According to gynaecologist Jessica A. Shepherd, MD., it can.
“Sugar can actually increase the vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections,” Dr. Shepherd tells Byrdie.
Here are four other things you innocently do without knowing that it harms your vagina.
READ MORE:
10 Tips To Feel Sexier In The Bedroom This Valentine’s Day
5-Minute Foreplay Ideas To Make Him Want You More
8 Hot Tips for Better Sex
Here’s one thing most women don’t know: oil-based lubes could disrupt the pH balance of your vagina.
Unlike water-based and oil-free lubes, oil-based lubes are difficult for your body to absorb and could actually leave a thin oil film inside your vagina.
While douching might sound like a great idea when you’re having a yeast infection, the truth is the chemicals found in vaginal douches can sometimes really mess up the pH balance of your vagina causing even more bacteria to grow.
However, that’s not to say you can’t use feminine washes though. Instead of using regular body soap, these feminine washes are much more delicate and don’t dry out or irritate the sensitive area around your vagina.
Plus, if you notice smegma build up around the labia majora and labia minora and want to clean it off, feminine wash is great for it too.
Scented tampons and other scented feminine products can often upset the delicate pH balance of your vagina because of its synthetic chemical make up.
It’s never wise to wait till your swim suit is dry to take it off. We tend to do that a lot on beach holidays when we think it’s okay to wear a wet swim suit to a beach shack nearby but in truth, the dampness of the suit coupled with the heat from your body is the perfect breeding ground for yeast infections to occur.
Whether it’s a PAP smear or an STD test each time you’re with a new partner, do not neglect your checkups.