There is no shortage of âlatest and greatestâ vaginal care products and proceduresâvajacials, vaginal steaming, vaginal weight-training, etcâthat promise to boost the health of your hoo-ha.Â
But the vagina is much lower-maintenance than most folks realize, and keeping it healthy doesnât require any of these trends. In fact, most of them do more harm than good, according to Felice Gersh, MD, author of PCOS SOS: A Gynecologistâs Lifeline To Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones and Happiness.
âIn general, vulva-owners are giving their vaginas and vulvas way way too much attention in a way that is actually interfering with the health of their vagina.âÂ
So, we asked gynecologists what things you should and should not be doing to maximize the health of your vagina. Here are 10 expert-backed tips for taking care of your vagina. Trust, youâll notice a common theme: do less.Â
Quit DouchingÂ
Youâve probably heard that the vagina is a self-cleaning oven. Well guess what? Thatâs true! âThe vagina doesnât need to have water or soap inserted inside to be clean,â according to clinical assistant professor of obstetrics & gynecology Jennifer Conti, MD, MS, MSC. In fact, douching actually does way more harm than good.Â
She explains - Douching can upset the good bacteria in the vagina, which help protect you from things like bacterial vaginosis In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls out that not douching actually reduces a personâs risk of developing infection. You donât want to power-wash your external genitals, either. âPlain, warm water or warm water and some fragrance-free soap will do the trick for your vulva,â says Dr. Gersh.
Wash Your Bod With Fragrance-Free SoapÂ
You might be heart-eyes for your vanilla- or vacation-scented body gel, but if you keep getting bacterial vaginosis, it could be because of your body gelâs fault. âAny highly fragrant or chemical-laden shampoo, soap, or conditioner could wind up around your genitals when youâre washing it off, and cause issues,â says Dr. Gersh.Â
She also warns against products with essential oils, some of which are anti-microbial. âAny antimicrobial product can kill off the good bacteria in your vagina.â I know, ugh.Â
Know Your STI StatusÂ
Most STIâs donât have symptoms, but that doesnât mean they canât be passed to a partner during unprotected sex or result in some serious health problems if left untreated. Dr. Gersh explains: Left undiagnosed and untreated, an STI can travel from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)âwhich is a serious condition that can result in infertility or long-term pelvic pain. âStaying up-to-date on your STI-status is part of being a healthy vagina-owner and sexually active person,â she says. Most gynecologists recommend you get tested once every year or after every new partner (whichever comes first!).Â
Good news: If you do test positive for an STI, Good Vibrations sexologist and curator of the Antique Vibrator Museum, Carol Queen PhD says, âMany STIâs are curable, and those that are not can be treated and managed.â To get tested, visit Planned Parenthood or your local clinic, or check out Nurx, an at-home STI testing service.Â
Donât Ghost Your GynoÂ
Even if you havenât had sex since youâre last STI check, or know (without a doubt!) that your partner isnât fooling around, Dr. Conti says, âWe still like to see people every year for breast exams, pelvic exams to check for ovarian masses, and contraception or pregnancy and fertility counseling.âÂ
Plus, while your doc is poking around, they can perform a pap smear. Current guidelines suggest that women should start getting Pap tests at age 21 and get one every three years, until youâre 30 when you can wait five years between tests. âUnless youâve ever had an abnormal pap smear, then the algorithm becomes more tailored and more frequent screenings are recommended,â says Dr. Conti.Â
Keep in mind: while Pap screenings can get discontinued after menopause, Dr. Gersh doesnât recommend it. âIn my opinion, we shouldnât have a rule about when folks getting Pap smears, especially because there are many folks who start having sex with someone new after menopause.â So, if youâre post-menopausal, talk to your doc about whether getting one makes sense for you.Â
Get HandsyâŚbut Only if You Want To!Â
Good news: According to Dr. Conti, âThe vagina is NOT a use it or lose it situationâŚthatâs a myth.â However, she says, âI absolutely recommend folks masturbate because sexual pleasure is an important component of sexual health.âÂ
Plus, rubbing the nub comes along with notable perks like pain relief, decreased stress, improved sleep quality and duration, and boosted mood. Dr. Queen says it can even improve your partnered sex life. âMasturbating is the best way to learn what you enjoy and need sexually, and gives you the tools to know what you kinds of touch to ask for when youâre with another person.âÂ
Pick a Non-Porous Sex ToyÂ
If you bring buzzy buddy into bed with you, make sure itâs made of a non-porous, body-safe material like silicone, glass, stainless steel, or ABS plastics, suggests Dr. Queen.Â
She explains: while porous toys have tiny microscopic holes in them that allow bacteria inhibit even after the product is washed, non-porous toys can get completely cleaned and are therefore less likely to introduce new infection-causing bacteria.
Use Lube!Â
The whole âwetter sex is better sexâ thing is not just a cute catchphraseâvaginal dryness can result in increased friction, which can result in vaginal discomfort and micro-tearing. Unfortunately, hormonal birth control and where you are in your cycle, medication, menopause and pregnancy, hydration levels and more can all result in things being less slippery than usual. Thatâs why your vagina wants you to use lube, according to Dr.Queen.Â
Swap Your SkivviesÂ
Research shows that, in general, wearing underwear made of synthetic materials results in higher rates of bacterial vaginosis than those who wear breathable underwear. âWhile some women will have no issue when they wear synthetic panties, others will so I suggest folks wear breathable, cotton underwear,â says Dr. Gersh. Or, at the very least opt for a pair with a cotton strip in the crotch.Â
Snooze in Your Birthday SuitÂ
If you don on a lace or silk pair for date night, make sure to change into a cotton pair before bed. âThe looser and more breathable your sleeping undergarments are, the better,â says Dr. Gersh.Â
Another option: go commando!
Opt for Body-Safe Bath BombsÂ
Taking a luxurious bath is a completely normal way to relax. But Dr. Gersh says, âLike fragrant body soaps, a bath bomb can upset the natural pH of your vagina and increase risk of infection and irritation.â If possible, switch to an all-natural product. And please opt out of using a fizzy bomb altogether if youâre going to be having bathtub sex.Â