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Is YOUR Vagina Healthy?

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The vagina is a mysterious organ. Sometimes it can be hard to realize whether or not your vagina is healthy. There are times when a discharge of mucus is actually healthy. For the most part, the vagina has some of the best “self-cleaning” properties on the female body.

The vagina can maintain a great balance of bacteria and can even make mucous that will wash away foreign substances. When you are wondering if your down there area is healthy, keep in mind that a healthy vagina does not have a bad odor. There are a few different reasons why your vagina could start to smell. Some of these reasons include STI’s, bad hygiene and infections.

Bad Hygiene

Bad hygiene is not something that anybody will admit to. However, when you have great hygiene you are already a one step closer to stopping vaginal odors. You can use a regular bar soap or body wash on your vagina and the outside of the genital area. Make sure that you are drying the vagina properly so it stays clean.

If you use overly scented soaps or body washes, you run the risk of creating irritation in the vaginal area. This irritation could eventually lead to infection so be careful. One of the most common infections occurs due to feces entering the vagina after a bowel movement. Remember to wipe front to back to avoid this.

Combating Infection

One of the best ways to combat infection and odors is to get a little air down there. Start to wear loose fitting, cotton underwear. This will bring more airflow to your vagina and decrease the amount of sweat to the organ. When the sweat builds up in the vaginal odors can occur. If you ever smell “fishy” down there, you probably have a bacterial infection.

There are a variety of medications that will treat bacterial infections. You can either buy something over the counter you can see a doctor to get a prescribed medication. Although rare, some women could mistaken their vaginal odors for infection when they actually have pelvic inflammatory disease. This is also known as cervical cancer. If you think that you might be at risk of PID, talk to your gynecologist about getting tested.

Avoid Douching

While douching seems like a great idea, it can actually hurt you. Despite popular belief, douching does not help treat odors. Douching is usually employed before sex to make sure that everything is clean. The problem is that when you squirt water into the vagina, you wash away the natural fluids that are used to combat infection.

Douching can increase the development of bacterial infections because it increases the acidity level. Douching can also cause the vagina to become irritable. Only douche if your doctor has instructed you to do so. Instead of douching, wet the genitals with warmer water. Do not put any of the water inside. Simply wash the outside of the vulva and then pat down your body with a towel.

Yeast Infections

One of the most common infections to the vagina is a yeast infection. A very usual symptom of a yeast infection is itching. Another sign is soreness in and around the vagina. If your vulva is red or swollen, you probably have a yeast infection. It is never recommended to have sex while you have a yeast infection. This can make your problem even worse. Yeast infections can also lead to abnormal discharges. Sometimes the discharge can be white or clear.

Other times the discharge can be gray or green. If you have a very strong fish smell, you might want to see a doctor. You could have bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. Your doctor will be able to tell you what you have and what will clear it up.

STI’s

STI’s are another cause of vaginal discharge and odor. STI’s  (also known as STD’s) are generally given through unprotected sex or when a condom breaks. Gonorrhea is a very common STI that usually appears within 2-5 days after the infection has occurred. Gonorrhea can cause vaginal discharge and increased urination.

This can also cause pain or burning when urinating. Chlamydia is another STI that typically causes vaginal odor. Chlamydia can cause burning during urination and vaginal discharge. This can also cause very painful sexual intercourse. Get tested regularly to you know whether or not have come into contact with these particular STI’s. Both of these can be cleared up in matter of weeks through antibiotics.

What Exactly Is The “Vulva?”

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Sex tips are all about what to do, right? Wrong! You’d be surprised at how many sex tips guys have read and still don’t know what a “vulva” is – do you?

Most Guys Don’t Know What It Is  – And Why It’s Different From The Vagina

An unfortunate amount of men are grossly uninformed about the vulva. Everyone knows about the vagina – that’s where the penis goes. When I say the word “clitoris,” there are some of you high five-ing each other going, “Hell, yeah, I know about the clit!” However, upon hearing “vulva,” most are either scratching their heads or answering something like, “It’s, you know, down there.” Well, it’s your lucky day. I’m going to explain what it is, and what exactly is “down there.”

The first thing that may surprise you is that the vulva is not a thing. It’s all the things. Contained in the vulva are the mons veneris, labia majora, the urethra, the clitoris, the vaginal opening, and the perineum. There are some other things in there, but for our purposes we’ll focus on just these.

Mons Veneris

The Mons Veneris is more commonly referred to as the Mound of Venus – the fatty tissue over the pubic bone. It is most easily distinguished by the fact that it is where the bush is. Or, if she is waxed, where the bush would be.

