of the female genitals — the part y'all can see. Information technology consists of the mons pubis, clitoris, urethra, labia majora, and labia minora. The labia majora is the outer fold of the genitals, while the labia minora is the inner fold. These parts help protect the clitoris, which is extremely sensitive — even more and so than the head of a penis. And like the head of a penis, the clitoris can be a major pleasure middle! In fact, many people with vaginas need clitoral stimulation to orgasm.

Now that we've sorted out the fun facts of anatomy, let'southward explore some habits for vagina health. Here are eight things to keep in mind if you are the proud owner of a vagina.

I hate to break it to you because you may savour smelling "summery fresh," but douching is actually harmful to the vagina. So, how practice y'all keep it clean?

Luckily, vaginas are amazing organs. Not only do they help bring life into this world (as if that wasn't enough), but they also do a great chore keeping themselves clean. They do this past balancing healthy bacteria and pH levels on their own. No douching needed.

Douching actually eliminates some of that healthy bacteria, which changes the pH and makes you lot more susceptible to infections.

But what virtually smelling summery fresh, you lot ask? Each person's genitals smell different and in that location are natural means to touch your personal aroma, including changing upwards what you swallow. Things like pineapple can make vaginas taste or odour sweeter, while asparagus can have the opposite effect.

Try this: If you lot still want to clean your vagina and vulva, make sure to use non-scented products and merely wash the labia majora. Rebalance Personal Moisturizing & Cleansing Wipes by Proficient Clean Dearest are a great way to remove excess sweat or feel a little cleaner without affecting the natural pH of your vagina. They also accept a moisturizing wash that is great for those personal places.

Read more: Tips for vaginal hygiene »

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Information technology's okay to do a bit of trimming or removing hair along your swimsuit line. No one says it needs to be unruly — although you lot should rock it however yous want! — but please, exercise keep your pubic hair.

Pubic hair serves many purposes. It protects your downstairs from extra leaner, and it besides eliminates problems related to friction and sweating. Less hair removal as well means less crawling as the pilus grows back, fewer cuts and scrapes, and fewer ingrown hairs.

Endeavour this: If you must shave or landscape your pubic pilus, endeavour to use natural shaving gels and creams. Sliquid has a great line of hypoallergenic and vegan shaving creams that are fantastic for trimming upwardly down there.

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Lubrication is astonishing. It tin take sex to the side by side level for everyone involved. All the same, at that place are some ingredients that aren't very healthy for your body.

Glycerin, for one, is related to saccharide. While it works great to go on lubes moist, it can besides contribute to bacteria growth in the vagina. Petroleum products are too no-nos because they can ruin the vagina'due south natural pH level. Other things you may want to avoid include:

  • parabens
  • scents
  • flavors
  • nonnatural oils
  • dyes

Try this: Uberlube is a fantastic personal lubricant that can be used for massage also. It's made of silicone and maintains a cracking silky and smooth feel throughout play. Y'all might also like Good Clean Love's Nearly Naked lubricant, which is organic, vegan, and gratis of parabens and glycerin. It also smells amazing.

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Do you find yourself wondering how the heck some toys work? You're not lone. And information technology turns out, non all sex toys are safe for anything simply taking up drawer infinite.

Toys made from certain materials are, more often than not speaking, safe. These include:

  • wood
  • silicone
  • stainless steel
  • glass
  • ceramic
  • stone
  • a type of plastic called ABS

That said, these need to be pure and medical- or even food-course materials, not blends.

If you want to learn more, I recommend visiting Unsafe Lily for information on torso-safe toys, dangerous toys, and more.

Attempt this: Generally, you desire to avoid purchasing sex toys online. Information technology'due south hard to find out what these toys are fabricated of and ensure they weren't, um, previously used. That said, in that location are a lot of swell organizations to buy from.

For example, Vibrant is one of my favorite shops. Not only are their toys all body-safe, but they as well donate all their proceeds to the Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. They're incredibly quick to respond to any questions you have via the site or social media, too. Another great company is Fun Manufactory. They make a broad variety of toys, including many that charge via USB, so these toys are incredibly accessible and eco-friendly.

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One of the all-time and easiest things you tin do for vaginal health is practice safer sex. Here are a few tips to staying safe:

  1. Utilize protection. That could be a rubber,
    dental dam, or gloves. It'south not rocket science, and you already know you
    should, then just practise it.
  2. Get tested regularly for sexually
    transmitted infections (STIs).
    You should get tested after any partners you lot
    commutation genital fluids with.
  3. Mind the society of your sex acts. Going
    from butt play to vaginal play can increase the likelihood that y'all'll become an
    infection, such as those painful urinary tract infections (UTIs). If anal is
    your affair, make sure you lot practice it afterward vaginal sex, not earlier.
  4. Make sure you check condom ingredients.
    There are a ton of brands that are made with spermicides. Spermicides aren't
    very healthy for the vagina, every bit they can impale good leaner in there, too. Use
    other forms of birth command if available to make for a happier, healthier
    vagina.

Try this: The FC2 vaginal prophylactic is a groovy pick. Considering it's not latex, information technology tin be used no matter what lubricant y'all choose, though it does come prelubricated with a silicone-based product. Lifestyles makes a corking nonlatex male rubber. Lastly, Glyde has a wide diverseness of flavored condoms and dental dams for oral sexual practice, as well as a peachy option of condoms for penetrative action.

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Breathable vesture and fabrics make happy vaginas. Cotton underwear is great. It has moisture-wicking backdrop to limit the amount of wetness that can promote bacterial growth. Changing out of wet clothing quickly tin can assist limit issues, as well. Regardless of the kind of underwear you like, but make sure to change information technology daily.

Endeavour this: It isn't ever easy to detect cute cotton underwear, I know. Torrid has a variety of styles in a cotton fiber spandex blend that still look cute while protecting your vagina. Torrid also runs from a traditional size 10 to size xxx, meaning it has a peachy option for people who aren't always able to find what they're looking for elsewhere.

Learn more than: Types and causes of vaginal discharge »

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No prevarication, sleeping naked tin be good for you for your vagina. Regardless of what underwear you wear during the day, going without them overnight tin can help your vagina exhale. The benefits don't terminate there, though. Some research suggests that that cooler temperatures can be great for your health. An like shooting fish in a barrel way to cool downwards? Get naked. Plus, in one case you're in the nude, you might be surprised at how incredibly liberating and empowering it tin exist!

Keep reading: half-dozen reasons to spend more than time naked »

Adept vagina health isn't a i-step process. Simply luckily, there are lots of simple and easy things you tin can practise every twenty-four hour period to make certain your vagina is well protected and happy.


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Kirsten Schultz is a writer from Wisconsin who challenges sexual and gender norms. Through her work as a chronic illness and disability activist, she has a reputation for tearing down barriers while mindfully causing constructive trouble. Kirsten recently founded Chronic Sex , which openly discusses how affliction and disability impact our relationships with ourselves and others, including — you guessed information technology — sex!