Female Hygiene 101

As women, we talk - and recently I realised a lot of young women are quietly struggling with feminine hygiene issues. I’ve had girls ask me things like, “How often do you get yeast infections?”, “Does cranberry juice help UTIs?”, or “How do you get medication from the doctor or pharmacist?” and it honestly made me realise that a lot of women were never properly taught about feminine hygiene.

Some didn’t grow up with mothers around, some had moms who were never taught themselves, and others grew up in homes where the topic felt awkward or embarrassing. Meanwhile, I sat there thinking… I genuinely cannot remember the last time I had a yeast infection or UTI because I’ve always been very vigilant about hygiene. These things are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and annoying - so today y’all are in luck because apparently I lack shame and will tell you everything.

First things first: your body is not dirty, and your vagina is actually designed to clean itself. Your vagina naturally produces discharge, especially around ovulation, and this outward flow helps lubricate, protect, and clean the area naturally. You do not need to put soaps, washes, powders, or random products inside to “clean” yourself. In fact, over-cleaning internally can throw off your natural pH balance and cause irritation, dryness, infections, or discomfort. The best hygiene routine is usually the simplest:

• Wash the outside only with warm water and mild soap
• Focus on the folds, creases, and outer area
• Never douche or scrub internally
• Keep the area as dry and cool as possible

Warm, damp environments encourage yeast and bacteria overgrowth, which is why breathable underwear, changing out of sweaty clothes, and drying properly after showers really matter. Some women even prefer sleeping without underwear at night to help keep the area cool and ventilated. If you’re sexually active, hygiene becomes even more important - not because sex is “dirty,” but because bacteria can easily be introduced into sensitive areas. A few simple habits can make a huge difference:

• Pee after sex to help flush bacteria from the urinary tract and reduce UTIs
• Wash afterward and avoid sitting in damp underwear or fluids for hours (also think gym)
• Your partner’s hygiene matters too - clean hands, clean bits, clean bodies protect both people

During pregnancy, things can shift even more. A mucus plug forms to help protect the baby, which changes the body’s natural outward flow, and because of hormonal changes and discharge changes, infections can sometimes happen more easily. That’s why extra care and attention during pregnancy can really help.

It’s also important not to ignore symptoms your body is trying to warn you about. Burning when peeing, itching, strong or unusual odor, unusual discharge, pain, or irritation shouldn’t just be brushed aside. Mild symptoms should still be monitored, but severe irritation or recurring infections need proper medical care. Sometimes home remedies help, and sometimes you genuinely need medication - and there is absolutely no shame in that. Anti-itch creams can sometimes offer temporary relief while treatment starts working, but persistent symptoms should always be properly checked.

And lastly, your vagina is not supposed to smell like flowers, vanilla cupcakes, strawberries, or tropical perfume. Bodies naturally have scents, and that is completely normal. Please stop spraying fragrances directly onto your bits - the skin there is sensitive. Powders are not magically keeping things fresh either; they often settle into folds and creases, mix with sweat, and can create irritation or problems later on. Don’t try to cover poor hygiene with products. Wash your body properly, dry properly, let the area breathe, and let your natural pheromones do their thing. Good hygiene is about health and comfort - not perfection 💛