You probably already know that the most popular time of the year to catch a cold or come down with the flu is during the fall and winter seasons (if you want a brief rundown on the differences between a cold and the flu, you can check a list out here). However, were you aware of the fact that the flu virus actually moves, full speed ahead, right around October?
If you add to that the fact that late August thru late March/early April is when the common cold prefers to show all the way out the most, this is the perfect time to talk about what happens to your body whenever you catch a cold — oh, and to add a bit of “the more you know” to this piece, I’m going to also share what your vagina goes through whenever a cold decides to temporarily take over your body.
Why is this relevant? Well, the way I see it is, if whenever you find yourself getting sick, it seems like your vagina isn’t “at its best” either, you should know that it’s definitely not all up in your head. When your immune system is working in overdrive to get your viral infection under control, sometimes your vagina has to struggle (just a bit) to get through that.
And now that you know, for a fact, that oftentimes there really is something up with your “her” whenever you are under the weather, you can learn about what you can do to make dealing with a cold easier when it comes to your vagina — and, ultimately, you too.
What Happens to Your Body, Overall, When You Catch a Cold
GiphyIsn’t it wild that there still appears to be no cure for the common cold (that partly may be because there are over 200 different viruses that can give you a cold)? This means that if you happen to catch one, all you can really do is treat the symptoms and hope that it lasts closer to two days than two whopping weeks (which tends to be the sliding scale of how long a cold chooses to stick around).
And although I’m sure that you are very well aware of the fact that a cold brings with it things like coughing, congestion, and sometimes a fever, have you ever stopped to think about what is actually going on inside of your body when you have a cold?
From what I’ve read and researched when a cold-causing virus gets into your nasal passages/sinuses, it takes a couple of days for your immune system to get the message that something is up. Chemical messengers within your body, known as cytokines, are what put your immunity on notice. As your blood vessels start to swell up in order to fight off the virus/infection, that’s what causes congestion.
Then, as your white blood cells begin to get involved, that can lead to inflammation which sometimes results in things like a runny nose and cough. Some other things that can happen to you while you’re dealing with a cold are you may experience body aches, a sore throat, headaches, sneezing, and a fever.
What Happens to Your Vagina, Specifically, When You Catch a Cold
GiphyNow as far as what happens to your vagina while you’re dealing with a cold, the main thing that transpires is your blood vessels become wider in order to make way for more white blood cells to fight the virus. As a result, you may see an increased amount of vaginal discharge. On the flip side to this, if your cold ends up dehydrating you (which isn’t uncommon), that could result in you experiencing a noticeable level of vaginal dryness.
Also, something else to keep in mind is, that if you are stressed out a lot, that can actually make you more susceptible to catching a cold, and if stress is your “cold culprit,” that can significantly increase your chances of having a yeast infection — and both at the same time is the absolute worst.
Now, here’s where it really gets kinda wild. Although it makes no sense to take an antibiotic for a cold (because antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral ones; you can read more about thathere andhere), if you do end up with a yeast infection and a cold at the same time, the antibiotics could end up throwing off your vagina’s pH balance even while treating the yeast overgrowth; unfortunately, that could still lead to some level of vaginal irritation.
Oh, and as far as antihistamines and decongestants that you may be taking to treat your cold? Those typically will narrow your blood vessels, even in your genital region, which can also result in vaginal dryness. The same goes for any sedatives that you may take to make it easier to sleep more soundly while you’re healing from your cold.
It should also go on record that certain cold medications can come with side effects like rashes, redness, and itchiness — and that could include your vagina and/or vulva. Yeah, like I said, your vagina and vulva are not always or automatically exempt from the cold that you may be experiencing.
How to Soothe Your Vagina While You Have a Cold
GiphySo, even if you can’t cure your cold, is there anything that you can do to either lower the chances of your vagina experiencing all of what I just mentioned or make the symptoms far more bearable? Indeed, there is.
Consume probiotics and vitamin D.
