Douching actually flushes out the protective good bacteria in your vagina and upsets your natural pH balance. The result? You often end up with more irritation, dryness, or odor afterward. I learned (after much pain) that the vagina is a self-cleaning oven; when we intrude with harsh rinses or peroxide concoctions, we’re wrecking the very balance that keeps us healthy.

I had an army of perfumed wipes, sprays, and soaps in my bathroom, all promising to make my lady parts smell like a field of flowers. Here’s the problem: those artificial fragrances and harsh cleansers can wreck your delicate flora. I remember the stinging and dryness those products caused, even as they masked odor for a few hours. In reality, fragrance has no business in your vagina. Experts say even soap isn’t really necessary internally – warm water will do for everyday cleaning.

“Microbi-what?” Exactly. Up until a year ago, I had no idea my vagina even had a microbiome. I was diligent about taking probiotics for my gut, yet it never occurred to me that my vaginal flora might need the same love. Or I figured eating yogurt and drinking kombucha would somehow trickle down to fix my recurring BV, spoiler: that wasn’t enough.

In reality, the bacteria that keep your gut happy aren’t identical to those your vagina needs. I learned there are specific strains of probiotics that produce acids and shields in the vagina to keep bad bacteria and yeast in check.

I had been ignoring this crucial piece of the puzzlze and it led me to the solution that finally broke my cycle of infections.