#vaginal health

[ineffectualdemon]

Hey if you have a uterus and a cervix I have information that you need to know

I did not know, until the infection has spread, that thrush (also known as a yeast infection) if it's high enough inside it might not present with stereotypical symptoms

I did not have any of the normal thrush symptoms which are:

Whitish, odourless vaginal discharge

Persistent burning

Itching

Redness

Swelling,

Soreness of the vagina and vulva

I had NONE of those

Instead I had pain in my cervix

It felt like someone was squeezing my cervix in a fist at first and later like I was being stabbed in that area. This was my ONLY symptom and because it was so high up it spread to be all over pelvic pain

So if you're experiencing unusual pelvic/cervical pain and it's not really bad it's useful to get a swab from the doctor and/or try treating it for thrush. If you're in severe pain go to the doctor/hospital. This is if it's just discomfort or mild pain

I just want to share this information because I had NO IDEA this could happen until it happened to me so I'm sure I'm not the only one

#gynecology #thrush #yeast infection #vaginal health #health #psa

[thescrumblingmidwife]

kind of awkward ask but is it normal for the vulva/vagina to smell sort of vinegary? everyone talks about a ‘fishy’ smell as being concerning but idk I feel like nothing should be having an unpleasant smell down there at all

Hi Anon,

I am loving all these "awkward" questions that are just, like Tuesday for me. This is an easy one!

The vagina should have a smell. It is a human body part. Name another human body part that doesn't have a smell. Like, maybe your eyeball? Your skin, hair, ears, mouth, armpits - these all have a smell, and I doubt you'd call it "pleasant." It just is. We don't attach value and shame to the normal odours of other human body parts anywhere near to the degree we do with the vagina. (Yes, western culture does hate body odour generally, but the expectation isn't that you don't have it, just that you do something about it in public).

Let's just start with a quick -

ANATOMY LESSON - HEALTHY VAGINAL BIOME

Like most other parts of the human body, the vagina does not exist in a vacuum. It is a living biome with healthy bacteria and yeasts that live inside of it and are beneficial. Healthy vaginal secretions have a pH range of 3.8-5.0, which is mildly acidic. What else is acidic? Vinegar! That mild vinegar scent you mention is likely just the normal acidity of the secretions doing their thing, protecting that V.

A malodorous (literally - "bad odour") scent comes about when the normal flora is disrupted and you have an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria or yeast. This can come from douching, antibiotic use, intercourse, etc. It can also happen with infection with a sexually transmitted organism. It's not a mildly tangy or musky smell.

---

Now, Anon, you mention an "unpleasant" smell. That's a subjective term, and whether or not vaginal scent in general (or the scent of an individual's healthy vagina) is pleasant to any one person is a subjective matter. Is it possible you just don't much enjoy the scent of vagina? Sure! Vagina is not everyone's cup of tea, as many gay men will attest. It may be something you can come to enjoy, or not. You may discover that you find the scent of some vaginas pleasant and others less so. The important thing is to avoid attaching shame to the idea of vaginal scent, regardless of whether you find it pleasant.

Let's go back to the comparison to body odour. You may be thinking, "Well, OK. I get BO in my armpits, but I use soap and deodorant to stop it." There are a couple of important reasons why this analogy doesn't work.

Overall body odour is detectable by other people generally. Vaginal odour is not. Outside of very exceptional circumstances, your normal vaginal scent is just not going to be detectable by people around you. If someone is intimate with you to the point where they can detect your scent, you deserve respectful treatment and communication, and this person should understand that vaginal odour is normal.

There are no safe vaginal equivalents to deodorant or soap. As I've discussed before, the vagina does not need cleaning. In fact, introducing soap, douches, or fragrances can throw off your normal flora and cause problems and irritation.

LET'S NORMALIZE VAGINAS HAVING A SCENT! It's so normal! Everyone should be taught this, not just people who have vaginas. Anyone wanting to get anywhere NEAR a vagina should know and embrace this.

