Life

8 Things To Thank Your Vagina For Every Day

As someone with a vagina, I know I’m a bit biased when I say it’s an awesome thing to have. There are plenty of things you should know about your vagina that you' Sure, it requires some upkeep (the yearly gyno appointment), it bleeds (but for a good reason), and can sometimes smell a bit funky (thanks, asparagus), but on a whole, it’s fantastic. It’s also home to the clitoris, and who doesn’t love the clitoris? The clitoris is the most fascinating part of the human body! An organ that exists solely for pleasure and no other reason at all? But as beings with vaginas, sometimes we take them for granted, which is normal. But there are so many things you should know about your vagina that would make you grateful.

It’s hard not to take something for granted that we have day in and day out. Other times we curse it for not behaving properly, maybe bleeding when it shouldn’t (damn hormones) and not bleeding when it should (again, damn hormones.)

Despite the occasional issues that come with having a vagina, it’s also at the forefront of our sexuality and when things aren’t going so well, it’s one the first parts of our bodies to react and give us a hint that something may not be right. Your vagina, in many ways is your best friend, and because of that, you should thank it every day for being so badass.

So what should you thank your vagina for today?

1. For Being Neat And Tidy

Not to knock penises, but they’re just out there, hanging around for all to see. Vaginas, on the other hand, like some level of mystery by keeping themselves hidden away and orderly. They just make for a cleaner, more streamlined look.

2. For Letting You Know You’re Aroused

Your vagina knows even before you brain does that you’re turned on and ready for action. Even before you’re able to mentally process what’s going on, blood flows to your vagina providing that warm and tingly sensation that we love so much.

3. For Being Self-Reliant

Contrary to douche products on the market, your vagina can really take care of itself. It knows how to keep its pH balance in line so it will stay nice and clean, and can heal itself faster than most parts of the body. This doesn’t mean you should totally abandon your vagina’s needs, but it does mean she can roll just fine without you and is far less maintenance than other parts of your body. Just think about the way a vagina bounces back after giving birth? That's just phenomenal.

4. For Keeping You In The Loop About Your Menstrual Cycle

Sometimes we can lose track of where we are in our cycle, then bam! We get our period or vaginal discharge or that horrible uncomfortable pressure that comes right before our period starts — ouch. No matter what it is, eventually something happens and our vagina immediately lets us know where things are at and whether or not you have an excuse to call out sick to work tomorrow. True story: Cramps are more bearable when you're in bed eating ice cream.

5. For Telling You That You Need To Lay Off Certain Foods

Of course everything you put into your body affects your vagina, at least in a certain way. If you’re overdosing on stinky foods like asparagus and broccoli, your vagina is going to let you know with one hell of a pungent smell. If you’ve overdone it with the carbs, your vagina will also let you know by causing a yeast infection. Carbs elevate glucose levels which makes for an ideal situation for Candida albicans to make its home in your vagina and having you run for the Monistat stat.

6. For Giving You Orgasms

Although the majority of women need clitoral stimulation, there are still 25 percent of those who can get off from vaginal intercourse alone. Even if you’re not in that 25 percent, you get to still thank your vagina for an orgasm, because when you climax the walls of your vagina start contracting, and it’s that ultimate release that makes you scream out, “YES.”

7. For Giving You A Heads Up When You’re Stressed Out

When you’re stressed, your entire body knows it, especially your vagina. It’s when your anxiety rises that an imbalance in the lactobacillus bacteria can let yeast run amok causing a yeast infection. Although yeast infections can be the result of irritants, like a new soap or laundry detergent, more often than not it’s because something is not right with some part of your body.

8. For Giving Your Clitoris A Warm And Cozy Home

Because your clitoris is the only organ strictly for pleasure, it deserves a nice place to call home. Your vagina not only provides a safe harbor for the 8,000 nerve endings in your clit, but it also participates in giving it a nice little stylish hood.

So now say it with me: Thank you, vagina!

Images: Mateus Lunardi Dutra/Flickr; Giphy(8)