1. I Will Take a Daily Probiotic

Here’s the thing about your vagina — there is a lot of good bacteria inside of it and there can sometimes be quite a bit of bad bacteria in it too. When the bad outweighs the good, that can result in a yeast infection or a bout of bacterial vaginosis — and listen, if you’ve never had either before, count your lucky stars because it is nothing close to being a pleasant experience. What can help to prevent both of these from occurring is taking a daily probiotic. Not only do all of the good bacteria in probiotics help to protect your gut and vaginal health, but they can also stabilize the pH balance of your vagina too.

If you’ve never taken a probiotic before and you’re not sure where to start looking for the brand that is right for you, Medical News Today published “8 of the best probiotics for females” that can help you out. Also, foods that contain probiotics include fermented ones like dill pickles and kefir as well as mozzarella and cheddar cheeses (pickled veggies count as fermented foods too, by the way). My personal fave is the Lifeway Kefir brand. It basically tastes like drinking flavored yogurt.

2. I Will Get New Panties Every Six Months

Yeeeeeah, I’m willing to bet some pretty good money that you’ve got a few drawers that have had at least one birthday at this point. Let’s try and leave that in 2021, shall we? Because the reality is that, in order for your vagina to maintain optimal health, it’s best to get new panties every six months (check out “When Should You Replace Underwear, Make-Up, Bedding, Washcloths & Towels?”). Otherwise, fecal matter, germs, and other “stuff” could irritate your vagina and cause an infection. Also, make sure that a lot of your new stash is made out of (organic) cotton. Your vagina is naturally warm and moist (which is a good thing); your underwear needs to be made out of a fabric that will help “her” to “breathe” because of it.

3. I Will Use a Lavender Oil/Coconut Oil Blend to Reduce Bacterial Infections

When it comes to what you put into your vagina, it really needs to be nothing other than tampons and/or a menstrual cup, penises, and (as directed) sex toys. On the cleaning tip, NOTHING should go inside because your vagina is self-cleaning. That said, if you’re someone who has an irritated or itchy vulva (the outer part of your vagina), it can be soothing to apply a blend of lavender essential oil and coconut oil.

Lavender oil is great because its potent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, along with its calming ability, can help to soothe inflamed vaginal tissues and even keep vaginitis and certain kinds of candida (which can lead to yeast infections) at bay. As far as coconut oil goes, the properties in it are ones that the strain of yeast Candida albicans absolutely can’t stand. So, adding a couple of drops of lavender oil to ¼ cup of coconut oil and rubbing it onto the OUTER PARTS (yes, I am yelling that; essential oils ain’t nothin’ to play with!) of your vagina can bring relief and keep it smelling great simultaneously.

4. I Will Consume More Plant Fatty Acids

A term that is interchangeable with plant fatty acids is omega-3 fatty acids. These are good for your vaginal and reproductive health overall because they help to increase blood circulation, can reduce the amount of menstrual cramping that you experience, and can help to prevent vaginal dryness (check out “Here's How To Increase Vaginal Lubrication. Naturally.”) too. Foods that are high in these kinds of acids include avocados, olives, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, Brussels sprouts, and kidney beans.

Or you can always take an omega-3 supplement. (Speaking of supplements for your vaginal well-being, I promise you something that has changed my entire life is evening primrose oil. One day, I might do an entire article that’s devoted to it. For now, you can read more about why it’s good for your vaginal and reproductive health here.)

5. I Will Eat Less Sugar

As far as your vagina goes, two ways that sugar can negatively impact your vagina is 1) it can trigger inflammation and 2) it gives bad bacteria and yeast something to “feed” off of. So, if you want to go into this year with fewer concerns as far as getting a yeast infection goes, definitely consume less sugar. It’s not only a good move as far as your vagina is concerned but a smart move all the way around (check out “Ever Wonder If You've Got A Low-Key Sugar Addiction?”).

6. I Will Take an Official Skin Test 

If you’re not in an exclusive relationship and/or you don’t want to get pregnant and/or you don’t want to use another form of birth control, condoms are the way to go — there’s no way around that. That said, if a part of the reason why they bother you so much is that they have a way of irritating your vagina, the first thing I recommend that you do is read “Allergic To Condoms? Try This.”

