Although pregaming’s origin is connected to events that transpire before an actual athletic game, I started hearing the word, A LOT, once college students started saying that it’s the drinking that you do before, well, more drinking. And now that the word is on commercials ‘n stuff for all sorts of random reasons — yeah, when it comes to creating a ritual that will get yourself ready for sex, I think that “pregaming” is fitting in that manner too.
So, let’s do this. Since, when it comes to coitus, your vagina will be the MVP (see what I just did there?), here are 12 — well, technically 13 — things that you can do to pregame “her” for all of the action that is to come.
1. Eat Vitamin C-Rich Foods
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If you’ve ever wondered what can lead to infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections, it’s what typically transpires when your vagina’s pH levels are off (check out “Sis, This Is How To Keep Your Vagina's pH Balanced”). Something that can keep your pH where it needs to be (so that there are more “good bacteria” in your vagina than bad) is to either take a vitamin C supplement or to consume foods that are high in the nutrient. Some of those include bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, white potatoes, cabbage, citrus fruits, and cantaloupe. Even eating these in the hours before you plan on having sex can help to ward off irritations that could lead to certain types of vaginal itching and discomfort later on.
2. Consume Some Kefir Yogurt
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Even though there’s a Harvard study that professes that probiotics do very little to maintain vaginal health (what in the world?), there is also plenty of other intel that says the complete opposite. For one thing, what many experts (including ones from the institution) can agree on is that probiotics do wonders for preserving your gut health — and since roughly 80 percent of your immune system is housed there, indirectly your vagina is gonna benefit right there alone. Not only that, but when your vagina doesn’t have as much Lactobacillus acidophilus (a type of probiotic that’s loaded with good bacteria that is in your mouth, gut, and vagina) as it should, things like having unprotected sex could result in a change in your discharge, a fishy smell or itchiness.
Something that contains more probiotics than “regular” yogurt is kefir which is a type of fermented milk drink. Since it also has plenty of protein along with a good amount of vitamin B12, calcium, and phosphorus, drinking some will always be a good move as far as your vaginal (sexual) health goes.
And while it’s kind of difficult to find some firm data for my final point, as someone who is a big fan of the Lifeway Kefir brand, I personally think that another bonus that comes with kefir is it makes your vaginal area smell more pleasant; some people I’ve recommended it to said that their partner claims that they taste better down below, after consuming it, too.
3. Drink Plenty of Infused Water
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If you haven’t been treating your system to some DIY-infused water, I’m telling you that you’re totally missing out. Not only does it make drinking “plain” water easier to do, but it can also help to control your appetite, regulate your blood sugar levels, detox your system, hydrate your body and improve your immunity as well. Know what else infused water can do? Provide your vagina with more natural lubrication as it helps to flush out bad bacteria that may be sitting up in there. So yeah, definitely indulge in some infused water prior to sex. Taste of Home has over 20 fruit-based recipes that you can try out here.
4. Work on an Exercise Ball
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When it comes to strengthening vaginal walls, who hasn’t heard about the importance of doing kegels? Uh-huh, but what do you know about swapping out your office chair for an exercise ball? Word on the street is if you sit on it for even 15-30 minutes a day, it will automatically cause the muscles of your pelvic floor to contract which could definitely pregame you for some better orgasms later on.
5. Be Panty-Less
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If you work from home, try and avoid putting on any underwear the day that you plan on gettin’ it in. The more that your vaginal region is able to “breathe,” the more that you decrease the chances of extra moisture, ultimately irritating and/or causing some sort of pH imbalance down there before you even get around to having sex.
6. Give Yourself a Perineal Massage
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As a doula, something that I oftentimes recommend pregnant women do (actually, it’s more like I suggest that their partner do it to them) is get an at-home perineal massage on a weekly basis once they enter into their third trimester. From a birthing standpoint, it helps to stretch their vaginal opening, which can ultimately decrease their chances of ripping or tearing during childbirth (or even needing an episiotomy, for that matter).
We all know how (most) babies are made, so guess what? If you have a partner who is… “bigger than average” (an average erect penis is 5.5”), another pregame hack would be to give yourself a version of this massage, basically for the same reason: to stretch out your vaginal skin. Propping your lower back up with a couple of pillows, put a non-irritating carrier oil like sweet almond, vitamin E, or hemp seed oil onto your index and middle fingers and then gently caress the rim of your vaginal opening for even five minutes the day before and day of sex can make intercourse way more comfortable.
Just make sure to go with something like a water-based lubricant (or even some 100 percent pure aloe vera gel) instead of oil if you’re going to use a condom the day of sex; oils tend to thin out rubbers, and that makes them far less effective.
