Debunked Myths About Your Vagina

We live in a society that seems to be obsessed with both female sexuality and female anatomy. Though we constantly gab and debate about the female body, as a society, we're really ignorant about how the equipment works down there. Hell, even gynecologists don't really seem to know as much as they should have the time.

A large part of the reason why we seem to have so much issue with female sexuality—and female health—is because there are a lot of toxic myths about vaginas and sexuality as a whole. It's hard to actually be realistic or positive about sex when there are so many lies floating around the net.

No one is immune from being fooled by bad info. Chances are, if you're female, you probably believe at least one or two toxic myths about your vagina, such as the ones below...

The vagina gets looser with every sexual partner you have.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most toxic, misogynistic, and outright wrong myths about your vagina you could be believing in. The amount of sexual partners you have cannot and will not affect your vaginal tightness.

Sex researchers have pointed out that having regular sexual activity can actually tone and tighten pelvic floor muscles—the very same muscles that give vaginas that tightness. This can actually be more effective than pelvic floor exercises with weights in some cases.

You can have a tight vagina even after having sex with 1,000 people. If you think about it, giving birth will be more likely to affect tightness than anything else. Needless to say, this sex myth needs to die, right alongside the act of slut-shaming.

You need to clean your vagina with special products.

Thank Vagisil for a few myths about your vagina you might believe. Shocker, people existed well for millennia without the use of Vagisil or Summer's Eve. The human vagina is a self-cleaning organ that only really needs special products in extreme cases.

Using those kinds of products in a healthy vagina can knock the natural balance of flora in your privates off kilter. This can put you at risk for bacterial infections, dryness, irritation, and even yeast infections. Not fun!

Tampons and vaginal cups can get lost in your body.

This is one of those myths about your vagina that can be debunked with the use of an anatomy chart. Simply put, the vagina has a beginning and an end. They can't really get "lost" anywhere because there really isn't anywhere for them to go.

Your vagina isn't a foot long, either. So you can probably use your fingers to fish it out regardless of how deep it gets in there.

Garlic or yogurt can cure yeast infections.

This is one of those myths about your vagina that even educated individuals might believe—and many have tried treatments involving yogurt or garlic as a result. The truth is that neither treatment has been proven to work, despite online forums saying otherwise.

The only thing they can do is allay the symptoms of it. A better option would be to wait it out or go to Walgreen's and get some anti-fungal stuff that will get rid of yeast for you.

Vaginal itching means a yeast infection.

Nope! There are a ton of reasons why you might have female jock itch. Yeast infections, STDs, dryness, or even something as simple as hormonal changes can be reason to have a little itch down there.

While you might want to get checked with a doctor if you notice it being particularly itchy, assuming the worst because you have an itch is rarely the way to go. You can calm down now.

Discharge means you have an STD.

This is one of the myths about your vagina that you might believe if you listen to the wrong sources. Most women will have vaginal discharge from time to time. Ladies who take birth control pills or antihistamines might notice less, while ladies who are ovulating will notice more.

Assuming it's not green or followed with STI symptoms, you're probably fine.

You're not doing something right if you can't orgasm from vaginal stimulation.

Believe it or not, P-in-V doesn't really do it for most women. Around 70 percent of all women can't get off from vaginal stimulation alone, with clitoral stimulation being the number one way to cross the finish line in terms of solo stimulation.

The truth is that sexual stimulation is a lot more complicated than we make it out to be. You should never feel bad simply because you're not highly orgasmic from penetrative sex.

You can get drunk or high via vaginal intake.

Sigh. This should be a part of Being a Vagina Owner 101, or better yet, common sense. Yet, somehow, it's not.

Speaking as someone who's a party animal, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T DO THIS! Do not shove a tampon soaked with vodka there! Do not shove cocaine up there! Do not shove MDMA in there! Drugs are one of the worst gifts for your vagina out there, and if you shove them there, bad stuff will happen.

Do NOT do it! It will burn and can cause serious bacterial infections. This is one of the worst myths about your vagina to test out. Trust me when I say it's a waste of good alcohol or drugs.

Your vagina will exhibit symptoms if you caught an STD.

Sexually transmitted diseases are bad and can kill you if left untreated, mmkay? Knowing this, it's scary how many people are totally misinformed about how they work.

This is one of the most dangerous myths about your vagina out there. STDs aren't always symptomatic, and the fact is, you can't always tell who has what.

Only half of all women who have chlamydia will show any symptoms whatsoever. When it comes to HIV, you will probably not know until it's full-blown AIDS.

A better option is to get yourself tested for STDs on a regular basis. It's better to know than to just guess.

Intact hymens mean you're a virgin.

Nope. This is one of the many myths about your vagina that you probably believe because we have a toxic culture that doesn't really like female sexuality as much as it should. The fact is that there are virgins out there who have no hymen.

Sometimes, hymens get busted doing other things. Other times, people just aren't born with a hymen. Sometimes, hymens are only partially torn during sex. Hymens and virginity have nothing to do with each other.