And like what does that even mean, right? With summer in full swing, you might be focusing on your bikini bod—and we are too, just not quite for the reasons you might think.
You may have heard that sitting around in a bathing suit could put you at risk for a UTI or vaginal infection. And while there is some truth to that, it’s not so cut and dry. Let’s break it down.
Summer equals heat, humidity, and moisture (three things that bacteria and yeast l-o-v-e). When your vagina is exposed to a warm, moist environment for an extended period of time, it can potentially cause an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast. That, along with friction from your one-piece, chemicals like chlorine, or even dehydration from sweating, can cause irritation, disrupt the pH balance in your vagina, and lead to an increased risk of UTI.
Some symptoms of a common yeast infection or BV (aka Bacterial Vaginosis) include itching, abnormal vaginal discharge, or a burning sensation when urinating. Not fun—esp during summer. But, before you google the best medicine for yeast infections or how to treat BV at home, let’s talk prevention.
Treat Your V Right
Translation: Be gentle! Use a mild, pH-balancing cleanser (one of our fave feminine products), avoid vigorous rubbing when drying down-there, and stay away from vaginal douching, scented sprays, or powders which can be harmful.
P.S. diet matters! High-sugar foods and drinks, including alcohol, are acidic and can disturb the pH balance of the vagina and bladder, making it a hospitable environment for bacteria to grow.
Be Bikini-Smart
Avoid wearing bathing suits (or tight clothing) for prolonged periods of time, choose ones that are moisture-wicking or quick-dry, and change out of your bathing suit when finished swimming and throw on clean, dry cotton underwear.
Wipe Right
When you use the bathroom, wipe front to back to reduce the risk of exposure of bacteria from the gut entering the bladder or vagina. You can also use special female wipes (like these) to freshen up on-the-go.
Last, But Not Least
Vaginal boric acid suppositories like The Killer work super fast to balance yeast, odor-causing bacteria, and vaginal pH levels, making it the perfect thing for days when you might have stayed in sweaty leggings for a little too long or when you're dealing with vaginal odor.*
(*If you feel like you might already have some symptoms of BV, a yeast infection or UTI, make an appointment with your gyno so that they can confirm and give you the right course of treatment.)
SO, to recap on how to get your vagina summer-ready:
- Drink at least 64oz of water every day to stay hydrated and flush out your bladder.
- Avoid sugary foods and consider taking a probiotic for women that delivers healthy bacteria to prevent infections.
- Add supplements called proanthocyanidins (PAC) like UTI Don’t Think So, research shows that PAC prevents bacteria that are responsible for 85% of UTIs.
- If you have recurrent yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, it’s good to keep boric acid vaginal suppositories handy.
And with allll that, we wish you a V happy summer!
With love,
Dr. Jodie Horton