How to Tell if You Have a Vaginal Yeast Infection: Causes and Symptoms 

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Tips for Talking with Kids about Puberty & Periods Body

If you’ve ever had a yeast infection, we feel your pain - because yeast infections are rough, and that’s us being nice about it. Not only does it involve an itchy vaginal area, which can make for some seriously awkward moments, but unlike cramps and PMS, a yeast infection also won’t just go away on its own. Instead, you have to be proactive in treating yeast infections. In this case, the sooner the better, in part because it means the symptoms will stop that much sooner. And that counts for a lot - for if there’s anything that can drive every single person up the wall, it’s an itchy vaginal area. Here’s everything you need to know about vaginal yeast infections.

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Are you expecting to get your first period? Or are you new to your menstrual cycle and have questions? We've got answers and resources to help prepare you.

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Puberty kind of sneaks up on you. Maybe it starts with the hair, or you begin to feel like maybe you need a bra. It’s just the beginning of a rollercoaster of big (and totally normal) changes in your body. While everyone goes through it, the signs of puberty you experience may be different or happen earlier and later than people you know. Because, like basically everything else in life, you’ll go through puberty at your own pace. Here’s what you need to know about puberty for girls.


Menstrual Cramps – Causes and Treatments Video

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There are three easy ways to earn donation points with the Always You App.

1. Earn up to 20 points each time you track your period or a bladder leak event.
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3. Earn up to 5 points for each piece of content you consume.

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What Exactly IS a Period?

## Yes, You Can Swim On Your Period.

Good news – yes, you can go swimming on your period! If it’s a hot summer day at the beach or you’re swimming laps at the gym and the monthly bleed has arrived, you shouldn’t have to worry about the fear of leaving a trail of blood or being attacked by a shark in the ocean (yes, that’s a legitimate fear some of us have while swimming). It’s safe to hit the water on your period, as long as you wear a tampon or  [menstrual cup](/en-us/tampon-truths/what-is-a-menstrual-cup/) while you’re swimming. We’ve got the facts on swimming on your period and what period products can help and which one’s you should probably altogether avoid.

## Best Tampons for Swimming
Tampons are specifically designed to absorb period flow before it can leave your body which makes them one of the best products to use for swimming on your period and you won’t have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water. Pads are made to absorb period flow too, but as we all know they’re worn outside of the body and would be great at absorbing all that pool water too, hello soggy diaper bikini! So, do yourself a favor and leave the pads behind and snag a tampon. __All Tampax tampons can be worn while swimming__ in any kind of water and only Tampax tampons have a LeakGuard Braid to help stop leaks before they happen to give you all-day comfort and protection for up to 8 hours. Check out [how to insert](/en-us/tampon-truths/how-to-insert-a-tampon/) a tampon and practice a few times before you head out to the water especially if wearing a tampon is new for you. Be sure to tuck the string into the lining of your swimming suit before you leave the bathroom, and you should be set. 

## Can you wear a menstrual cup while swimming?
Like tampons, __menstrual cups are worn internally and can be worn while swimming in any kind of water.__ Menstrual cups will add to your options for pool day period solutions but there are some important things to consider. If you’re looking to pack light and make room in your beach tote, a menstrual cup might be a good choice since they’re made of medical grade silicone and are reusable, you only need to pack or wear one and can use it swim after swim for up to one year. It’s invisible and mostly sensation-free if inserted in the right position. Good news, since __you can wear a Tampax Cup for up to 12 hrs at a time__, it allows you the freedom to insert at home and remove at the end of the day. A downside though of period cup is because they are reusable, if you need to clean and reuse while out and about, you will need to clean it by rinsing with mild soap and water every time before you reinsert it, which could be challenging in a public restroom at swimming pools, lakes, or beaches… you do not want that menstrual cup getting any amount of sand left on it. Yikes. 

## Other Tips for Swimming On Your Period

Being on your period might cause your face to break out with pimples and blotchy skin — and that's not great for a day out on the water. Reach for a high SPF sunscreen especially formulated for your face. Top it off with a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and hide redness. If all else fails, snag some oversized sunglasses and a hat or cap that suits your style and shades your face from the sun.

Stomach bloating and period cramps also have no place at the beach or poolside. Steer clear of salty, fried and unhealthy foods — as well as caffeine. Stay hydrated with water, herbal iced tea, cool refreshing lemonade and fresh fruits and veggies. Some swear by hot water and lemon to reduce bloating. Figure out what works best for you.