Labia Majora

Labia majora literally means “big lips.” I hope you are able to imagine where I’m going with this. They are the two folds that protect all the good stuff underneath. There is usually hair growing on them. However, again, in this day and age do not be shocked if that area is bare. Plus, it’s easier to see if labia majora are turning red. If they are, it means she’s turned on.

The Urethra

The little hole where the pee comes out. Don’t put your penis in there.

The Clitoris

If you do not know about the clitoris, you are in trouble, pal. This is the one and only place you can stimulate that will virtually guarantee an orgasm. It is covered with a thing called the “clitoral hood,” because it’s a hood – over the clitoris. Right up under there is the epicenter of nerve endings. If you can get your tongue, finger, or head of your penis on that spot, you have struck gold. Your woman will thank you dearly.

Vaginal Opening

Otherwise known to you as “Jackpot!” It is located below the urethra, and this is the place you can put your penis.

Perinium

The Perinium is a little known area of nerve endings. It is located between the vagina and the anus. You call yours a chode. If you lick that spot lightly, she’ll get a pleasant shock.

So, unless you’re referring to her actual vagina (you know, the Jackpot), then when you say “vagina,” you’re really talking about the vulva.

Q&A: Her Vagina Smells Bad – What Do I Do?

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A vagina has a natural scent which some men enjoy and others don’t. Just like male genitals have a scent, so do female genitals. There are many things that could change the natural smell of the vagina and make the odor much stronger or even foul, so what do you do when the smell of her downstairs area becomes too much to handle?

Question: What do I do when her vagina smells really bad? I noticed, but I did not want to say anything. How do I kill that smell in my room, on my bed and on me?

–YouTube Viewer

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DovZn_FeAo&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]

Take A Shower Together Before Sex

As part of your foreplay routine, take a shower before sex. Sex in the shower can be super hot, and you can make washing your lover’s vagina part of turning her on. She’ll love the feel of your hands on her clitoris and labia as you soap her up, and she very well may want to do the same to you!

A shower before sex accomplishes two things – you get to wash your partner’s vagina without her really knowing that you’re washing it to get rid of odor (as long as you act like you’re trying to turn her on rather than scrub her clean) and you’re getting her aroused in the process. It’s a win-win situation!

Both Male And Female Genitals Have An Odor

Men may act like going down on a woman that has vaginal odor is the worst thing in the world, but many men forget that their genitals also have an odor. A man’s genitals smell a certain way, even when he is clean. His scent, however, will get stronger and more pungent in between showers and especially if he’s worked outside or engaged in physical activity such as jogging or aerobics.

A woman’s vagina is the same way – her natural smell is going to be less noticeable right after a shower, but it’s still there. It will get stronger as the day goes on, but this doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with her. Women who have more pubic hair will also have a stronger odor, simply because body fluids stick to the hair. Some people find that the scent of their partner’s genitals is arousing, while other people don’t like it at all.

Also, be aware that if you and your partner have sex often without a condom, your seminal fluid is going to be hanging out in her vagina. It’s not going to hurt anything to leave it in there and your partner’s vagina will eventually clean itself out, however, many people find it easier to simply rinse the semen out by douching.

It Could Be An Infection

Women are prone to vaginal infections such as bacterial or yeast infections. A bacterial or yeast infection can cause a woman’s odor to change and become stronger, even with proper genital hygiene. If she washes regularly, or you take a shower before sex and you still notice that your partner’s vagina has a strong odor, she may have an infection.

In this case, you may want to suggest going to the doctor. This can be an awkward conversation, but if you’re genuinely concerned about her and her health and offer to go with her without criticism, she’s not going to be as offended. Do NOT make it about you and how you can’t stand your partner’s vaginal odor. She will likely never have sex with you again!

Not A Chemistry Match

Both men and women release pheromones through their genitals, and different people are attracted to different pheromones. It all has to do with body chemistry – if you find that your partner almost always smells really good down there to you, her body chemistry is likely a great match for you. Alternatively, if you find that she almost always smells really bad to you – even if she has impeccable genital hygiene – she may not be a good chemistry match for you.

Foods That She Eats

You may have heard that eating certain foods will affect the taste of your semen, and the same applies to women. The food she eats will have an impact on her vaginal odor. If she eats a lot of cabbage, garlic, broccoli and onions, her vaginal odor is going to be very pungent. On the other hand, if she’s eating a lot of sweet foods like pineapple and strawberries, her vagina is going to smell sweeter as well.

When To See A Doctor

If you’ve gone through every possible cause of her vaginal odor and you still aren’t able to eliminate it, it may be time to get checked out by the doctor. Other reasons to bring a doctor on board are:

  • Pain while urinating (you or her)
  • Discharge coming from your penis
  • If odor doesn’t go away with hygiene or gets worse
  • Sexual intercourse is painful for her

There’s nothing embarrassing about going to see the doctor – if you’re not comfortable talking with the doctor you currently have about sex or the health of your genitals, find a new one. If your partner isn’t comfortable enough with her doctor to do so, encourage her to find a doctor she is comfortable with.

