Vaginal Health — The Love Club Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:15:21 +0000 en Vaginal Health — The Love Club All things Kegel's Sun, 08 Sep 2019 17:07:21 +0000 Vaginal Health whitmanbethann 399@/discussions Happy Sunday All!! I have been doing my Kegel exercises as we are always told to do. I have not had kids, and with other medical history, I have chosen to never carry a child naturally as the effects would be too much for my body. That does not mean I shouldn't do my Kegel's. I have read other places the benefit's of Kegel exercises for the pelvic floor and even the use of Kegel Balls. I would like to get better results of my Kegel's and have thought about the use of Kegel Balls.

I have an IUD. Does that mean I should not use magnetic Kegel Balls, or any type of Kegel Balls to strengthen my pelvic floor?


A Personal Guide to Yeast Infections and How to Prevent Them Fri, 02 Aug 2019 17:20:02 +0000 Vaginal Health HannahjonesPA 49@/discussions

What causes yeast infections?

Each organ system in the body that is exposed to the outside world (i.e. skin, mouth, gut, vagina) has a colony of organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) ideally co-existing harmoniously. This family of organisms is called the “flora.” When the flora becomes imbalanced for any reason, an infection can likely follow. One of the most commonly seen vaginal tract infections is our “friend,” the yeast infection. Yeast infections are medically termed vulvovaginal candidiasis because the culprit is a yeast (a type of fungus) named Candida. Candida normally lives peacefully inside the body, in the vagina, and on the skin in low amounts without causing any issues. Certain factors, however, can cause the fungus to multiply, at which point many people become symptomatic and experience infections.

Do I have a yeast infection?

Signs of a vaginal yeast infection include itching, burning, soreness, and discomfort. The vulva (external visible part of the female genitals) will usually appear red, swollen, irritated, and tender to touch. Other symptoms can be pain during sex and burning during urination. These signs and symptoms are most often experienced along with a change in vaginal discharge that appears white and thick, like cottage cheese. One thing that is NOT characteristic of a yeast infection is a change in discharge odor. Change in odor is often a sign of a different type of infection. Overall, it is usually easy to diagnose yourself with the occasional yeast infection based on your symptoms. 

So, how do I PREVENT yeast infections?

Keep the perineum clean

Perineum is the medical term for the area between the vagina and anus. Because Candida is often found living in the gastrointestinal tract, it only has a short distance to travel from the anus to reach the vagina. If you’re not careful to keep the area clean when wiping, wearing thongs, and after exercising, then it’s easy for Candida to migrate across this area and cause a yeast infection. Keep the area clean with gentle, pH balanced wipes to prevent extra yeast from ever reaching the vagina.

Avoid harsh soaps

While it’s beneficial to keep everything clean, using harsh soaps will do more harm than good. Remember, the vagina itself is a beautifully designed, self-cleansing system that doesn’t need help from soap. In clinics, we often have patients who feel they need to clean extra because of their normal discharge. This leads to vigorous cleaning with harsh soaps. This disrupts the pH balance, kills good vaginal bacteria, and leads to overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast. This leads to yeast infections which then leads to more cleaning and turns into a painful and vicious cycle. To prevent this, use a gentle, unscented, pH balancing cleanser ONLY on the vulva (external genitals) and never inside the vagina. 

Supplement with probiotics

Probiotics are living organisms, sometimes called “good bacteria” that have been encapsulated and can be used as supplements to provide health benefits. In short, probiotics can increase the number of good bacteria in your body, so they can fight off yeast and other harmful pathogens. This has extra importance during and after any course of antibiotics because probiotics assist in rebuilding the good bacteria. Additionally, there are numerous other benefits to probiotics including a healthier digestive tract and increased immunity to infections. 

Be careful choosing lubricants

Harsh lubricants that are scented and have unknown ingredients can lead to an imbalance in vaginal pH. Choose an FDA approved lubricant that is water-based, scent free, and gentle enough for the vaginal area. It is important that your lubricant is pH balanced to match the vaginal environment and free of harsh chemicals, so you don’t increase your risk of yeast infections.

Go commando at nighttime

One of the simplest ways to prevent yeast infections is to sleep without underwear. Tight underwear made of synthetic material creates a moist environment which is perfect for bacteria and yeast to grow and multiply. Choose a loose cotton underwear or go commando at nighttime, so your vagina has a chance to breath and regulate bacteria. 

Try to decrease stress levels

Increased levels of stress for prolonged periods of time can increase cortisol levels in your blood. If maintained for too long, this can weaken your immune system which puts you at risk for yeast infections and other types of illnesses. Aiming to maintain a balanced lifestyle with exercise, nutrition, and possibly mood supplements can assist in lowering stress levels. This in turn can help your body fight away yeast infections. 

