Women's Health Special: Protect Your Very Private Parts

Seven sneaky gyno glitches and how to stay clear of them

As the proud proprietor of a vagina for several decades now, you probably think you've heard of, read about and/or dealt with almost everything that could go wrong there. (Yeast infections? Check. STDs? Know all about how to stay safe.) But the truth is, there's a whole host of everyday habits that can wreak havoc down below. SELF asked a few of the nation's top women's health experts to pinpoint some surprising causes of cysts, infections, fertility troubles and more. Here, they offer seven simple solutions for keeping your most sensitive area healthy and problem-free.

Who knew?
Thongs can lead to a painful cyst

Fear not—you don't have to resort to granny panties. But you may want to save your thongs for those occasions when fashion truly demands one. Wearing a tight-fitting thong day after day can irritate and inflame the area around the Bartholin's glands, which produce lubrication during intercourse. Should the ducts that lead to the glands get clogged, you could develop a cyst right next to your vagina, says Jennifer R. Berman, M.D., assistant professor of urology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. Worse, that strip of fabric also nestles right over your anus, creating a superhighway that can speed bacteria straight to your vagina. Should those germs wiggle their way into a duct, you'll wish you simply had a cyst. Instead, you could end up with a large and painful abscess.

The smart solution. To avoid a can't-even-imagine-the-horror Bartholin's abscess (which is relatively common), make sure your thongs aren't super snug and are made of cotton or mesh. "They should be so comfortable that you feel as if you're not wearing anything," Dr. Berman says. If you get an infection (a large, round lump that will hurt like hell and be warm to the touch), try treating yourself at home for a few days. Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water and sit in it for 10 to 15 minutes three or four times daily. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease the discomfort and inflammation. If the cyst doesn't subside on its own or if the pain becomes so great that you have difficulty walking or sitting, get to the doctor. She'll need to drain it. It's a short-term ouch; you'll be feeling like yourself within a couple of days.

Who knew?
Oral sex can cause a yeast infection

Your partner may be giving you more than mind-blowing pleasure: In a new study from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, women who had a recurrent yeast infection were nearly three times more likely to have recently received oral sex or masturbated with saliva than those with no recurrences, says Barbara D. Reed, M.D., the study's primary investigator and a professor of family medicine. The researchers think there are certain components within saliva that could disrupt the vagina's delicate equilibrium. An estimated 70 percent of women develop yeast infections during their lifetime, and more than half become infected more than once. (For the blissfully ignorant, the classic signs include a mild to relentless vaginal and labial itch along with a thick, white cottage cheese—like discharge.)

The smart solution. "If you seem to have one infection after another, consider cutting back or stopping oral sex for three to six months," Dr. Reed suggests. The hiatus may allow the vaginal flora to return to normal. But don't forget to talk to your doc. In addition to using a short-term over-the-counter treatment such as Monistat or Mycelex, you may also need a prolonged vaginal or oral antiyeast treatment, available only by prescription, to help break the cycle.