Self Care

Sex Health, Wellness, & Vibes

Your sex health is just as important as your mental & physical health. That's why sex health is self-care!

Typically pH imbalance is synonymous with unprotected sex, but there are other things that can impact your pH balance. Unhealthy eating habits, douching, & lubricants can also create an unbalanced pH. Not everyone is aware of this and that is why sex health and wellness should be more widely discussed and accessible. There is always something new to learn and explore in our nether regions. As the old adage goes, ‘when you look good, you feel good’ & I feel real good when I don’t have an itch down there. You ever blame your sexual partner for the changes in your genitalia only to later realize that it could have been an allergy to condoms or that your oil-based lubricant caused the infection, what about that sex toy you used that was poorly washed? To think, you and bae might have made it to the altar some day if not for that. Damn you oil-based lube!!!

Condoms & pH balance

If you paid attention in sex education you were taught that condoms are barriers for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (since condoms are not 100% fool proof, remind me to introduce you to my children later). Well, Beijing Friendship hospital did a study and apparently condoms have also been shown to prevent vaginal infection. Vaginal infection can happen during unprotected sex. During sex, the vagina pH increases as it tries to protect the sperm and encourage fertilization which in turn encourages growth of certain bacteria. It's a lose lose situation. Clink Clink!

Discharge can be sticky... oops... I meant tricky

Really it all can be tricky. This is why you have to know your body. Pay attention to how you feel before, after, and during sex. Here is the tricky part. Normal discharge can be thick OR thin (well isn't that helpful), it can be sticky, elastic, or gooey (no confusion at all). Now that you know what's normal, please know that if your genitals experience swelling, redness, or discoloration in discharge - abnormal discharge can be green, gray, pus like, foamy in texture - you should see a doctor. Normal discharge does not have a foul or fishy odor, it is clear, white, or even off-white (seriously, like which one is it). Vaginal discharge cleans and moistens the vagina as well as helps fight infection so pay attention to it as changes in color and smell could indicate a more urgent problem.

So now that we know lube has ruined lives, let's scrutinize it a smidge shall we.

Lubricants are generally safe and effective to use butlike most things that are not natural, there can be sideeffects. Yes, lubricants can cause skin irritation andeven allergic reaction.

Water based lubricant that is glycerin free is a goodoption if you are prone to yeast infections, it also lesslikely to cause vaginal irritation but has a bitter tasteso if you're trying to go down, do not take glycerinwith you. It seems to be the most common lubricantnow a days and it could be because silicone sex toysshould be cleaned with a water based lubricant orelse the silicone lubricant can cause the toy to breakdown and ultimately become "gummy". Trust me, notthe kind you love to chew. If you want to get it on inthe shower though, silicone lubricant might be theway, it also has a longer shelf life than water basedlube.

Oil-based and natural are two less common types oflubricant. The latter is free of paraben and usesorganic ingredients which screams mo money momoney mo money. Yup, even in the bedroom 'Guac isextra' and does not have a shelf life as long as itssynthetic counterparts. While natural lubricants -often made with Olive, Avocado, or coconut oil - aresafe for the vagina and to eat, it can stain sheets,destroy latex condoms, or cause condom failure, thesame as its Synthetic oil based Cousin. Synthetic oilcan irritate and lead to infection if not properlycleaned out of genitals.

Quick Tips:

1. If you are dealing with vaginal dryness, use silicone lubricants.

2. If your sex toy is silicone DO NOT USE silicone lubricant.

3. Wash your toys! Did you hear about the person who caught an STI bc their friend was at their house and used their sex toy unbeknownst to the toys owner... CHILE!