Maintain blood-sugar balance

Candida is a yeast and yeast feed off sugar. This is one reason that many people with uncontrolled diabetes have recurrent yeast infections. So, keeping a low-sugar diet can play a beneficial roll in decreasing the number of yeast infections you experience.

Symptoms and Common Causes of Vaginal Infections Wed, 11 Sep 2019 22:25:30 +0000 Vaginal Health Love Club Community 422@/discussions Pretty much every woman is susceptible to a vaginal infection at some point in her life. This is because anything that disrupts the pH or bacterial balance of the normal vagina can result in an infection.

Although infections can happen any time, your vagina is particularly susceptible during or right around your period when your mucus immunity is at its lowest, due to estrogen and progesterone levels – the same hormone levels that can cause some women to feel more emotional at this time in their cycle. Everything is connected! Most vaginal infections make their presence known by a burning or itching sensation, sometimes accompanied by a change or increase in vaginal discharge.

Below are a few common situations that can disrupt the pH or bacterial balance of the vagina and result in an infection, as well as some simple solutions to help you keep your vagina happy and healthy.

👫Repeated intercourse over a short period of time. Intercourse can increase the pH balance of the vagina for up to 8 hours (!!) – especially if exposed to semen (which has a high pH balance). When a vaginal pH is higher than normal for long periods of time, the normal bacteria balance can be lost which enables the “good” bacteria to be overtaken by the “bad.”

﻿﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Consider taking more time between intercourse, and use condoms.

💧Chronic vulvar dampness. The vulva sweats – especially under emotional stress and during exercise. Wearing tight, synthetic clothing makes it difficult for your vulva to breath, setting up the perfect conditions for both chaffing and infection.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Use exercise to manage your stress, but wear loose clothing made from natural fibers – like cotton – so you don’t sweat the small stuff!

🚫Chemical irritants. Scented pads, tampons, douches, toilet paper and chemical-based soaps and bubble baths can all cause irritation.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Avoid scented products. Period.

🤯Emotional stress. There is no separation between our bodies and our minds. When faced with stress or emotional challenges, a woman’s immunity can decrease and the vagina is more likely to manifest symptoms of an infection.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Eat a balanced diet, get good quality sleep, integrate stress-reduction practices (yoga, walking, meditation) into your life, and spend time doing things that make you happy.

💊Antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt the natural balance of organisms in both the vagina and the bowel, increasing the incidence of yeast infections.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Balance the side-effects of antibiotics by taking a good quality probiotic. Your vagina will thank you!

💊Birth control pills. Some women notice that they experience more yeast infections when they are on the pill, which may be related to the hormone progestin.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Try switching pills, and maintain your vaginal flora and pH level with high-quality probiotics and fermented foods (hello, sauerkraut).

🍽Diet. Sugar, flour and refined-foods are simply not your friend. Consuming high amounts can make it difficult for your body to fight excess yeast growth, leading to infections.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Cut out the junk and eat real, natural, nutrient dense food. Focus on balanced meals made up of whole foods, complex carbohydrates, high-quality fats and proteins. Trust us, your entire body (not just your vagina) will feel better.

💥Sexually transmitted infections. Common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes and HPV. Although each of these infections have different symptoms, the common symptom is unusual changes to vaginal discharge.

﻿✔️﻿Simple solution: Apply common sense and be pro-active about protecting yourself. You’re worth it. And, if you notice an unpleasant odor, a strange color, an unusual texture or if you experience signs of itching, burning or non-menstrual bleeding, make an appointment to see your doctor or gyno right away.

Fundamentally, never underestimate the powerful effects of self-respect, self-esteem, self- acceptance and self-love on your health – especially your immune system.

Be sweet to yourself, always. 💕

Demystifying pH: The Low Down On Vaginal pH And How To Keep It In Check Sun, 04 Aug 2019 20:47:46 +0000 Vaginal Health Love Club Community 73@/discussions

If you weren’t already aware, us women are pretty 💪 badass 💪. Not only can we function while bleeding for a week straight but we can bring new life into the world. Yes, we have been blessed with a pretty extraordinary body part known as the vagina which is also quite independent due to the fact that it has the ability to clean itself by secreting natural fluids to help maintain a healthy pH.

So why exactly does keeping a healthy level of vaginal pH matter? Basically, it helps to prevent infections. If left untreated, infections can turn into something more serious such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which could lead to infertility. Sounds intense but it is a reality.