As far as preventative measures go, something that you and your vagina need are probiotics and Vitamin D. Probiotics are dope because they help to fill your gut with the good bacteria that it needs to fight viral infections (you know, since 80 percent of your immunity is in your gut, to begin with) and vitamin D is awesome because it helps to make your immunity “activate” quicker; plus, it helps to prevent viral infections from transpiring in the first place.
As far as your vagina goes? Probiotics decrease the chances of your pH balance being thrown off (which could lead to a yeast infection) while vitamin D reduces the risk of vaginal-related infections as it also helps to decrease vaginal dryness.
Hydrate.
Since having a cold can cause you to lose fluids and electrolytes (including in your vaginal region), it’s wise to drink more water and orange juice while you have a cold. Not only will that help to replenish what has been lost, but it can also help to flush out toxins. Plus, orange juice contains a lot of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can help strengthen your immunity. By the way, other drinks like a turmeric latte or matcha tea can help your immune system to get to a better place as well.
Take (and apply) some flaxseed oil or grapefruit seed extract.
As far as vaginal dryness goes, something else that you can do is take some flaxseed oil as a supplement and/or apply it directly to your vulva. Not only will it provide moisture to both your insides and “outsides” without any chemicals, but there are also properties in flaxseed that help your skin retain its pH balance.
Oh, and if you gargle with some grapefruit seed extract, that can fight your viral infection up top, while if you add a bit of it to your vulva (with the help of a carrier oil), that can help to rid your vulva of any cold-related germs down below.
Use a lubricant.
If you’re the only one who is sick, it’s probably best that you try and steer clear of your partner as much as possible because colds are hella contagious. However, if you’re both on the icky side yet you can muster up the energy, sex can give you the kind of endorphin boost that will help you to feel better while orgasms can temporarily clear up your congestion (just sayin’).
That said, since oils and latex don’t exactly get along if you do have some vaginal dryness going on and flaxseed isn’t going to work for you personally, try a silicone-based lubricant — just to get you over the hump (umm, so to speak). Because even if a cold has the rest of you feeling kind of blah, at least your vagina can get a bit of a pick-me-up, right? Yeah…that’s what I’m sayin’. LOL.
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The seeds for these entrepreneurs were planted during their time as students at schools like Spelman, North Carolina A&T, and more, which is why xoNecole caught up with Look Good Live Well’s Ariane Turner, HBCU Buzz’s Luke Lawal and Morehouse Senior Director of Marketing and Comms and Press Secretary Jasmine Gurley to highlight the role their HBCU roots play in their work as entrepreneurs, the legacy they aim to leave behind through the work that they do, and more as a part of Hyundai’s Best In Class initiative.
On Honoring HBCU Roots To Create Something That Is For Us, By Us
Ariane Turner
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When Ariane Turner launched Look Good, Live Well, she created it with Black and brown people in mind, especially those with sensitive skin more prone to dryness and skin conditions like acne and eczema.
The Florida A&M University graduate launched her business to create something that addressed topical skin care needs and was intentional about its approach without negative terminology.
Turner shared that it is important to steer clear of language often adopted by more prominent brands, such as “banishing breakouts” or “correcting the skin,” because, in reality, Turner says there is nothing wrong with the way that our skin and bodies react to various life changes.
“I think what I have taken with me regarding my HBCU experience and translated to my entrepreneurial experience is the importance of not just networking,” Turner, the founder and CEO of Look Good, Live Well, tellls xoNecole.
“We hear that in business all the time, your network is your net worth, but family, there’s a thing at FAMU that we call FAMU-lee instead of family, and it’s very much a thing. What that taught me is the importance of not just making relationships and not just making that connection, but truly working on deepening them, and so being intentional about connecting with people initially, but staying connected and building and deepening those relationships, and that has served me tremendously in business, whether it’s being able to reach back to other classmates who I went to school with, or just networking in general.”
