7 Things That Make Your Vagina Sad

7 Things That Make Your Vagina Sad



Think about how much your hoo-ha does for you. This super sensitive body part treats you to tons of pleasure during sex, cleans itself by producing daily discharge, and stands ready to expand to the size of a watermelon if you decide one day to deliver a baby. With all of these amazing things in mind, isn’t it time you made sure it’s on the receiving end of some much-deserved TLC? If you’re even considering doing any of the things on this list, show your lady parts some love by nixing the idea—or remedying any damage already done with the expert-backed advice below.

Sitting on a Bike Seat Without Padding

Ever have your labia go numb—or even start to hurt—during a SoulCycle session? That’s your vagina making it loud and clear that the way you’re sitting on the cycle seat is compressing nerves and blood vessels in your crotch, which over time can reduce genital sensation. A 2012 study from Yale University looked into this more closely, finding that women who rode stationary bikes with the handlebars lower than the seat experienced the most discomfort. If it happens a lot, check your positioning on the bike, or follow these strategies so you and your vagina can continue killing it at your indoor-cycling class.

Not Taking off Your Gym Clothes After a Workout

As you lounge around in your sweaty yoga pants, bacteria are breeding like crazy, thanks to all that perspiration your below-the-belt region produces (your vaginal area is packed with sweat glands, you know). If bacteria get into your vaginal canal, they can upset the balance of the microbes that normally live there and cause a yeast infection, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical associate professor of ob-gyn at Yale School of Medicine. Change out of your sweaty, stinky gear as soon as you can, and take a quick shower to wash away the sweat that allows infection-causing bugs to thrive.

Drizzling it With Whipped Cream or Chocolate Syrup

If your ultimate fantasy is to cover your naked body in ice cream sundae toppings and serve yourself up to your partner, just make sure you keep the sticky, syrupy stuff far away from your crotch area. That’s because if sugar manages to get into your vagina, it can mess with pH levels and lead to a yeast or other type of infection, says Minkin.