If after doing so, you suspect that an allergy to latex is exactly what you’ve got going on, the only way that you’re going to know for sure is if you take a skin test and you’ll need to go to the doctor for that. If that is indeed the case, don’t use that as an excuse to go all rogue. There are latex alternatives as you probably noticed via the article that I just cited. Use them.

7. I Will Groom My Pubic Hair Instead of Completely Removing It

Pubic hair doesn’t exist for no reason. It’s what helps to keep debris and other irritants from disturbing your vagina. That’s why it really is best to keep some down that way rather than removing it altogether. Now that doesn’t mean that you’ve gotta be looking like a 70s porn flick or anything. As someone who gets my bikini line waxed on a consistent basis, I am amazed by all of the creative things that can be done with pubes. Which reminds me — an article that can help to give you some inspiration is “Yep. Pubic Hair Has Trends (And Specific Needs) Too.” You’re welcome.

8. I Will Change My Underwear Twice a Day, If Need Be

Let’s be honest — the main purpose of underwear is to keep vaginal fluids 'n stuff from getting onto our clothes. That said, though, they serve a really vital purpose. Thing is, aside from the fact that a lot of people keep panties well past their shelf life, another mistake that folks make is thinking that they only need to wear one pair of undies, no matter what.

Here’s the thing about that — if you exercise, sweat a lot or you have times of the month when there is more discharge than normal, it’s perfectly OK (recommended even) that you change your panties twice a day. That way, your vagina can remain comfortable and dry and your chances of an infection or her feeling irritated will decrease, substantially so.

9. I Will Stay Away from the “Fancy Stuff” 

Again, your vagina is self-cleaning and honestly, the skin of your vulva tends to lean towards the sensitive side, so all of the commercial brands that simply try and get you to spend more money — avoid those bad boys. Water and super mild (unscented soap) can get the job done as far as cleaning your vagina is concerned. Or you can make your own vaginal wash (check out “Love On Yourself With These 7 All-Natural DIY Vaginal Washes”) or hop on sites like Etsy for companies that make all-natural washes. Go to the site and put “natural vaginal washes” in the search field.

10. I Will At Least Use a Menstrual Cup on the Last Day of My Period

This is definitely my own personal hack but chile, it works! If you’ve ever wondered why/if your period smells a bit like death, it’s because there is a combination of blood and bacteria (and even a little bit of uterine tissue) that’s coming out of your vagina. The bacteria can be a bit more concentrated towards the end of your cycle which can irritate your vagina and vulva for a couple of days following your period if you’re not careful.

The reason why I know all of this is because it used to happen to me. That is until I started using a menstrual cup and made sure that I wore it, even the day following the “official” last day of my period. Doing this catches the residual bacterial fluid which prevents my vagina and vulva from getting irritated.

It’s one of the best things I’ve discovered in a long time.

11. I Will Sleep Naked

It’s been quite some time since I’ve gone to bed with any clothes on (shoot, I work from home, so I’m barely dressed during the daytime hours too) and when it comes to my vagina, I can see how much she has benefitted from it. Because it’s not uncommon for heat and moisture to increase during nighttime hours (because of being under sheets and blankets and because our body temperature changes throughout the night), sleeping naked increases ventilation to your vaginal region, so that you decrease the chances of irritation and infection. If you haven’t been doing it, start now.

12. I Will Keep a Vagina Journal 

Making sure that your vagina has what it needs is a bit of a tightrope. That’s why I think it’s a good idea to keep a vagina journal. No, it’s not something that you need to write in every day; it’s just something to help you to keep track of when it comes to signs that your vagina may be stressed (check out “Ever Wonder If Your Vagina Is Stressed TF Out?”), how often you may be getting infections (so that you know when to use home remedies or so your doctor) and what may or may not be working as it relates to your vaginal care health regimen. Keeping up with your vagina’s needs can only help you to take care of her better.

Hey, she does a really good job of taking care of you (right?), so why not return the favor? Amen? Amen.