Read My Lips by Debby Herbenick, Vanessa Schick

more per year) are probably pretty good at telling what is and what is not a yeast infection due to experience. Some health-care providers tell these women that they can probably make the yeast-cream decision on their own without much risk. But if you’re not sure, or if you have questions about your personal health, definitely check in with your healthcare provider. If you do have a yeast infection, your healthcare provider can walk you through your treatment options, which may include over-the-counter yeast cream, a prescription pill, or other treatments if the yeast is an uncommon type that doesn’t respond to typical treatments.
Medications. Sometimes women’s healthcare providers advise them to use over-the-counter or prescription creams on their genitals, for example, to treat skin disorders (such as lichen sclerosus) or STIs (such as genital warts). Yeast creams, estrogen or testosterone creams, and even numbing agents may be used on the genital skin, or internally, for different reasons, per the advice of one’s healthcare provider. Occasionally, women experience itching, irritation, or feelings of burning, stinging, or pain when they use such creams. If your healthcare provider prescribes a cream or ointment for you to use on your vulva or inside your vagina, ask him or her what kinds of symptoms you can expect and what to do if you experience them (e.g., Stop the medication? Press an ice pack against your vulva to stop the pain?).
    SEXY TIMES
    It’s common for women and men to incorporate sexual-enhancement products into their sex lives. Using sex toys, creams, or lubricants can add novelty to a relationship, be a fun part of sex play, or help to make sex feel more comfortable, romantic, sexy, or more easily orgasmic. However, many sex toys don’t come with instructions for safe or pleasurable use—let alone vagina-friendly instructions. To make the most of your sexual experiences, consider the following:
    I wish girls were taught from younger ages the correct names for all body parts, and empowered to love their genitals. I wish there was continued movement away from vaginal orgasms being the “preferred” kind.
    — E LIZABETH, 41, Michigan
     
Clean any sex toys before and after you use them. After cleaning them, air dry your sex toys before putting them away so that they’re not kept in a warm, moist environment, which can encourage bacterial growth.
Take care with a condom. If you’re prone to vulvar or vaginal irritation, or if your vibrator or dildo is made of a soft, porous material (such as Jelly), consider slipping a new condom over the vibrator or dildo before inserting it into your vagina. This is a definite must if you are sharing a vibrator or dildo with one or more partners or friends (not recommended, though we realize people do it anyway).
Avoid douching, unless recommended by a healthcare provider. Douching after sex does not prevent pregnancy, and it can disrupt the otherwise friendly vaginal environment.
If you enjoy bathing alone or with a partner before sex, consider steering clear of bubble baths, as they may irritate the vulva or vagina. Instead, add a few drops of an essential oil to the bath. Alternatively, you might find that lighting scented candles in the bathroom adds to the sensuality of the bath experience without increasing your risk of genital irritation.
Choose a vagina-friendly lubricant. In other words, one without propylene glycol, chlorhexidine, or other chemicals that you may be sensitive or allergic to (you may not be sensitive to the two we listed, but some women find that they contribute to genital irritation). If you’re trying to conceive, consider a lubricant such as Pre-Seed that is unlikely to interfere with sperm movement.
Examine your birth control. Spermicidal products, such as spermicidal foams and jellies, irritate some women’s vaginas. Some women who experience chronic vulvar or vaginal pain have been advised by their healthcare providers to switch