If you want to see a true treasure of human anatomy, look no further than the vagina. First and foremost, vaginas are a lot of fun — sure, maybe not all the time, but a decent amount of the time. They are also pretty amazing and tough. Each one is special in its own way — and each one really, really wants to have a 1:1 convo with you.
Here's the thing: They may seem ultra-independent ( vaginas tend to do their own thing — they do not check your shared calendar before, they say, start your period two days early). But that independence works well for you, too: They know how to protect themselves, clean themselves , heal themselves, and most importantly, they let you know what's up with the rest of your body. And when you feel a weird sensation down below? That's a sign to listen up!
Because your vagina has its own particular ways of alerting you to what's happening in your body, you should probably take a listen to what it's trying to tell you. Here are 13 things your vagina might be trying to tell you .
1. You're Pregnant.
One of the biggest signs that you're pregnant is when your period is suddenly MIA and your boobs are sore as hell. But your vagina gives you more than just an absent period to let you know you're pregnant.
“The mucus membranes of the vulva, vagina, and cervix become congested due to increased blood flow and may appear bluish, called Chadwick’s sign,” Dr. Sheila Loanzon , a board certified OB-GYN and author of Yes, I Have Herpes , tells Bustle. “The uterus and cervix may soften at approximately six weeks gestation, which allows anatomic changes in pregnancy.”
It also produces a lot more leukorrhea (that vaginal discharge you sometimes notice in your undies), because your estrogen levels are increased during pregnancy. Not to mention you're more prone to yeast infections when you're pregnant because of all that estrogen. Fun!
2. You went out to dinner
If you can't recall what you had for dinner last night, one whiff of your vagina might tell you everything you need to know. What we eat has a big impact on how our body smells .
“Theoretically what you eat could reflect in your bodily fluids ,” Dr. Loanzon says. “Similar to asparagus when broken down releases the distinct smell in urine.”
Eating a lot of things like asparagus , onions, red meat, and broccoli, among others, can make your vagina smell different than usual. While your pee may go back to its usual smell after relieving yourself two or three times after eating asparagus, your vagina might take a bit longer, and that's totally normal.
3. You're Stressed Out
Not only does stress take a toll on your mental and emotional health, but because it also affects physical health, your vagina is also affected.Health
“Bacteria plays a vital role in vaginal health,” Dr. Allison Hill , a Los Angeles-based OB/GYN and Florajen chief medical correspondent, tells Bustle. “The predominant organism in the genital tract is Lactobacillus. This bacteria is crucial for maintaining vaginal pH balance and for creating a protective barrier against 'bad' bacteria.”
But when we're stressed out, that balance goes out the window. When our bodies suffer an imbalance, the lactobacillus bacteria fails to keep the Candida genus (yeast) from overgrowing, leaving you with that itchy, smelly, cottage cheese situation .
4. You have an infection.
Your vagina won't hide when they're not feeling their best — and that's a good thing. Anything off is a sign that your vagina may need some help getting back to top shape.
“The skin of the premenopausal [people's] vagina is rich in glycogen , which converts glucose to lactic acid which creates an acidic environment in the vagina,” Dr. Loanzon says. “This helps to maintain normal vaginal balance and inhibits infections. STDs, antibiotics, foreign bodies, use of hygienic vaginal products, pregnancy, sexual activity, and contraceptives can disrupt this balance.”
According to Dr. Loanzon, 90% of vaginal infections are caused by bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis.