## Does water pressure stop my period when I swim?

It’s complicated. But __yes, it may appear you’ve stopped bleeding when you swim.__ Simply put, it’s physics at work. Because water creates more resistance than air, when you’re swimming in a pool, lake, ocean, even your bathtub – there is pressure against the opening of your vagina that can temporarily (yes, temporarily) help keep blood from coming out. Don’t get any ideas that swimming altogether stops your period (one could only wish) - once you exit the water, the pressure is gone and you’ll likely start bleeding again.

## Will Period Blood Attract Sharks?
Fair question and the simple answer is __no, period blood does not attract sharks.__ So, breathe a sigh of relief, your beach vacation that perfectly falls on your period can go on! No worries and no shark attacks! While a lot of people like to joke about this, the science behind it proves that there’s no correlation between periods and an increase in shark attacks. The amount of blood lost throughout an entire period cycle (lasting anywhere from 3-7 days) is merely 6 tablespoons, so the small trace amount lost during an ocean swim would be very low and unlikely to send nearby sharks into attack mode. 

There you have it. Your answers and guide to can you go swimming on your period. Plus, you’ll get some peace of mind the next time you swim in the ocean on your period.

Yes, You Can Swim On Your Period.

How do I use a Period Tracker?

period calculator - How do I use a Period Tracker?

Simply input the length of your average period and the length of your last period, and let the period calculator do the rest. If you have no idea how long between your periods, make a note the next time it starts and when it ends so you have it on hand for next month.

You can also use a period tracker for way more than just predicting bleed week. Since ovulation usually occurs on the 14th day of your cycle (with Day 1 of your cycle being the first day you bleed), you can also learn and track peak ovulation.

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# How to Tell if You Have a Vaginal Yeast Infection: Causes and Symptoms


Let’s start with the important thing: __Irregular periods can be totally normal.__ (Go ahead, breathe out that sigh of relief. We feel you.) If your period never shows up when you think it will — maybe you start bleeding a full week early, bleed more heavily than usual, or miss your period entirely — you’re definitely not alone. Irregular periods are surprisingly common. They can happen in about 30% of women in their “reproductive years,” a.k.a. the time during which you a) have your period, and b) are physically capable of getting pregnant.

Those reproductive years span your teenage years — or whenever you first get your period — to the wind-down of your menstrual cycle, which happens at pre-menopause in your mid-to late-40s. And it’s when things are starting up and winding down that you’re most likely to deal with irregular periods. Makes sense, since there’s a lot going on in your body that can throw off a schedule. Really, your body is just figuring out its new schedule, which can mean your period pops up early, late, or not at all.

Let’s start with the important thing:

Period Hacks: How to Feel Better on Your Period

## A Little Bit of Funk Is Normal
Even though our vaginas are self-cleaning wonders, they’re not designed to smell like a spring meadow or a tropical cocktail - a faint scent of tang or sweat is totally fine and healthy. A well-balanced vagina will have a pH of 3.8 to 4.5., helped along by tiny bacteria called lactobacilli. Usually, it maintains a balance between vaginal yeast and bacteria, but the exact odor and pH can vary.

“*A lot of things can change the vagina from being acidic to being more alkaline,”* says Melisa Holmes, MD, ob/gyn and cofounder of Girlology. Those things include *“semen, blood, lubricants, and any washes or liquid that you might put in your vagina.”*

Sometimes vaginal odor can smell like beer or bread, which have that same helpful bacteria. Your vagina can smell slightly sweet if you’ve just eaten lots of citrus fruits, or slightly bleachy if you’re dehydrated.  A vagina can smell slightly metallic if you’re at the beginning or end of your menstrual cycle. If a strong yeasty or sugary odor is accompanied by itching, burning, or a white discharge, you might have a yeast infection. [Yeast infections](/en-us/period-health/yeast-infection-symptoms/) can happen to anyone. No biggie! Just know the signs and symptoms, and confirm with your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment options.

There are also a lot of sweat glands in the groin, Dr. Holmes says, so a lot of what we think of as worrisome vaginal odors are often just your normal musk, especially after exercising or a couple of days without a shower. If the funk bothers you, there are easy ways to keep the area clean. Wash the outside of your groin regularly with soap. Rinse the inside of your vulva with just warm water, since soap can irritate and throw off your vagina’s balance. We don’t recommend using a douche inside your vagina - that is the best way to throw off a healthy pH!