#reproductive health #sex ed #vaginal health #vaginal odor #screw normal

[oh-my-damn]

Oh god so I had my smear test done yesterday (check your vaginal health ladies its important) and tmi im sorry but they obvi have to take the test from the cervix and I felt uncomfy the rest of the day and can still kinda feel it today

And that just makes me think of all the fics ive read (and written) where the guy (usually a CE character or Seb Stan character bc ofc) rails her so hard he hits her cervix over and over again

Those poor girls 😭 this is what I feel like after they poked around with a tiny brush for like 30 seconds and these poor girlies are being railed by monster cocks for like hours bc of stamina 😭

Anyway all I can think about now is that they must be constantly uncomfy after sex but also I think I too would be willing to suffer through it if it meant I got to get railed by those men (especially Steve/Ari/Andy/Bucky/Lloyd you name it)

So yeah thats whats on my mind today

#pap smear #vaginal health #fics #fanfiction #smut #lmao #i cant stop thinking about it

[chaos-and-cookies]

I may be stupid and this may be tmi but just in case someone else didnt know this, APARENTLY HAVING A MESSED UP PH BALANCE IN UR COOCH CAN GIVE U WEIRD COLORED DISCHARGE????? I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE EVER SINCE I GOT ON BIRTH CONTROL AND THE DOCTORS NEVER TOLD ME THIS???? My current one said i should eat more yogurt/probiotics but didn't explain why???? So i never ate it consistently to see if it made a difference???? I always thought a messed up coochie ph meant you could be itchy or smelly or something and since i never rly dealt with that that often i didnt think to look up if my issue was a ph thing but aparently it is!!! So now im gonna take my happy ass to the grocery store to get a bunch of probiotic yogurt and see if this will be the answer to my 4yr long problems 😭

#this is REALLY tmi but my discharge has been rly yellow for years and i never understood why but after looking up the ph thing #and seeing the exact issue im having for once listed under ph issues I'm so mad but happy i finally have an answer 😭 #ppl with pussys pls do research and ask all the questions cuz even the simplest things can end up fucking u up for years cuz no one thought #of it 😭😭😭 #pussy problems #womens health #not trying to be trans exclusive but this is just an umbrella term to tag it for im sorry 😭 #vaginal health

[succubussally]

Never seen an AZO ad before! I love the new trend in commercials shitting on the fact that you can't talk about women's health problems openly. OR people who have vaginas without other people who don't have vaginas being all grimace face about it or being uncomfortable.

#azo #commercials #advertisements #womens health #vaginal health

[witchpussy42069]

For my fellow trans men: Aloe Vera is a great natural treatment for vaginal atrophy, a common side effect of starting testosterone. It's also safe to use as lube, but only vaginally. Not analy bc the pH levels aren't high enough to match the pH levels of ur anus. ✌️

#ftm tips #tips for transmen #trans #trans man #ftm #testosterone #ftm hrt #hrt #trans hrt #vaginal health #vaginal atrophy #natural remedies

[pomonarose]

PSA for people with vaginas

If, when you get your annual exam, you have a lot of discomfort and/or pain during your exam you can ask for a pediatric speculum. You don't have to 'suck it up' if it hurts, if it's distressing, if you avoid making an appointment because of it. Ask for a pediatric speculum. Not all vaginas are the same size, and you have options! Your health and comfort matters, at any stage of life. ♡

#healthcare #vaginismus #vaginal health #not sterek #pomstuff

[thescrumblingmidwife]

Should vaginal fluid taste sour..?

Hi Anon,

It definitely can! Remember it's a bit acidic. Sweat can also contribute to a sour taste. It's also very normal for the exact taste/scent/consistency of vaginal secretions to change throughout your cycle.

#vaginal health #vaginal discharge #vaginal secretions #sex ed #reproductive health #sex education

[handsometabbyc]

This bit in Iliza Shlesinger's latest Netflix special where she addresses how vaginas are supposed to taste (or more importantly *not* supposed to) really resonated with me

#iliza shlesinger #vaginal health #netflix #iliza shlesinger: hot forever #hot forever #feminine hygiene #feminine health

[porcelineye]

I wonder where that 19 year old who told 15 year old me years ago I had to lose my virginity as soon possible or else my vag would seal up by the time I was 20 is doing?

We need to study the vagina more.

#vaginal health #science #uterus #reproductive health #gender

[lovesexplore]

QUEEF PHENOMENON

Explore this informative article to understand queefing, a natural bodily phenomenon often misunderstood. Learn why it happens and how to embrace it without embarrassment.

#Queefing #Vaginal Flatulence #Understanding Queefs #Natural Bodily Functions #Common Misconceptions #Vaginal Health #Pelvic Floor Exercises #Queefing in Relationships #Pop Culture References #Reducing Social Stigma #Women's Health

[gaasubap]

The word "vaginal discharge" is the only word I know that means any and all things that the vagina creates.

So what is the new word now that marketing has taken over the word to mean "bad things that must be cured"???

#vaginal health #vaginal discharge #feminism #text post #politics #usa politics #global politics #systemic imbalance #suppressed information #forced ignorance