7. Clean Your Clitoral Hood
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I once read a story that damn near horrified me. I’m not sure how long your pubic hair has to get in order for so much of it to be trapped in your clitoral hood that you have to basically circumcise it to get rid of it all (ain’t it wild how so many women “forget” that the skin on their clitoris is basically foreskin?). LAWD. It definitely served as the inspiration behind a piece that I penned for the platform a while back entitled, “7 Reasons You Should TOTALLY Be In Love With Your Clitoral Hood.”
Anyway, sometimes vaginas can get irritated during or after sex because there is hair, lint, or some dried-up discharge that’s caught up in the clitoral hood. This can be remedied by putting some olive oil on a Q-tip, slightly pulling the skin that’s covering your clitoris, and using the Q-tip to clean the area out. It’s a small hack that can make a really big difference. Trust me.
8. Condition Your Pubic Hair
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Fairly recently, I penned a piece for the platform entitled, “12 Men Told Me What They Love So Much About Vaginas” (check it out when you get a chance). Something that wasn’t expounded on (that I do get told fairly often whenever the topic of va-jay-jays comes up) is how much a lot of men enjoy pubic hair — more specifically, well-groomed pubic hair. As you’re keeping that in mind, do your partner a solid by also making sure to condition your pubic hair on the day that you plan on having sex. By applying some avocado, jojoba, or carrot seed oil (for example) right after you get out of the shower, those hairs will become so much softer — which will make oral sex more pleasant for the giver and, by default, the receiver too.
9. Replenish with a Yoni Gel
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If you’re someone who, no matter how many preventative measures you take to avoid it, still end up with a bit of an unpleasant scent during sex or some (minor) vaginal irritation afterward, you might want to try applying an all-natural type of vaginal gel. One that many people sing the praises of is Sugar Baby’s Sweet Kitty Yoni Gel. It contains rosewater, aloe vera, and tea tree oil — all of which are great at keeping your vulva skin healthy and smelling fresh.
10. Apply an Aphrodisiac Scent to Your Inner Thighs
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Did you know that people with a heightened sense of smell tend to have more intense orgasms, while those with a lower sense of smell typically have a lower sex drive? Something that you can do to increase your and your partner’s chances of experiencing the former instead of the latter is to put some perfume, cologne, or, my personal favorite, an aphrodisiac-themed essential oil (check out “8 Natural Aphrodisiac Scents, Where They Go & How To Make Them Last”) in between your thighs. If you’ve got a man who partakes of your “fruit” readily and willingly, he will love the experience all the more if his sense of smell is perked up with an enticing scent that’s been strategically placed on your inner thighs.
11. STOP Making Yourself Urinate Before Sex
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This one might throw you for a loop, and if so, I totally get it. Yet no, you ARE NOT supposed to urinate prior to having sex.
According to many medical professionals, you actually should wait until after having sex before going to the bathroom. The reason why is that the more urine that you have stored up in your vagina, the easier it will be for the acid in it to push out any bacteria that intercourse may have pushed up further into your vaginal region — the kind that could potentially lead to a nasty urinary tract infection (UTI).
I mean, if you’ve gotta go (before), you gotta go. All I’m saying is, if you’ve been making it a rule of thumb for your sex life, you’re ultimately doing yourself more harm than good. The more you know.
12. Have Your Own Condom Collection
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Recently, I was having a conversation with two guys in their 20s about how they would rather pull out and go through pregnancy scares from time to time than wear a condom. SMDH. And before you chalk them up to being the exception and not the rule, it can’t be said enough that, reportedly, only one-third of men and one-quarter of women use condoms. This isn’t only irritating but triggering to know, considering the fact that an estimated (and whopping) one million new STD diagnoses are handed out worldwide on a daily basis — and many of them are asymptomatic (the only time I got an STD, chlamydia was dormant in my system for almost two years; a bout of mono and strep throat “woke it up”…no joke!).
This is one of the many (MANY) reasons why only mentally and emotionally mature people should have sex because, being willing to intentionally put you and another person’s health at risk and/or experience an unwanted pregnancy, just because you want an “amplified sensation,” is not a good enough reason to forego rubbers. That’s why you shouldn’t rely on the guy to wrap it up; have your own condom stash on hand too.
Not just to prevent infections or pregnancy but to also keep your vaginal irritations down. If you happen to not be a fan of latex and would prefer to go with an alternative like polyurethane, polyisoprene, or even the female condom; Undercover Condoms is a site that has a wide variety of affordable prophylactics that will be mailed out to you quickly and discreetly, by the way…you’re welcome.
