Many of the female reproductive system diagrams are boring and sometimes far from accurate. For many, these V-shaped representations of genitalia are the first contact they have with their bodies. Many haven’t experimented nor explored the pleasures of their anatomy and still believe in what these Sex-Ed charts.
Many of these anatomical maps tend to ignore that little but essential organ for leading a satisfactory sexual life: the clitoris. Why? Because this tissue’s only function is to provide pleasure.
In the same way, sex education barely mentions it, out of fear of provoking in their students the curiosity of exploring their own bodies. To this day, the idea of self exploration and understanding one’s own pleasure, hygiene, changes, and transformations continues to be taboo. It’s time to break with this and start exploring what happens between our legs. Something we’re never really taught is how to take care for our vagina after sex. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Go to the bathroom
Peeing after sex doesn’t really work as birth control (the vaginal cavity and the urinary dust are completely different paths), but it can help you expel any bacteria in the urethra that could cause UTI’s. Try going to the bathroom right after sex and pee even if you don’t feel like doing so. That way, you’ll be cleaning your urinary tract and avoiding future complications.
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Avoid washing with soap
The vagina is capable of cleaning itself, and –in a strictly biological sense– the presence of vaginal fluids, urine or semen is quite normal and doesn’t really represent a huge risk for your health. However, if you feel like taking a shower, the best thing to do is to clean that area only with water. Soap is not necessary, but if you still feel the need of using it, avoid scented soaps, since the alkalinity could affect your natural pH and cause irritation, dryness, or even fungal infections.
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Wear cotton underwear
One general recommendation to avoid infections and maintain a reproductive health is wearing cotton underwear. After sex, this advice is even more important, since it’ll help you keep the vaginal area fresh and ventilated. Nylon fabrics look great and can be very sexy, but the best option after sex is to wear 100% cotton panties.
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Follow the golden rule
This is something many ignore, but women should really follow this advice to lead a satisfactory and responsible sex life: all those things you wouldn’t put in mouth should never get inside your vagina. Engaging in an intense and passionate intercourse while taking care of yourself is quite easy and possible. If you practice any kind of sexual stimulation in any cavity, don’t pass to another without proper cleaning, especially if it was an anal stimulation, since it has plenty of bacteria from excrement that can risk your health. Even if your partner is wearing a condom, you’ll have to change it if you plan on changing to another part of your body.
If you didn’t follow this rule, now it’s time to use a neutral soap to cleanse your vaginal cavity from any bacteria. The area that needs special attention is the perineum, the base of the pelvis that goes from the vaginal lips to the rectum.
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Sex and menstruation
Despite all those absurd taboos around having sex during the menstrual cycle, the truth is that you can enjoy this practice in the same way you would do so when you’re not in your period. The hygiene recommendations are exactly the same. If both you and your partner lead healthy habits, nothing will happen with the contact of menstruation.
Get to know more about your own anatomy with these 10 Masturbation Pros For Women And Men According To Science. Discover how women sexual liberation was achieved during one of the most conservative times with The Sex Toy That Awakened The Female Orgasm In The Victorian Era.
Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
