Do you love sex but are concerned about vaginal health problems such as infections or irritation? Don’t worry, there are several easy ways to care for your vagina after sex so you can still enjoy your sexual life to the fullest.
7 Things to Do After Sex
1. Urinate after sex if you are at risk for a urinary tract infection.
Even if you don’t feel the need to urinate after sex, Alyssa Dweck, M.D., an OB-GYN and author of The Complete A to Z for Your V, recommends that สมัคร ufabet women with recurrent UTIs use the restroom. “During sex, bacteria from the rectum, which is very close to the urethra and vagina, can move into the urethra and cause an infection, especially in women with recurrent UTIs,” says Dr. Dweck. “The urine helps flush out bacteria at the tip of the urethra.”
2. Take cranberry supplements.
Here’s another tip for women who are prone to UTIs after sex (they’re really annoying). Dr. Dweck suggests that drinking concentrated cranberry juice in capsule form or gelatin candies once a day, available at your local drug store, may help prevent UTIs. But she cautions against drinking cranberry cocktails that are high in sugar.
3. Wipe clean
If you don’t feel refreshed after sex, whether it’s because of lubricant, saliva, or something else, try wiping it down gently. “Lubricant and bacteria from fingers, mouth, and anus can increase your chances of getting a yeast or bacterial infection,” says Dr. Sherry Ross, an ob-gyn and women’s health specialist in Santa Monica, California. She recommends using an unscented soap around your genitals after sex. Simply use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe around your vagina with soap and water (or just warm water), moving from front to back. Avoid douching. The vagina has its own internal cleaning system to keep it clean and balanced.
4. Take a bath
Treat yourself to a warm bath after sex and feel like a well-groomed queen. Adding some extra virgin coconut oil to your warm water can help keep the outer skin of your vaginal area moist and relieve any swelling or irritation that can occur after sex, says Dr. Ross. While it’s not necessarily a necessary hygiene step, this indulgent ritual can help reduce the risk of infection. However, Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, cautions against using overly scented bath oils, body washes, or balms, as they can irritate the vagina. She says she’s noticed an increase in patients experiencing irritation from bath products after the holidays, as patients use the products they received as gifts.
5. Sleeping naked
After cleaning, to prevent urinary tract infections and other infections, wear loose-fitting cotton underwear and pajamas to keep your genital area dry — or, better yet, sleep naked to increase ventilation, according to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Avoid nylon underwear and tight-fitting pajamas, which attract moisture and encourage bacteria to thrive.
6. Drink a glass of water.
That’s because dehydration affects your entire body, including your vagina, says Dr. Nicole Scott, an OB-GYN at Indiana University Health. (That sandpaper-like sensation can make your second period less enjoyable.) Plus, drinking water can help flush out UTI-causing bacteria from your bladder.
7. Eat foods that contain probiotics.
A post-sex snack is always a good idea, so try to incorporate something that’ll help keep your vagina healthy at the same time. “Yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, and other fermented foods contain the same good bacteria found in the vagina,” says Dr. Kelly Casper, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Indiana University Health. “Eating these foods after sex can help replenish your body’s good bacteria, reducing your risk of a yeast infection — after all, you don’t want anything getting in the way of your fun next time you’re having sex.