Looking After Your Vulva: Myths, Tips & When to Seek Medical Help

Looking After Your Vulva: Myths, Tips & When to Seek Medical Help

Let’s be honest: vulva and vaginal health comes with way too much unclear or bad advice. Social media, adverts, even well-meaning friends can sometimes make things more complicated than they need to be. The truth? Looking after your vulva is simple - and you don’t need a bathroom shelf full of “feminine hygiene” products to do it.

Here’s what actually matters.

Everyday Care: Keep It Simple

Your vagina is a self-cleaning legend. It naturally keeps itself balanced, so your job is just to be kind to the outside bits (that’s the vulva).

A few simple habits go a long way:

  • Wash with warm water only - no perfumed soaps, no scented washes or wipes, definitely no douching. They mess with your body’s natural balance.

If you prefer a product, choose something gentle, fragrance-free, and non-irritating, such as Aquamax (available in pharmacies and at sexual health clinics).

  • Wipe front to back after going to the toilet to stop bacteria spreading.
  • Breathable cotton underwear is your friend, and get out of damp gym kit or swimwear as soon as you can. This will help keep your vulva dry, ventilated, and comfortable.

That’s really it. No exotic cleansers, no “feminine sprays,” no secret tricks TikTok doesn’t want you to know about.

Common Conditions (and Why They’re Nothing to Be Ashamed Of)

Even if you do everything “right,” things can still go a bit funny sometimes - and that’s normal.

  • Thrush: Itching, soreness, thick white discharge. Caused by yeast overgrowth.
  • BV (Bacterial Vaginosis): Grey/white discharge, often with a “fishy” smell after sex. Caused by bacteria imbalance.
  • Trichomoniasis: A sexually transmitted infection with yellow-green discharge, itching, sometimes no symptoms at all.

These are all common, easily treated and nothing to be embarrassed about. Health professionals deal with this stuff daily.

Myths That Need Retiring

A lot of myths hang around because they sound like “common sense.” Here are a few that need to go:

  • Myth: You need to deep clean inside your vagina.
    Truth: It cleans itself. Douching actually raises your risk of infection.
  • Myth: Only penetrative sex spreads STIs.
    Truth: Skin contact, oral sex, even sharing unwashed sex toys can too.
  • Myth: Thrush and BV are always sexually transmitted.
    Truth: Often, they’re not. They can happen even if you’re not sexually active.

Simple Ways to Lower Infection Risk

Little habits can make a big difference:

  • Pee after sex to help prevent UTIs.
  • Use condoms or dental dams to reduce STI risk.
  • Wash sex toys between uses with warm water and unscented soap or a unscented sex toy cleaner and/or cover them with a condom if sharing.
  • Stay hydrated - it helps your body keep everything balanced.
  • Avoid scented pads or tampons - they can irritate sensitive skin.
  • Use cotton underwear and change them daily to stay clean and fresh

When to See a Professional

Book a GP or sexual health clinic appointment if you notice:

  • Unusual or persistent discharge
  • A strong smell that’s new for you
  • Itching, soreness, or pain
  • Discomfort during sex or when peeing

These things are incredibly common and usually treated quickly with simple medication. No judgment, no lectures, just help.

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Written by Emily Lockey

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