Tag Archives: Vagina

Five Underwear Rules To Live By

girl in cotton underwear
May 19, 2017

A healthy vagina is a happy one. Start with your underwear drawer to reduce your risk of irritation and infections. Follow these five underwear rules and you can’t go wrong.

1. Cotton is king

But it’s sooo cuteee! We know that you love your fancy lacy thong but when it comes to underwear, cotton is king. Cotton is extremely breathable and moisture-wicking, which helps reduce your risk for infections. You can still keep your other undies for special occasions!

2. Use detergent free of dyes and perfumes

Your skin down there is very sensitive and may be more prone to rashes and infections. Ditch the floral soap and fabric softener to one made for sensitive skin, we recommend hypoallergenic. Always avoid bleaching your underwear as well because you can expose your lady bits to chemicals.

3. Say “buh-bye” to thongs 

That thong, thong, thong, thong, thong. Sisqo does not know what he’s talking about when it comes to undies. Because of their design, thongs can potentially transmit E.coli bacteria from your butt to your vagina. Yikes!

4. Change and wash them

Yes, we realize this is an obvious one but it’s also very important. When it comes to your knickers, you should only wear them once and then wash them. No digging into that dirty laundry pile that you’ve put off doing. It’s also important to change them after your workout. Sweaty undies are a breeding ground for bacteria so bring an extra pair when you hit the gym and change them right after your workout.

5. Get the right size

Not only are too tight undies uncomfortable and unflattering, but they’re also not healthy. Your vagina needs to breathe, dang it! Don’t put yourself at risk for irritation and infection and toss out any too tight panties. Now you have a perfect excuse to hit up Victoria’s Secret.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS): What You Need to Know

tampon on a light pink background
February 21, 2017

From time to time, we hear horror stories about women leaving tampons in for too long, contracting toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and getting severely ill or dying. And, just like hearing a story about a plane crash, the likelihood of it happening to us feels like a definite possibility. There are so many rumors and misconceptions about TSS that we wanted to clear the air by providing the truth about toxic shock syndrome and what you can do to prevent it.

What is toxic shock syndrome (TSS)?

Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection. It results from an infection produced by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria and by group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria.

How do you get it?

Tampons themselves are not the cause of toxic shock syndrome, but experts believe that they can give the bacteria an environment to grow quickly and produce toxins. If those toxins are released into your bloodstream, there can be severe consequences such as organ failure and shock. When you are using tampons, be sure to follow the eight-hour rule for changing and avoid using superabsorbent tampons (the more material, the more room for bacteria to grow).

Toxic shock syndrome can be contracted in a variety of other ways such as surgical incisions, burns, cuts, skin infections, and any device that you insert into the vagina including menstrual cups, contraceptive sponges and diaphragms.

Will I contract it automatically if I leave my tampon in for too long?

You should always take your health seriously but don’t panic if you happen to leave your tampon in for longer than 8 hours. If it’s been 12 to 24 hours and you feel normal, just remove it and go on with your life. If it’s been longer or you are unable to take it out, you should take a trip to your OBGYN to get it removed.

What are the symptoms?

Possible symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include sudden high fever, low blood pressure, a rash that looks like a sunburn on your palms and soles, muscle aches, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, feeling faint or dizzy, and redness of mouth, throat, and eyes. If you have signs or symptoms of toxic shock syndrome, you should see your doctor immediately.

Is it common?

It is actually very rare, in fact, with only 1-2 out of every 100,000 women contracting it.

Does it only affect menstruating women?

Although around half the cases of TSS occur in menstruating women, toxic shock syndrome can affect children, men, and postmenopausal women as well.

Should I give up tampons altogether?

No, when used correctly tampons are perfectly safe. However, it is important to take precautions such as switching your tampon every 4-8 hours, washing your hands before insertion and removal, and avoiding superabsorbent tampons.