A normal vaginal pH level ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 which is considered moderately acidic. Don’t let the term “acidic” confuse you, it’s a good thing; good bacteria thrive in the vagina’s acidic environment so if you have a healthy pH then there is a good balance between both good and bad bacteria. However, if an imbalance occurs and your pH rises above 4.5 then bad bacteria can grow and cause yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

Some of the most common triggers for an imbalance in your vaginal pH are: menstrual blood, unprotected sex, semen, antibiotics, douching, scented soaps, tight clothing, hormone fluctuations and feminine products. Your diet can also affect your pH level if you’re not getting enough iron, manganese and zinc -these all play a huge role for lactobacillus (good bacteria) to function.

In order to maintain a healthy vaginal pH level it’s essential you take probiotics to restore your good bacteria, avoid douching, use all-natural 🌿cleansers, change tampons regularly and use a condom during sex.

Love Wellness’ Good Girl Probiotics are formulated with 8 strains of lactobacilli, making it the perfect supplement to incorporate into your daily routine to maintain good bacteria levels. If you find that you are experiencing yeast infections or BV, The Killer will help to provide quick relief by bringing your vaginal pH back to normal!

Vagina Anatomy Part 1: Get To Know Your Internal Reproductive Organs Mon, 26 Aug 2019 16:01:23 +0000 Vaginal Health ezayas1390 303@/discussions

Vajayjay, cooch, hoo-haw….the list goes on and on for different terms used to describe the vagina but did you know when many of us women are referencing our vaginas we really mean the vulva a.k.a. our external genitalia? It’s true! The word vagina has generally been used to characterize the female sex organ in its entirety when in fact the vagina makes up just part of our internal reproductive organs. 

To help you better understand the anatomy of your vagina, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about our lovely lady bits into two parts that way you can bring an interesting new conversation piece to the table when catching up with your girlfriends who are also most likely in the dark about what their vagina actually is!

Since vagina is the most commonly used term, let's just start there! As part of the internal reproductive organs, the Vagina not only serves as the channel for menstruation to flow from the uterus but thanks to its accordion-like folds on the interior walls that allow for maximum elasticity, it’s also where the penis enters during sex and where the baby passes through during childbirth.

The internal reproductive organs also consist of fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus and cervix. Located in the lower abdomen is the Uterus which is also known as the womb and can expand to hold whatever it needs to during pregnancy. Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized, becomes an embryo and attaches to a wall of the uterus therefore creating a placenta and developing into a little bun in the oven! The muscular organ that is the uterus also helps you out during labor because it actually contracts to push the baby down through the cervix and into the vagina for birth…crazy what a woman’s body can do right?! #badass

Speaking of your Cervix, you may be getting uncomfortable flashbacks of your OB-GYN going in for a swab of it during your Pap test (fun stuff) but did you know you can feel it for yourself?? If you’re in the comfort of your own home, try inserting your fingers at the end of your vagina, there you should be able to feel your cervix-how mind blowing to think that that is what dilates during labor to allow the baby to pass through to the birth canal (vagina)?!

Also located on either side of your lower abdomen are your Ovaries where hormones are produced and where your eggs are stored. Once a month at least one egg is released for possible fertilization, this process is known as ovulation and usually occurs around day 14 of your menstrual cycle. After the egg is released, it moves into the Fallopian Tubes which extend from your ovaries to your uterus; the egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it but if the little swimmers just don’t make it a.k.a. fertilization doesn’t occur, the egg then moves through the uterus and breaks down which causes your period. 

The anatomy us females possess is truly remarkable and familiarizing ourselves with it and not being afraid to have open and healthy conversations about it should become a norm among us all! 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Vagina Anatomy 101 where we get down to the specifics of our external genitalia known as the vulva!

Vagina Anatomy Part 2: Meet Your Vulva Wed, 28 Aug 2019 12:58:20 +0000 Vaginal Health ezayas1390 331@/discussions

In Part 1 of Vagina Anatomy, we took you through the fundamentals of what our internal vaginal anatomy is comprised of, so now it’s only right we shed some light on the specifics of our external genitalia known as the Vulva which is made up of the labia, mons pubis, urethral opening, perineum, vaginal opening and every gals favorite..the clitoris! 

The immediately exposed part of the vulva is what’s known as the Mons Pubis which is basically just the mound of fatty tissue where the majority of pubic hair grows while the Vaginal Opening, also known as vestibule, is the area outside the vagina where tampons, menstrual blood, babies, penises and sex toys have to pass through in order to enter or leave the vagina. If you’re wondering where your pee comes out of, it’s a tiny hole called the Urethral Opening which is located just below your clitoris. 