BONUS: Look Into Vaginal Plumping
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Finally, if you want to get more adventurous when it comes to sex, yet a part of what’s holding you back is not feeling as confident about how your vagina looks, first read “Did You Know That There Are 10 Different Kinds Of Vaginas? Yep” and then do some research on a process that’s known to some as vagina plumping and to others as labia puffing. Long story short, it’s a non-surgical procedure that consists of derma fillers being injected into your vaginal lips so that they appear fuller and more youthful-looking.
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There you have it, y’all — ways that your vagina can get prepared for one of the best activities that life has to offer. Have fun!
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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Not to mention the fact that so many folks literally don’t read (you know, past skimming) anymore — and yes, I have stats to prove it. I recently read that back in 2022, reportedly, a little over 48 percent of people read one book over the course of that entire year (that is not a good thing and proves that book reading is on a steady decline). Meanwhile, the amount of time that is spent on social media: 2.5 hours on a daily basis. That’s 150 minutes of listening to folks just say…whatever. And if you listen to it long enough, you could actually start believing it as gospel.
This includes what I am going to touch on today: the belief that if someone really cares about you, they should constantly reassure you. Y’all damn near are gonna have me join the world of social media again, just to address this one fallacy. For now, though, I’ll settle for making some points via this article — because as you can see from the title, I don’t agree with that conclusion at all.
In fact, I personally believe that thinking this way is a pretty big relational orange — if not red — flag.
Reassurance. And What It Does for a Child.
GiphyIf you’ve read enough of my content, you know that I am big on word definitions — and when it comes to the word “reassurance,” the meaning alone explains why this article has the title that it does:
Reassurance: something, such as information, praise, or an action or gesture, that soothes, comforts, or restores to confidence
Reassurance restores confidence. Bookmark that, please. I will certainly circle back to that point before I am done.
Okay, so when it comes to, say a child, there is absolutely a place for reassurance. That’s because they are still in the process of significant self-development and so they need reassurance in order to feel safe, secure and loved. It’s also a way for them to establish trust in others.
However, did you know that many mental health experts say that if a child deals with, say anxiety, constant reassurance can actually be counterproductive because they can start to rely on external validation to emotionally stabilize them instead of learning how to remain calm and relaxed on their own (yeah, bookmark that too)? Some other ways that constant reassurance can become potentially problematic is it can cause kids to create problems that don’t exist, to overthink and to jump to the wrong conclusions (hmm…very interesting).
And so, already, we’re seeing something pretty interesting, right? Although reassurance has its place, too much of it, even for kids, typically ends up doing more harm than good.
Let’s keep building.
How 'Lack' As a Child Can Manifest As an Adult
GiphyOkay, so we just touched on how constant reassurance can be counterproductive for an anxious child. Now what about when that child grows up? If they never learned how to properly and effectively deal with their anxiety, what then? Well, this is where attachment styles can very easily come into play — especially since one of them is literally called “anxious attachment style.”
Anxious attachment style is rooted in insecurity. It typically stems from experiencing the type of dysfunctional upbringing that resulted in one or both parents being unpredictable or inconsistent in their caregiving approach and techniques. As a result, the child deals with things like fear of abandonment or rejection and, without healing from that, they become an adult who is pretty much the exact same way.
In relationships, it can manifest in them being extra clingy, codependent, super jealous, controlling or — catch it — someone who is always looking for validation and reassurance.
Hmph. Did you catch that? Did you really catch that? Needing constant reassurance in a relationship IS NOT something that should automatically come with a relationship. In fact, if you’re someone who has this type of need or even expectation, there’s a really good chance that what you actually need is therapy — not for your partner to work harder to make you feel better about yourself or the relationship.
Which brings me to my next point.
Relationships Can Be Therapeutic. They Aren’t Therapy, Though.
GiphySomething that some of my clients will tell you that they’ve heard me say, more than once I might add is, “PARENT and PARTNER are not palindromes.” A palindrome is a word (line, sentence, etc.) that is the same whether it is spelled backwards or forwards — and while, of course, parent and partner couldn’t qualify as being that, what I mean is there are far too many people who think that partners should pick up where parents left off and/or dropped the ball — and that is a super unhealthy approach to relationships. Come to think of it, not only is it unhealthy but really unfair as well.
This is exactly why I’m not big on phrases like “the princess treatment” in adult relationships. A princess is the daughter of a king while a queen is the wife of one. For a grown woman to expect a man to do what a father did for her as a child without accepting that as an adult, there are far more responsibilities as a wife that comes into play? Yep, that is toxic thinking.