## A Fishy, Foul, or Strong Chemical Smell? Not Normal.
A telltale sign of a problem is that unmistakable vaginal odor: Fish. And not just fresh-from-the-market fish, but fish that’s been sitting out for a while. 
*“Bacterial vaginosis is the primary condition that creates that classic fishy odor.”* says Dr. Holmes, particularly if it’s accompanied by symptoms like itching, burning, or unusual watery discharge. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection that has similar symptoms (along with pain when you pee) could be another culprit for foul vaginal odor. A chemical smell that’s stronger than a faint whiff of bleach might also be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or another vaginal infection.

A good rule to follow: If it makes your nose scrunch up, or if you can smell it on your fingers beyond a few inches away from your face, you might want to get checked out by a doctor. And if you feel comfortable, you can ask your partner if they’ve noticed a change. *“One of the first questions I ask my patients is: Has anyone ever said anything to you about it?”* Dr. Holmes says. *“We can all smell ourselves because we’re so self-conscious, but most people don’t smell other people’s vaginal odors.”* If they do, it could be a sign of an infection like bacterial vaginosis.
## What If My Vagina Smells Bad During My Period?
Some people still feel shame or embarrassment about their periods, and how it smells is no exception. But again, regularly cleaning yourself should ease your worry about vaginal odor during that time of the month.

*“What most people think of as traditional period odor is actually body odor,”* says Dr. Holmes. *“You’ve got lots of crevices down there. Bacteria loves blood, sweat, and hair. So when blood gets caught in those crevices, it will start to smell.”* 
Dr. Holmes says pads are more likely to collect odor than tampons, so if you’re worried about vaginal odor, use the latter. Change both pads and tampons regularly, and clean your crevices regularly, too. *“Blood doesn’t even have an odor until it hits air,”* Dr. Holmes says, so if a tampon smells foul or fishy right when it’s removed, you may have bacterial vaginosis or another underlying issue.

And if your vagina smells like rot, or as Dr. Holmes puts it, *“really strong and horrible like something died”?* That almost always signals a [forgotten tampon in the vagina](/en-us/period-health/yeast-infection-symptoms/), she says. If you don’t have any other symptoms, and if you’re not squeamish and can reach it, you can even take it out yourself, but ask your doctor if you need help (trust me, you won’t be the first one!). If you start to feel any other symptoms besides the odor - like itching, burning, or fever - it’s definitely time to seek medical help. And for the future: You should [only use a tampon for up to 8 hours](/en-us/tampon-truths/how-long-can-you-leave-a-tampon-in/)!
## Get to Know Your Body’s Smells
The best way to know whether a vaginal odor is normal? Simple: Smell your vagina a lot. Don’t be afraid to get very familiar with your own body. Get to know the [variations of your discharge](/en-us/period-health/vaginal-discharge/) at different points of the month. You’ll spend a lot less time worrying, and you’ll know right away when something’s not right.

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While periods seem pretty straightforward they can actually get super complicated. There’s the timing, the symptoms, and the cramps to factor into it, not to mention the sudden flood of hormones. But once you know what’s behind the domino effect that leads to your period, it can be easier to predict — and therefore manage. Here, we answer the most common questions about your period.

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Period calender  - How do menstrual calculators work?

Glad you asked. Basically, your body runs on a four-part “menstrual cycle” — and while you might assume that phrase means just the week of bleeding, in actuality, your menstrual cycle also refers to the weeks you don’t bleed.

You start with the menstrual cycle (your period, when the lining of your uterus sheds), followed by the follicular phase (when the follicles in your ovaries mature and get ready for the prime time: ovulation), then comes ovulation (when the egg is released), followed finally by the luteal phase (when the egg makes its way down your fallopian tubes and gets ready to bleed). Knowing this, you can track your period and your cycle.

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It’s time to celebrate! The recent changes in legislation known as the CARES Act has reclassified menstrual hygiene products to be treated as any other spending on “medical care.” That means tampons, pads, liners, and cups purchased after December 31, 2019 are FSA and HSA eligible.

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__By: Dr. Melisa Holmes, OB-GYN, & Founder, Girlology__

There’s no question that talking about periods and body changes can be awkward and uncomfortable for everyone, but girls’ health (and their future health as young women) depends on us getting past our own discomfort to provide accurate information and support from a young age.

Research confirms that girls’ confidence plummets during puberty and reaches its lowest point around the time of her first period. It’s also well established that public education on puberty and reproductive health is inconsistent across school systems and often limited to a one-time discussion (or sometimes totally absent). 

The best way to ensure our children grow up confident and informed about their bodies and how they work is have more of these conversations at home. To help you support your children, let me share 3 tips that make awkward conversations a lot easier and more effective!


By: Dr. Melisa Holmes, OB-GYN, & Founder, Girlology

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