How To Talk To Her About It

Having to talk to her about her vaginal odor might seem impossible, but if you do it very carefully, it will end well. Some things to keep in mind are:

Don’t Joke About It

Never make jokes about her vaginal odor or make fun of her in any way. Never allow her to overhear you joking about it with your friends, never put it in a text, etc. etc. Guys can often be insensitive, but make sure you’re aware of her feelings the entire time.

Come Off As Concerned

Don’t approach her in a critical way – she’ll instantly get defensive. Instead, make sure she knows you’re concerned about her and her health, not about yourself. If she truly feels as though you care, she’ll be more willing to investigate the problem with you. Offer to go to the doctor with her and be supportive of her as you both try to figure out the root of the problem.

Be Honest With Her

Honesty is important here. While you want to be careful about what you’re saying, lying to her or trying to “sugar coat” the issue isn’t going to get you anywhere. Just be truthful with her in a courteous way.

Q&A: Fingering – What To Do When It Hurts

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Fingering should be pleasurable, not painful! There are lots of things that can cause a woman to feel pain when she’s being fingered, either during masturbation or as part of foreplay with her partner. Here’s what to do when fingering hurts!

Question: Hi Dan and Jennifer – I have a problem! Each time I put my finger into my girlfriend’s vagina, she says that it hurts – but it is only one finger and I want to give her a vaginal orgasm! All along I have been giving her a clitoral orgasm. I have my fingernails cut properly and I think one time I accidentally cut her vaginal wall to a point where it bled a little…does that affect anything? I really need help because I want her to feel good!

–YouTube Viewer

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Olk5aB33P0&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

Common Reasons Fingering Can Hurt

There are many reasons that fingering can hurt – and it may be just one reason, or it may be many factors that contribute to pain during this activity.

Lack Of Proper Lubrication

The most common reason that fingering is uncomfortable or painful for a woman is if she’s not lubricated enough down there. Many people assume that if she’s turned on, she’ll be wet enough down there, while other people assume that spit is a good enough lube. If you really want to avoid pain during this activity, you’re going to want to use a good, water based lubricant and plenty of it. The more, the better!

If she’s not lubed up enough before you insert your finger into her vagina, it can be difficult for it to go in, and it can cause a lot of friction against the walls of her vagina. The vaginal tissues are very delicate and can tear or bleed if there’s too much friction without enough lubrication. Lube is inexpensive and can be purchased almost anywhere. There’s no reason not to use it!

Fingernails

If your fingernails aren’t cut or trimmed down well enough, or if you have hangnails, these can cut or tear the vaginal tissues inside. This is painful and may even cause bleeding! Take the time to trim your fingernails and cuticles, or if you don’t know how to do it yourself, man up and go get a manicure! Another option, especially for men who work with their hands and have rough calluses on their fingers, try wearing a condom or latex or vinyl glove when you finger your partner. This makes it go in and out smoothly, and you’re guaranteed not to hurt her.

Yeast Or Bacterial Infections

A lot of people don’t want to think about it, but a woman who experiences pain during fingering or intercourse may have a bacterial or yeast infection. Yeast and bacterial infections are common, and it simply happens when either the pH level in the vagina is out of whack or bacteria is introduced. In fact, you may have given her a bacterial infection if there was dirt and bacteria under your nails the last time you put your fingers in her vagina!

Chemicals On The Skin

It is so, so, so important to wash your hands before touching your partner’s vagina! Even if you’re only touching the clitoris or the labia – make sure your hands are clean first! Chemicals or substances on the hands can cause pain during fingering, especially if you’ve just dug into a basket of hot wings. Don’t assume that just because your hands look clean that they are – wash up with soap and hot water and your lady will thank you tremendously!

She May Not Be Aroused Enough

A woman has to be fully aroused before any down-there action can feel good. If you try fingering before she’s ready, she’s going to tighten her muscles and she’s not going to be relaxed enough for you to get your finger all the way inside. Coupled with not being lubed up enough, this scenario can be disastrous! Spend some time kissing her and engaging in foreplay before you actually make the move to start fingering her. Making sure that she’s aroused and practically begging you to do it will keep it from hurting her as much.

Using Too Many Fingers Too Fast

A lot of guys think that they can start fingering their partner with three fingers – and this is not the case! Starting with too many fingers or pushing too hard or too fast before she’s really ready for that level of action can cause extreme discomfort and pain. Start with one finger and work your way up as she gets more and more aroused.

