As those of us who have them know, vaginas can be finicky things. So many things can make them cranky, and it can be near impossible to please them all the time. Here are a few tips I use as a particularly sensitive individual to reduce my chances of having an unhappy vagina (and vulva).

Do: Masturbate! Masturbation helps with so many things! It is a natural stress reliever, increases libido, and flushes bacteria from the urethra and vagina.

Don’t: Use Soap. While there are some soaps on the market specifically designed for the vulva, a vast majority of soaps kill the good bacteria naturally present in your vulva and can let bad bacteria in. If you must clean “down there”, use a pH balanced soap like Sliquid’s Splash Unscented, and only use it on the outside of the vulva, never inside.

Do: Drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated can help prevent UTIs and helps the vagina self-lubricate

Don’t: Douche. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not supposed to smell like a basket of roses. Just like soap, douching can mess with the carefully balanced pH levels in your vagina, leading to infection and worse smells.

Do: Get Naked. Being naked or wearing underwear with breathable fabrics allows your vulva to breathe. The vagina is self-cleaning and naturally flushes bad bacteria with discharge. If you always wear stifling clothing, it traps that bad bacteria against your vulva, encouraging it to re-enter your vagina, leading to infection.

Don’t: Skip lube. Lube helps prevent micro-tears in the vaginal walls which increase the risk of STI transmission and can cause painful or irritating sensations. Even if you already self-lubricate well, if sex is lasting more than a few minutes, your natural lubricant can run out and it’s good to have back-up. I highly recommend Divine 9 or Sliquid Silver if you’re sensitive like me.

Do: Pee after sex. Having sex can push bad bacteria into your urethra, causing UTIs or worse. By peeing, you flush those bacteria out of your body.

Don’t: Use Spermicides. While using them every once in a while works as a great pregnancy prevention tool (when paired with other safe sex barrier methods), the spermicides that are currently on the market can damage the walls of the vagina if used more than once or twice a week, and increase your chances of STIs and other infections. Penile condoms are still one of the best ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs.

Do: Kegels. If approved by your doctor, kegels are a great way to keep your vagina healthy. Kegels have many benefits, including preventing incontinence, increasing natural lubrication and libido, as well as numerous benefits for your sex life.

Check out Enchantasys Guide to Vaginal Health: