No douching

No matter what you think your vagina smells like - douching is NEVER the answer. As every doctor, medical association and Glow will tell you: your vagina is perfect just the way it is.   

Douches--no matter what the bottles claim--disturb the delicate PH balance of your wondrous vagina. In fact research suggests that douching may increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis and even cervical cancer.  If your vagina (and your vagina’s PH) are like a fine wine, douching is like going, “Yeah I opened the bottle and I could smell something so I turned it into grape juice instead.”  Dude, I paid $40 for that bottle and you totally ruined it.   

If you think you smell a bit funky down there, or want to freshen up for a special someone, just use a bit of soap and water on the OUTSIDE of vagina - just like you would wash any other part of your body.  You’re not douching your armpits, correct?  (If you are, seriously stop it, that is weird...)

If the smell is still strong or there is an unusual discharge, then a call to your doctor is your best bet - as there may be some underlying issue you need to treat first. Otherwise leave your vagina alone....there is no need to mess with perfection! 

No powder

Some women like to freshen up and take away any excess moisture by rubbing baby powder on their vaginas. This might not be such a good idea either.

At least one study has now found that those who used any type of powder down there were 20% to 30% more likely to have ovarian cancer than those who didn't use any powder. While other studies have not been as conclusive, why take the chance?   

Remember your vag is a self-cleaning wonderful body part. The things it’s doing, it’s doing for a reason.  Fighting it your whole life is not only potentially harmful, it’s tiring.  Think of it like a person with curly hair using a straightening iron every single day.  Might look nice but you’re totally frying the heck out of it and damaging your hair.  You can’t see what’s happening to your vagina as easily, but you might want to take it a bit more seriously because what you wind up with can be way more serious than “split ends.”

No thongs

Next up: Thongs

Yes, they can be sexy as hell and also don't result in those annoying panty lines - but thongs are not all they are cracked up to be.  Ha.  Cracked up to be. Because they go in your--ok, ok, we need to lay off the wine before writing these things, sorry.  

Doctors found out that if you are more susceptible to infections, thongs just make things worse. The reason is that with a thong, bacteria has a stronger ground to breed because most thongs are not made of breathable material, like cotton. And thongs can also cut you like a string creating easy access to bad bacteria. And let's be honest, they wedge and go places not underwear should go.

If thongs are really your thing, considering buying only cotton ones for regular day use, and saving the lacey, silky ones for special occasions.

In conclusion, these are things that make your vagina unhappy: Douches, baby powder, and thongs. Things that make it happy: just about everything else.  And for that we say a BIG thank you!