How To Make Fingering More Pleasurable For Her

There are many ways to make sure that fingering is pleasurable for her. In fact, before you start trying to learn specific techniques to give her an orgasm, check out these basic tips to make sure you’re not hurting her.

  • Go slow and use lots of lube.
  • Start with one finger at a time and slowly work your way up to more if she seems into it.
  • Pay attention to her cues – she will let you know if it’s uncomfortable or not with her body language.
  • Can she finger herself without pain? If not, the issue may be bigger than you.
  • Try fingering in combination with oral sex. Start by licking her clitoris and when she’s aroused, slowly begin to use your finger.

When To Get Her Checked Out

If fingering always hurts, lube stings and she’s not even able to finger herself, there may be something going on down there that needs a doctor’s diagnosis. Infections will cause almost anything to be painful down there, even urination. Communicate with her about what hurts and why it hurts, and if she needs to go to the doctor, offer to go with her without passing judgement. Eliminating all the possible causes of pain during fingering is the best way to get to the root of the problem – and get rid of it!

Women’s Masturbation Secrets – REVEALED!

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I have some shocking news. Girls like to masturbate. Of course they do, masturbation is really fun! They masturbate far more than you give them credit for. In fact, for a shockingly large amount of women, that is the only way they can achieve orgasm. While you’re aimlessly poking around down below, she’s thinking, “Whatever, just fake it so he’ll stop. I can take care of myself later.” This is not because of your inadequacies as a lover, nor is it unfixable. It’s simply a lack of understanding how her body works.

Men and women experience sex in very differently. For men it’s relatively easy: see woman, want to have sex with woman, hopefully penis will touch woman. Obviously that is an oversimplification, but, compared to the woman’s experience, that’s all it is. If you develop a better understanding of how women satisfy themselves, perhaps it would seem less complicated.

She Creates A Mood

In order to achieve orgasm, a woman needs the right atmosphere. She doesn’t light candles and get out the satin sheets every time she masturbates; she just needs to feel comfortable. If not, she can’t concentrate on the task at hand, so to speak. If she is too cold or too exposed or too anything that distracts her pleasure, it’s not going to happen. That sounds daunting, but finding the right ambient balance isn’t too difficult if her mind is calm. Plus, extreme horniness will always overtake any environmental distractions.

She Sets A Pace

Regardless of the method, a woman fingers herself rhythmically. Meaning, there is an even flow of strokes and caresses, allowing her to concentrate on the sensations each touch gives. A choppy technique can be distraction. Whereas a man responds to physical stimulation alone, a woman puts herself into an almost meditative state. Otherwise, no amount of touching will induce orgasm. Again, this sounds quite complicated to men, but a woman does know how to adjust her focus in different situations.

She Has A Specific Technique

All women have that one sure-fire orgasm making technique. This is not to say that a woman has only one way of satisfying herself, but she does have a method that guarantees her orgasm. I know that you are hoping that I’m about to tell you what it is, but I’m not. It is as diverse as ladies themselves. Some women like direct manual stimulation of the head of the clitoris, but some ladies are far too sensitive and require indirect stimulation. There are even girls who can get off just by rubbing their inner thighs. Whatever her technique, find out what it is, and learn to employ it in given situations.

She Uses A Vibrator

Many girls start out using their fingers during masturbation, but it doesn’t take long for them to graduate to sex toys when they get older. Once a woman tries a vibrator, there’s often no going back – simply because a vibrator offers pleasure whenever she wants it and can make her orgasm fast and hard. Girls are busy ladies after all, and they don’t always have time to sit around and finger themselves for an hour until they reach climax. Instead, using a vibrator can help her get things done quickly, with just as much – if not more – pleasure than if she used her hands alone.

She Reads Erotic Novels

Men look at porn when they masturbate, but women don’t respond to visual stimuli the way men do. They prefer to use their imaginations to think about sex and different sexual scenarios that turn them on. Sometimes, women can do this on their own without any help at all, but other times, she may enjoy reading a romantic or erotic novel before she masturbates or while she’s doing it. Girls love using erotic novels for masturbation because it really gets their biggest sexual organ involved – their brain!

She Does It More Than Once

If a girl reaches orgasm through masturbation once, it’s likely that she’ll do it again a few times before she’s thoroughly finished. Many times, girls will experience their first round of multiple orgasms through masturbation, simply because they stop after the first orgasm but realize they don’t feel quite done yet. Unlike men, girls don’t go back down to an unaroused state after their first orgasm. Instead, they go back to the “plateau” phase – which comes after the foreplay phase but before the orgasmic phase. That makes it much easier for her to reach orgasm again after the first time!