Feminine Health Part 2: Yoni Pearls, Vaginal Allergies & Looseness, Pregnancy
Welcome to Part II of my Feminine Health series! I answer questions about uterine fibroids, feminine products and body odor over on Part I but if you’re interested in learning more about yoni pearls, whether you can be allergic to your partners sexual make-up, the myth of vaginal ‘looseness’ and if it’s possible to sike yourself out of conceiving- this is the article for you!
1. What are yoni pearls? Are they safe or are they causing harm?
Yoni Pearls are tiny bags of herbs believed to have the ability to detox your yoni or womb. This method of detoxification is particularly gaining traction among women seeking cures or relief from chronic yeast infections, uterine fibriods, PCOS and bacterial vaginosis.
As with many feminine health products, yoni pearls aren’t regulated by FDA and can easily make claims that their products are effective in the removal of endometriosis and cysts.
Unsurprisingly, yoni pearls are created and distributed by individuals with have no medical background. In fact, many medical professionals fear that yoni pearls and other feminine care products such as these can lead to toxic shock syndrome and cause serious infections.
Women who try yoni pearls testify to experiencing relief accompanied with a thick, white discharge unlike anything they’ve ever seen. It’s important to note that this discharge may not be a sign that all is NOT well and going according to plan.
Excess discharge can be a sign of infection, the absence of healthy bacteria, irritation and the presence of foreign objects- all of which can be caused by yoni pearls.
SIDE NOTE: Womb cleansing tactics like vaginal steams have been used for hundreds of years and can be very healing but should always be accompanied by a licensed or experienced practitioner.
2. Can you be allergic to your sexual partner's "make up (penis/vagina/fluids)"?
There are currently two theories that answer this question, and that’s because every human being is different! Like with food, if I’m allergic to peaches that does not mean that you can’t enjoy this delicious fruit.
OPT 1. It’s possible that a partners allergies can cause symptoms in a woman’s vagina after sexual intercourse. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that in three cases of recurrent vaginitis the allergies in the women's husbands, triggered symptoms in the women every time the couple had intercourse.
“Cornell immunologist(s)…described three cases in which antibodies from the husbands precipitated vaginitis in their wives. The antibodies, transmitted in the seminal fluid, resulted from the husbands' allergies either to a component of their wives' vaginal secretions or to their own sperm. The husbands had no noticeable symptoms, but the antibodies reacted locally to cause symptoms in the wives.”
Drugs, foods and medications consumed by your partner can all contaminate their body fluids causing an allergic reaction stimulating histamine in the vagina and causing inflammation.
Opt 2. It’s also possible that you’re actually allergic to your partners body fluids. “According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, a semen allergy (also known as seminal plasma hypersensitivity), is a rare allergic reaction to proteins found in a man’s semen that mostly impacts women.”
Symptoms include vaginal inflammation, itchiness, pain and burning, which can begin 10-30 minutes after vaginal intercourse. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis and is actually under-reported.
The best way to confirm a semen allergy is to go to an allergist to do a skin test with your partners semen. It’s also important to note that you may also have an allergic reaction on your skin and mouth if you’re allergic to your partners semen.
3. Fact or Myth- the vagina gets loose? Myth!
Notions of vaginal tightness and looseness are a crock of shit! Myths about vaginal tightness and looseness include but are not limited to that:
virgin vaginas are tighter
having sex often loosens your vagina
and that after giving birth there is no going back and your vagina will a bottomless pit!
The truth is that vagina's are a tightly folded muscle that is extremely elastic!
After sex your vagina immediately reverts back to its pre-stretched state. When it's at rest the vagina is tightly folded and only loosens when the you’re feeling hot and heavy and ready for sex or during child birth.
To strengthen your vaginal muscles, there are techniques you can use:
Kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic muscles. Locate your pelvic muscle and squeeze for 3-6 sets of 25 reps. Repetition must be just a second hold.
Leg raises require you to lie on your back and raise your legs straight up one after the other.
Yoga on a regular basis is enough for toning vaginal muscles. Yoga includes working on the pelvic floor muscles as well as strengthening your pelvic floor muscles which together will strengthen your muscles in your nether regions.
4. How do you get your body prepared for pregnancy? Can you mentally sike yourself out from getting pregnant?
In our younger years society puts so much pressure on women not to get pregnant that I don’t believe we’re ever truly taught that in order to conceive someday nutrition, environment and lifestyle are crucial! So yes- I believe you can sike yourself out of pregnancy and that your lifestyle choices can impact your chances of conceiving.
Below are a few examples of lifestyle changes to consider when trying to conceive but for the full article I recommend reading this article on Womb Health.
Be Aware of your thyroid.
Take care of your gut!
Beware of your birth control
Be intentional about movement and sleep
Take control of your emotions and destress
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine studied women who stopped ovulating for more than six months and found that they had high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. In stressful situations, cortisol, like adrenaline, pushes metabolism into high gear; sustained high levels can raise blood pressure, cause weight gain, or lead to other health problems. In a small study published in 2003, seven out of eight participants who received stress management therapy began ovulating again versus two out of eight who received no intervention.
Practical Ways to manage stress:
Enlist the help of your partner, close family/ friends or support groups
Rethink your attitude
Try therapeutic techniques like journaling, writing or painting
I hope you enjoyed this edition of our Feminine Health Series! If there are any questions you may have regarding your feminine health, don’t be shy and ask below. Oh, and don’t forget to like and share with a girlfriend in need.
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