I’m fairly certain many of you ladies have heard of these tips before; however, college can make life as a girl very hectic. Here are eight reminders for self care “down there” that you don’t want to forget.
- Bathroom After Sex
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This should be a given. It doesn’t matter how tired you are after a night with your partner. Drag yourself to the bathroom and pee after having sex. This is of the utmost importance because peeing after sex flushes out bacteria, which can decrease the chances of a UTI (urinary tract infection). Now, I’ve never personally experienced one before, but after seeing the pain my best friend from high school endured from a UTI, I think it’s safe to say it’s not fun.
- DON’T Use Any Products
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I was surprised to find few of my friends from back home actually cleaned their vaginas, and while I’m sure they had the best of intentions for self-care, the vagina is actually a self-cleaning part of our body. There is no need to use products “down there,” and absolutely do NOT use scented products. These products can cause irritation and a potential bacterial infection.
- Front to Back
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I don’t think I need to elaborate more on this. Just a cute little reminder for all my fellow ladies.
- Make the Visit
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Doctor visits suck in general, but gynos can be especially uncomfortable. However, that doesn’t excuse blowing off those routine checkups. Checking to make sure all is right in the world down there can help ease your mind over that one-night stand, or the quality of that condom. And the best part is that doctors are pretty much obligated to talk to you about your sex life, so a little therapeutic advice from a certified doctor for “that boy” can’t hurt.
- Go Commando
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Let it out. Especially when you go to sleep, going commando can let your vagina, which has most likely been encased in a pair of panties all day, breathe for the night. Additionally, yeast love warm places, so the constriction of underwear on your vagina could make you more susceptible to a yeast infection, especially if you wear synthetic underwear. Letting it all out, especially at night, could actually help you avoid pesky infections, and it’s just straight up comfortable.
- Lube, Lube, and Lube
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Sex scenes in movies often fail to show one incredibly important aspect of protecting your vagina: lube. Something I’m sure lots of college students overlook, lube can not only protect against vaginal dryness, but it can also enhance the pleasure of sex. Furthermore, making sure you use the right type of lube is just as important as using it. The most common, and arguably safest, type of lubes to look out for are water-based. They’re safe for both condoms and self-pleasure and are easy on the skin and easy to maintain. However, there are a variety of lubes that everyone should try at least once: silicone-based requires less reapplying and longer lasting, and oil-based requires no reapplying at all. Each different type has certain benefits/risks, so do yourself (and your vagina) a favor by finding out which lube works best for you.
- Condoms
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Boys are stupid. Especially under the influence. Now if you’re in a healthy committed relationship with someone, I applaud you. Keep that relationships strong and healthy; however, if you’re the other faction of the college population, you’ve probably learned that you can’t trust boys to have a (reliable) condom. This is also a great time to remind all my females out there to USE PROTECTION; if neither of you have a condom, perhaps it’s the universe telling you to halt the production of potential baby making. To ensure that your night won’t be ruined with a faulty condom, bring your own, preferably one supplied with lube (see point #6).
- Kegal Exercises
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Since I cannot resist putting a fitness aspect in my articles (if you haven’t read my #FitnesswithKaren series yet, check it out :) ), it’s only fitting I mention Kegal exercises. Also known as pelvic-floor exercises, Kegal exercises strengthen your pelvic muscles and help with any leakage problems down there. It can also increase the pleasure of orgasms and improve blood circulation in your vagina, all from just lying on your back and targeting specific pelvic muscles. Here’s an article by Harvard Health which teaches you how to do beginning Kegal Exercises. Because every girl deserves a healthy vagina.