Model Mentality: Mental Illness in the Camming Community

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The Cam Models' Guide to a Healthy, Happy Pussy

We use our vaginas (your inner bits) and vulvas (your outer bits, including the clit) a lot,. and we get to know them very, very well. We know what each and every inch of our pussies feel like, and we can usually tell when something is wrong. So how can we prevent these health problems in the first place? Here are some tips for keeping your vage happy and healthy!


Douching and Washing

Do. Not. Douche. You will disrupt your vagina’s pH levels (acidity), leading to increased risk of bacterial infection. It doesn’t get rid of STI or sperm cells, and douching or washing will only exacerbate the problem. Your vagina is a self-cleaning organ filled with good bacteria, so all the most you have to do is wipe your outer labia with a clean, damp wash cloth. If your discharge smell off, talk to your doctor. Be careful when washing the rest of your body and shaving, too. You don’t want soap or shaving cream between your lower lips.


Perfume & Body Products

Like douching, washing, and shaving, perfumed products contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your bits and make you smell fishy. Use gentle detergent when washing your underwear, and avoid dryer sheets, sprays, deodorants, lotions, and scented wipes. Do NOT use baby powder (talcum has been linked to ovarian cancer) or baby oil on your vulva or in your vagina.


Food - Do's and Don't's

Certain foods have proven to be beneficial to vaginal health. A few simple diet changes can strengthen your pussy.

• Cranberry juice: Helps prevent UTIs with its high acidity. The acid compounds fight off bad bugs, but use juice without added sugar (no “cranberry cocktails”).
• Yogurt: Contains the same good bacteria that your vagina needs to fight yeast infections and maintain a balanced pH. If it says “live and active cultures” or “probiotics”, it’s a winner. Avoid added sugar and toss in some fresh fruit. Other fermented foods also contain probiotics, too, like pickles, kimchi, miso, kefir, sauerkraut, and kombucha.
• Sweet Potatoes: High in vitamin A, sweet potatoes help us produce the hormones we need to keep our vaginas feeling healthy.
• Soy: Contains phytoestrogens that help your vagina stay lubricated. Edamame, tofu, and tempeh are all a great source of phytoestrogen. Other lube-inducing foods include avocados, apples, flax seeds, and water.
• Garlic: Eat it raw to help fight yeast infections.
• Almonds and pumpkin seeds: High in zinc. Zinc regulates hormonal cycles, boosts your immune system, and even help your mood.
• Hot chilies: Good for blood circulation.
• Oranges: Vitamin C helps with stamina and sex drive by removing free radicals that affect your vage’s health. Guava, kiwi, and green peppers are also options.
• Dark Chocolate: The ultimate aphrodisiac. Magnesium for nerves, methylxanthines for libido, caffeine for energy, and phenylalanine for mood. Also, it’s fucking delicious!

Do not put food in your vagina. Yeast feeds off of sugar, so every squirt of whipped cream and candy cane cum show helps it breed. Edible oil (olive, avocado, vegetable, etc.) isn't safe either.


Safe Sex

Get tested and get your partner(s) tested at regular intervals. You don't have to do it as frequently if you're a solo artist, but infections can remain undetected for months or even years, and something as simple as the wrong kind of lube or an unclean dildo can make the germs multiply. Your primary care doctor should be able to give you an STD test, and many communities have inexpensive options for low-income individuals (check out Planned Parenthood!). Most STDs have no real cure, so please be careful! Also, change condoms before going from oral/anal to vaginal. I use separate toys for anal and vagina play.


Call your doctor when you're in pain & treat your infections

If you're experiencing any kind of pain, go to your doctor immediately. Last October, I started feeling pain deep in my vagina and assumed it was just bruising from pounding myself too hard on cam, so I didn't see my doctor for over a month. It turns out I had an orange-sized dermoid cyst on my left ovary (common and non-cancerous). I couldn’t use my vagina for the last few weeks before surgery, and it took me two months to recover. If I had seen my gynecologist when the pain started, I could have gotten it removed far sooner and prevented some of the long term damage from pushing through the pain.

The most common ailments are yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. Talk to your gynecologist about safety precautions and cures.

Remember: Doctors are your friends, so go to your gynecologist at least once per year. Let them know that you’re very sexually active. 

Antibiotics

Approach with caution. As a general health rule, you don’t want to rely too heavily on antibiotics. According to the world's leading microbiologists, bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics, so talk to your doctor about preventative care and alternative options first. Antibiotics also kill bacteria indiscriminately, killing other bacteria necessary for bodily functions. Your immune system is pretty powerful! However, when you do take antibiotics, make sure you take every single pill and follow up with probiotics. You don’t want the bad bacteria to come back! Ultimately, the more preventative care you take, the less likely you are to get sick. Wash your hands, cook your meat, drink more water, eat less sugar, get some sun, and avoid anti-bacterial products like handsanitizer.


Clean your toys

Here are some tips based on material. Make sure you rinse your toys very well, then dry them with paper towels and store them in silk or low-lint fabric. Be careful if they’re battery powered. I rinse mine with boiling water between shows, but that's up to you.

• Silicone: Mild soap/unscented toy cleaner and damp cloth
• Glass: Mild soap/unscented toy cleaner and damp cloth
• Stainless steel: Mild soap/unscented toy cleaner and damp cloth, may be boiled if it has no electrical parts
• Wood: Mild soap/toy cleaner and damp cloth
• Cyberskin, Vixskin, etc.: small amount of mild soap/unscented toy cleaner and warm water - don’t suds too much!
• Hard plastic, elastomer, TPR, jelly rubber: Just don't bother. They're retain bacteria because of the porous material, and they often contain harmful, unregulated chemicals. 

Check out PrincessGrace's article on safe sex toys for more info.

Lube

Not all lubes are created equal. The majority will disrupt your vagina's pH levels, so do your homework before buying. Good Clean Love and Sliquid are both good options designed to match your vagina's acidity. Certain materials will break down with silicone-based lube, so check to see if you need to use water-based lube for your toys.


Clothing Matters

Most of the underwear we wear on cam is satiny, lacy, and/or synthetic, and the a lot of us wear tight thongs. Pussy and anal can mean a lot of lube in your panties, and heat and moisture breed bacteria. Get some nice soft, cotton panties, preferably not g-strings or thongs, for when you're not working. You want your pussy to stay moist with its natural lubricant, not soaking in sweat and lube.


Cycling

Be careful! Cycling can lead to genital numbness, pain, and tingling. If you’re having issues, try making a few adjustments.


Remember: your pussy is precious. Treat her well, and she’ll love you back.

Sources:

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Wolf, Lauren K. "Studies Raise Questions About Safety Of Personal Lubricants." CEN RSS. Chemical & Engineering News, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 May 2016. <http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/i50/Studies-Raise-Questions-Safety-Personal.html2012>.

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Raquel Cunha, Ana, Rita M. Machado, Ana Palmiera-de-Oliveira, Jose Martinez-de-Oliveira, Jose Das Neves, and Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira. "Characterization of Commercially Available Vaginal Lubricants: A Safety Perspective."PubMed Central. N.p., 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 May 2016. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC4190534%2F>.

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