Now that we’ve gotten the three basic parts out of the way, it’s time for the climax…the Clitoris. The “clit" is a small bean-sized nub located externally where your labia minora meet toward the front of your body and when aroused it becomes swollen. Containing more than 8,000 super-sensitive nerve endings, the clitoris is for most women the “hot spot” of sexual pleasure. Oh and fun fact? It’s internally about five inches long and extends along both sides of the vagina so it’s no wonder it’s a primary source of orgasm!

Made to protect the clitoris, vaginal and urethral opening is the Labia which is divided into two: the labia minora and the labia majora. The labia minora are the inner lips that surround the vagina and are lubricated to help protect it from any harmful bacteria while the labia majora are you guessed it..the outer lips that surround the vagina and tend to be fuller. 

And finally to cap off our Health Class refresher on Vagina Anatomy, the Perineum. This is the sensitive area that lies between the vaginal opening and the anus that when relaxed can facilitate birth but can also be torn or cut by your doctor during labor if necessary. 

That’s it ladies, these are all of the basic details you need to know about the self-cleansing, child bearing, pleasure producing goddess that your vagina in its entirety actually is! 

We find it both important and helpful to know what exactly we’re working with as women that way we’re able to make conscious decisions when it comes to the products we use, activities we partake in and maybe giving our partners a pointer or two when it comes to reaching ultimate satisfaction!

Get to know your bodies ladies and don’t be afraid to explore beyond what you know!

Helpppp Sun, 18 Aug 2019 20:50:22 +0000 Vaginal Health DizzyKitten 89@/discussions So my lady parts has been feeling really off lately, Andy I’ve been constantly spotting for about a month now, along with a not so fresh odor/feeling. Any advice would be welcome

How To Avoid UTI's Fri, 02 Aug 2019 19:53:01 +0000 Vaginal Health HannahjonesPA 56@/discussions

Count yourself #blessed if you’ve never experienced a UTI before-they’re a real pain in the urethra and extremely annoying!

As if us women don’t already go through enough with our bodies, Urinary Tract Infections tend to affect more women than men since we have a shorter urethra which reduces the distance that bacteria needs to travel to reach the bladder. Symptoms of a UTI include a burning sensation when peeing, pelvic pain and the strong, constant need to urinate even if little comes out. 

So what even causes you to get a UTI?! A few things! Sex is a common factor because it can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, wearing tight undergarments, E.coli (bacteria from the rectum), dehydration and vaginal hygiene products such as douches & washes.

The good news is there are plenty of ways for you to avoid contracting the dreaded UTI.

Wipe Front to Back

Yup, just like mama taught you! The most common type of UTI is from E.coli which is a bacteria that can be introduced into your vagina and urethra if you wipe from back to front. It’s imperative you ALWAYS wipe front to back to help keep everything away from where it doesn’t need to be.

Drink Water

Hydrate yo’self! By drinking a lot of water throughout the day you’ll pee more frequently which will help to flush out bacteria.

Don’t Hold It In

Yes, peeing frequently can be an inconvenience but it’s essential you let it out! Whenever you feel the need to urinate, go;by holding it in you’re giving bacteria in your urinary tract the opportunity to grow and that is no bueno.

Avoid Douching & Scented Vaginal Products

Your vagina already has the power to cleanse itself so there is absolutely no need to use products that contain harmful chemicals that can kill off the good bacteria and throw off your vaginal pH. Only use water or all-natural cleansers such as our pH Balancing Cleanser to keep your vagina clean and fresh.

Pee After Sex

By all means get it in with your boo but make sure to pee after having sex that way you clean out bacteria in your urethra. Peeing before sex is also helpful so if you have time to take a quick trip to the bathroom, please do!

Change Out Of Workout Clothes ASAP

Vag sweat. It really is a thing after a good workout sesh which is why you should avoid sitting around in your workout gear. If you don’t have time to shower at the gym then change into a fresh pair of cotton underwear (they allow your vagina to breathe more than any other material) and try our Do It All Wipes to give yourself a quick refresh!  

UTIs can be totally avoidable as long as you take these precautionary measures. At LW we care about you babes and don’t want you to suffer the pain and embarrassment of a UTI so we’ve created UTI Don’t Think So! This new all-natural supplement is formulated with the active ingredient Proanthocyanidins (PAC),which helps to maintain urinary tract health by blocking specific types of UTI bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall. By taking 1 capsule at the same time daily in addition to increasing your water intake, you’ll be helping to prevent future UTIs which makes this a medicine cabinet must have!!