The best kind of a vagina is a happy vagina. That said, vaginas are very sensitive. And when something goes wrong, it’s hard to not feel self-conscious, or dirty, or just really unnerved. More than likely, if your vagina is a bit off, it’s due to an infection of some sort.

So we won’t beat around the bush and sugarcoat it — here are the five most common vaginal afflictions.

1. Yeast Infections

Causes: When new yeast is introduced into the vaginal area (like, say, whipped cream/chocolate during sex) or there is an imbalance of bad bacteria to good bacteria (after antibiotic usage).
Symptoms: Thick, white discharge that is similar in consistency to cottage cheese, itching, burning, vaginal soreness, pain during intercourse
Treatment: Antifungal medication, taken orally or via vaginal tablets or suppositories. There are prescription and over the counter options (like Monistat and Mycelex)
Prevention: Yeast overgrows when there’s a buildup of moisture, so wear breathable cotton undies. Avoid douches and scented pads/tampons (seriously, a vagina is a vagina. It’s not supposed to smell like roses.) Eating plain yogurt with active cultures has also been linked to avoiding yeast infections.

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Most likely, if you are a female in college, you have experienced a UTI (urinary tract infection) at some point in your four years. I remember the first time I experienced one was during a double shift while waitressing.

Running to the bathroom every five minutes while trying to wait on customers is not an easy task. For those who have not had one before, you are very lucky.

Until you have had one, you cannot truly understand the discomfort and annoyance that comes along with one.

Well, after that horrific experience, I take preventive measures to make sure that one never plagues me again. Luckily, Glamour magazine recently published an article titled the “UTI Fixes No One Ever Tells You About.”

The tips go beyond the commonly known things like peeing after sex, drinking cranberry juice, and wiping front to back (gross, I know, sorry) to show that there is actually more that you can do. Read More »