And you know what? So is expecting your partner to overcompensate for where your father and/or mother didn’t show up in the way that they should have. That is not your partner’s fault, their role or their assignment while dating you. If you feel otherwise, it really is time to speak with a professional who can help you to do a bit of “reprogramming” in your thinking because, for you to feel and/or assume that since your parents didn’t make you feel confident and secure or teach you how to value yourself, your partner should work overtime to make up for it? There is not one thing that is healthy, mature or emotionally solid about having that type of mindset.
And that is why I am also good for saying that, although relationships can be therapeutic (healing), they should never EVER be seen as therapy. Therapists are trained to deal with the mental and emotional challenges that people have. On the other hand, no one should expect their partner to have the knowledge and expertise that professionals do — and while we’re here, partners also shouldn’t trust that someone who needs the assistance of a therapist to become whole (again) would know exactly what steps are required for that to happen.
So yeah, if you’re someone who thinks that being loved means that someone needs to constantly make you feel good about yourself or secure in the relationship — you probably do have an anxious attachment style. See a professional to get that confirmed, though. Because no one should have to make you feel valued or worthy. That is an inside job.
And this brings me to my final point.
It’s Not Fair to Want Someone to Love You More than You Do
GiphyFor this last point, something that Christ once said immediately comes to mind:
“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:16-18 — NKJV)
A lot of times, Christ spoke in parables because it was easier for people to get where he was coming from (Matthew 13:13). Anyway, along these lines, what would be the point in pouring a liquid into a bottle that has a hole in it? It’s not built to contain and maintain the fluid and so, no matter how delicious the drink may be, no matter how many times it’s poured into the bottle, the bottle is never going to remain full — because it has cracks in it.
BOOKMARK THAT.
My fourth baby’s daddy (check out “Why I Named The Children I Aborted”), while we were in the process of our “exit interview” (which is what I choose to call it) of our dynamic, he said something that has always stayed with me: “Shellie, your biggest problem is you receive compliments are revelations when they should be seen as confirmations.” Hmph. The irony of HIM saying that is kind of a trip and yet, at the time when we were experiencing each other, he was exactly right. I should’ve never had such a low sense of self-worth that whatever a man said to me had me so in awe that I either felt extremely grateful or became super addicted to his validation.
And y’all, that is exactly what needing constant reassurance looks like — because why does someone need to keep telling you that you are beautiful, keep saying that you are wonderful, keep letting you know that they want to be with you — keep restoring your confidence in yourself and in your relationship with them?
In other words, why should they work harder at making you feel good about yourself and solid in your relationship than you are willing to? Isn’t that just like pouring liquid into a broken bottle?
There is someone in my family tree who I had to distance myself from because he kept venting to me about his marriage and the fact that his wife was just like this. Sadly, it was never (and I do mean NEVER) enough that he chose her — whenever she felt some type of way about herself, here she came looking for him to fill her voids. After a couple of years of the nonstop needs for reassurance, he was worn out from doing it and I was exhausted from hearing about it. He was too scared to call her out and she was too unaccountable to get the real help that she needed. Whew. Toxic on top of toxic.
So Shellie, what are you saying — that we shouldn’t expect compliments, affirmations, support and encouragement in our relationships? Chile, if that is what you got out of this, you are choosing to think that way because that couldn’t be further from where I am coming from.
Again, you’ve got to remember what reassurance means: it’s about restoring confidence. A compliment is “an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration” yet if you already know that you are pretty, smart, funny, whatever, someone telling you that isn’t “building your confidence;” it’s cosigning on something that you are already aware of. Encouragement is about inspiring or stimulating someone and so yes, of course, the right partner is going to want to see you win in life and so they are going to offer up influence and motivation to help you — but what if they aren’t there?
Shouldn’t you be able to encourage yourself? ABSOLUTELY. However, expecting them to restore your confidence due to things that have nothing to do with them or because you simply lack self-confidence? That is not how relationships are to go. If you aren’t sure of yourself (which is a foundational definition of confident), get to the root of why and then figure what you need to do to become sure — that way, your partner doesn’t have to constantly “fill you up;” actually, what they do will be surplus instead of void-filling because your “bottle” will be unbroken.
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I’m telling you, if you pay attention to the relationship side of socials, at least twice a day, someone will talk about how they think that a relationship should entail receiving constant reassurance. Lies on top of lies. No one should think that love means trying to make someone else feel sure about themselves because they don’t know how to do so on their own.
And this is why I say that expecting constant reassurance is an orange, if not red, flag.
Because when you already feel good about yourself, there is no need.
And if you don’t, figuring out how to is an inside job — FIRST.
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