My Irish Love Affair

pass this on to spread knowledge whether you have one or not, #save-a-coochie

- the vagina is the tubular ‘internal’ sex organ that some people have. - the ‘vulva’ is the set of external sex organs that people with vaginas have. it includes (but not only):

pubic mound 

labia minora and majora (inner/outer ‘lips’)

clitoris and clitoral hood 

vulval vestibule (found in between your labia minora)

urethra (where you urinate from)

vaginal opening

-vaginas naturally contain a balance of different bacterias. this bacteria protects the vagina from external bacteria and fungus, provides natural disinfectants and maintains a healthy vaginal pH of 3.5-4.5.

-vaginal pH varies from person to person, day to day, depending on your cycle, your diet and many other external factors,

-all vaginas have a scent. all of them. no two people smell exactly the same, and you shouldn’t expect your vagina (or anyone else’s) to smell fruity or floral.

- if your worried about your scent, you can place perfume or an essential oil to an area around your vulva but not on it. some places like between your thighs or on your lower stomach, for example,

-your body secretes natural fluids called discharge. discharge is how your vagina self cleanses. it is completely normal and vital to healthy vaginal function.

-discharge can vary in amount, color, texture and scent depending on your cycle. each person is different. if your discharge is unusual or abnormal to you and your unique body - visit a doctor if possible.

-abnormal discharge can be green, grey, very yellow, smelly, itchy, chunky, etc.

-abundant discharge can be annoying. you can remove excess discharge in your shower by inserting one clean finger into your vagina, moving it from one side to another and ‘scooping’ the discharge out. repeat as needed. this reduces the amount of discharge found on your panties and in turn, reduces vaginal scent.

- dead skin cells and oil can build up between your clitoris and your clitoral hood, so it’s important to lift your hood up and rinse thoroughly so it doesnt harden. 

-washing your “external” vulvar areas such as your public mound and outer lips is okay, though some may find skin here more sensitive.

-don’t douche. you may think it helps but it only masks any problems while causing more. douching throws of your flora, alters your PH and forces bacteria into your cervix.

-water and a soft, clean wash cloth is all you need to clean your vulvar areas that contain a mucous membrane. you do not need to wash these areas. applying soaps or cleaners to these areas removes of natural necessary lubricants and bacteria. this may cause irritation, inflammation, major discomfort and dryness. some amount of moistness should always be present.

-a vast majority of vaginal washes, even those touted as hypoallergenic, still contain dyes and fragrances which are known irritants. read the label.

-while Summer’s eve is a lesser of evils with a PH of 3.0 - 3.5 (still not quite correct), it is still a cleanser. vaginal washes are used to cleanse “bad” bacteria from your vulva. they also wash away the “good” bacteria needed to maintain a healthy balance.

-castile soaps (like Dr. Bronner’s) has a pH of about 8.9. these are not suggested.

-never insert any cleansing agents into your vagina.

-the information above applies to any gels, deodorants, perfumed products and wipes, too. these can all disturb your natural balance.

-while they still pose a possible risk of irritation, unscented baby wipes are the lesser of evils regarding “freshening up”.

-pay attention to your irritants and triggers. different people, different reactions

-everyone has different stances and different methods that work for them. if you aren’t experiencing vaginal discomfort or odd changes, you don’t have to discontinue certain product use. i do, however, recommend a trial period of leaving these products alone due to their effects on your vagina.

-allow your vagina to breathe. keep too-tight clothing to a minimum. cotton panties are the best option next to not wearing any at all. rotate the washcloth and towels you use to clean and dry your vagina.

-urinating after masturbation or sex reduces the amount of bacteria in your urethra wiping ‘front to back’ keeps rectal bacterial away from your vagina.

-naturally, food alters your vagina. balancing your diet in general and including things like pineapples, strawberries, yogurt, soy (the list goes on!) can influence your pH.

-beverages like water, cranberry juice and pineapple juice are also proven to improve vaginal health, and may even improve taste.

-adding a probiotic supplement can increase the amount of “good” bacteria called lactobacillus-your vagina.

-the less ideal your vaginal balance/pH is, the more vulnerable you are to infections and STDs.

-when it comes to internet home remedies, your mileage my vary. try everything with caution and research thoroughly.

“Fifth Harmony was MTV’s 2014 Artist To Watch. Last month, MTV seemingly snubbed Fifth Harmony by not giving them a single nomination for the 2015 VMAs. This came as a shock as the girl group is currently riding the wave of their smash hit Worth It. MTV appeared to realize their error this month, as they announced the fan-voted “Song of the Summer” category and nominated Worth It. However, they also nominated 5 Seconds of Summer’s new song She’s Kinda Hot.

Let me explain why this is a problem. The VMA eligibility period ended on July 01, 2015. However, She’s Kinda Hot was released on July 17, 2015. Perhaps more relevant, as this is the VIDEO Music Awards, its music video was not released until August 03, 2015, over a month after the eligibility period ended. So why/how was it nominated? In a word, sexism. 5SOS was nominated because they are a popular boyband. There is no other reason. The song has had little chart success. Its music video barely has 10 million views. The song was released after the eligibility period. However, MTV tossed all of this aside because they have millions of fans that MTV knew would participate in this voting and bring awareness to the show. How did MTV know this? Because, as previously mentioned, they’re a popular boyband. The reality is, Fifth Harmony could NEVER release a song after the eligibility period, have no chart success with the song, and still get a nomination. Why? Because they’re a girl group. Because girl groups don’t guarantee the same level of fan participation as their male counterparts. This is yet another contribution to the systemic sexism that occurs on a daily basis.

But hey, let’s look beyond the injustice of 5SOS even being nominated. Fifth Harmony has beaten 5SOS before. They could still win, right? WRONG. You see, MTV imposed a voting limit of 12 votes per account per day. Why is this a problem? Because it’s a well-known fact that the 5SOS fandom is at least 4 times larger than Fifth Harmony’s fandom. Fifth Harmony has been successful in the past when no voting limit was imposed and the sheer dedication and determination of their fans could drive them to victory. However, MTV has now built a voting system that inhibits that, and all but guarantees 5SOS will win the award.

And why is this all a big deal? Because Fifth Harmony legitimately deserves to win this award. Let’s throw up a side-by-side comparison of the two songs in question. The She’s Kinda Hot music video has 10 million views while the Worth It music video has 200 million views. She’s Kinda Hot has 19 million streams on Spotify while Worth It has 166 million streams on Spotify. Worth It reached the top 5 of US pop radio while She’s Kinda Hot failed to reach the top 10. Worth It remains in the top 10 of the Worldwide iTunes Songs Chart while She’s Kinda Hot is not even in the top 50. She’s Kinda Hot has fallen out of the top 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 after only 5 weeks while Worth It is still in the top 20 after 27 weeks. Worth It spent the entire summer on Billboard’s “Songs of the Summer” chart while She’s Kinda Hot failed to make the chart at all. Worth It has outperformed She’s Kinda Hot in every metric you can compare. Worth It dominated the charts for the entire summer while She’s Kinda Hot wasn’t even released until the end of the summer and its chart success has paled in comparison.