The Vulva and Vagina: The Basics and Beyond

Table of Contents

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There are always so many questions about vulvar and vaginal care. I get asked about cleansers and moisturizers…or is a moisturizer even needed? What about probiotics? Lube? Or boric acid; it seems like it is promoted everywhere!

I’ve written numerous posts on a variety of vulvar and vaginal health issues, as well as general care, and have decided to organize them all in one subsection, just as I am doing for menopause hormone therapy and supplements. I don’t find Substack’s search function very functional, so my workaround is to create these general sections and begin them with a Start Here/Table of Contents. If you have any bothersome vulvar or vaginal symptoms, be it chronic yeast infections or an itch that has yet to be diagnosed and treated correctly, this is the place to start. Want to know about the latest overpriced celebrity vulvar wash or a Kardashian vagina gummy (an unholier trinity of words never existed)? I’ve got you covered. Do you want to know about soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, wipes, lubricants, or other topicals? Again, this is the place! Given the shelves upon shelves of products that claim to improve vulvar and vaginal health in almost every drug store and grocery store (at least in the United States), it’s easy to see how people have questions!

The concept of “vaginal freshness” is a tool of the patriarchy. The “feminine hygiene” industry wants you to believe that vaginal freshness is a gateway to confidence. Tell me you felt my eyes roll through the Internet. My God, I despise the “feminine hygiene” industry. 

Here you will find posts that address vulvar and vaginal concerns organized into subject headings. What is available might look a little haphazard as I have already written quite a bit on this topic, but in somewhat random order. I’ve listed future sections and topics I plan to publish as the series progresses. As posts get written, hyperlinks will be added. You can find all of the menopause care related to the vulva and vagina here, and the posts that address hormone therapies for the vagina are also found in the Hormone Therapy section. This is a living document, so if new studies warrant it, posts here will be updated to ensure they are current. 

The Vulva And Vagina Chronicles

Preamble: Merchants of Shame. A rundown of some of the very problematic issues with the “feminine hygiene” industry.

Section 1: The Vulva

1. Basic Care

   1. The Ultimate Guide to Washing the Vulva

      Yes, I get asked about this often, and if you browse the so-called feminine hygiene aisle at any drug store, you’d have questions, too! This post discusses cleaners, soaps, and wipes.

   2. How to wipe after going to the bathroom

   3. Antimicrobial underwear, what’s up with that?

   4. Incontinence underwear, do I need to worry about harmful chemicals?

   5. What’s’ with all of these Vulvar Deodorants?

2. Vulvar Skin Care when you have Incontinence.  

3. Vulvar Moisturizers: The Basics 

4. Peloton Perineum (how not to get saddle sore)

5. Products to Avoid and Why. They are either allergens, irritants, or can’t do what they claim.

Section 2: General Care of the Vaginal Care

1. Vaginal moisturizers

   1. Hyaluronic acid

   2. Silicone products

   3. Water-based products

Section 3: Menstrual Products

1. Is it safe to wear a tampon during a miscarriage?

2. Why you don’t need to worry about titanium dioxide in tampon strings

3. Lead and other metals in tampons

   1. Why you shouldn’t panic part A

   2. Why you shouldn’t panic part B

Section 4: Over-the-counter Medical Products, Supplements and Probiotics

1. Boric Acid: Everything You Need to Know and why you should read this before using!

2. Probiotics, the basics.

3. Good Clean Love bio.pHresh Vaginal Homeopathic Suppositories

4. Dr. Barbara Sturum V Wash (Oprah’s “fav”)

Section 5: Yeast Infections

1. Yeast infections: The Basics

2. When a yeast infection won’t go away

3. Medications

   1. Brexafemme

   2. Oteseconazole (VIVJOA™) for recurrent yeast infections

4. Other yeast questions

   1. Is there a link between isotretinoin (Accutane) and yeast infections?

   2. Is there a link between diet and yeast infections?

Section 6: Bacterial Vaginosis 

Section 7: Other Infections

1. Trichomonas

2. Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis

3. Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

4. Herpes

Section 8: Vulvar Itching

Section 9: Menopause 

1. The Basics of GSM and a review of treatment options

2. A deeper diver into Vaginal Estrogen products (inserts, the ring, and creams).

3. A deeper dive into vaginal DHEA and oral ospemifene.

4. What we know about vaginal estrogen for women with breast cancer.

5. What to do when vaginal estrogen therapy isn’t working

6. Yeast infections and vaginal estrogen

7. Laser Therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

Section 10: Vulvar Skin Conditions

1. Lichen sclerosus and lichen planus

Section 11: Pain with Sex 

Section 12: Vulvodynia

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As always, the information here is not direct medical advice. If you have topics or questions about products not listed above, leave a comment below so I can incorporate them into future posts!