She adds, “I don’t come from a business background. As soon as I finished school, I continued with my entrepreneurial journey, and so there’s a lot of that traditional business act and the networking, those soft skills that I just don’t have, but I will say that just understanding how to leverage and network community and to build intentional relationships is something that has taken me far and I definitely got those roots while attending FAMU.”
On Solving A Very Specific Need For The Community
Luke Lawal Jr.
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When Luke Lawal Jr. launched HBCU Buzz, his main focus was to represent his community, using the platform to lift as they climbed by creating an outlet dedicated to celebrating the achievements and positive news affecting the 107 historically HBCUs nationwide.
By spotlighting the wonderful things that come from the HBCU community and coupling it with what he learned during his time at Bowie State University, Lawal used that knowledge to propel himself as an entrepreneur while also providing his people with accurate representation across the internet.
“The specific problem in 2011 when I started HBCU Buzz was more so around the fact that mainstream media always depict HBCUs as negative,” Lawal says. “You would only see HBCUs in the mainstream media when someone died, or the university president or someone was stepping down. It was always bad news, but they never shed light on all the wonderful things from our community."
So, I started HBCU Buzz to ensure the world saw the good things that come from our space. And they knew that HBCUs grew some of the brightest people in the world, and just trying to figure out ways to make sure our platform was a pedestal for all the students that come through our institutions.”
“The biggest goal is to continue to solve problems, continue to create brands that solve the problems of our communities, and make sure that our products, our brands, our companies, and institutions are of value and they’re helping our community,” he continues. “That they’re solving problems that propel our space forward.”
On How Being An HBCU Alum Impacts The Way One Shows Up In The World
Jasmine Gurley
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Jasmine Gurley is a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum. She is even more delighted with her current role, which enables her to give back to current HBCU students as the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications and official press secretary at Morehouse College.
“It was a formative experience where I really was able to come into my own and say yes to all the opportunities that were presented to me, and because of that, it’s been able to open the doors later in life too,” says Gurley of her experience at North Carolina A&T. “One thing I love about many HBCUs is that we are required to learn way more about African American history than you do in your typical K through 12 or even at the higher ed level."
She adds, “It allowed us to have a better understanding of where we came from, and so for me, because I’m a storyteller, I’m a history person, I’m very sensitive to life in general, being able to listen to the stories and the trials that our ancestors overcame, put the battery pack in my back to say, ‘Oh nothing can stop me. Absolutely nothing can stop me. I know where I came from, so I can overcome something and try anything. And I have an obligation to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Simultaneously, I also have a responsibility to help others realize that greatness.
Gurley does not take her position at an HBCU, now as a leader, lightly.
“People think I’m joking when I say I’m living the dream, but I really am,” she notes. “So I wake up every day and know that the work that I do matters, no matter how hard it might be, how frustrating it may be, and challenging it. I know the ripple effect of my work, my team, and what this institution does also matter. The trajectory of Black male experiences, community, history, and then just American advancement just in general.”
On the other hand, through her business, Sankofa Public Relations, Gurley is also on a mission to uplift brands in their quest to help their respective communities. Since its inception in 2017, Sankofa PR has been on a mission to “reach back and reclaim local, national, and global communities by helping those actively working to move” various areas of the world, focusing on pushing things forward for the better.
“Through Sankofa, we’ve worked with all different types of organizational brands and individuals in several different industries, but I would think of them as mission-based,” says Gurley.
“So with that, it’s an opportunity to help people who are trying to do good in the world, and they are passionate about what they’re doing. They just need help with marketing issues, storytelling, and branding, and that’s when my expertise can come into play. Help them get to that moment where they can tell their story through me or another platform, and that’s been super fulfilling.”
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
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Some folks are saying that October is now “uncuffing season” as partners won’t have to deal with the weight and expectations that come with this time of year. From matching Halloween costumes to voting to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it seems the new cuffing season has moved to January.
In August 2021, Zoë and Channing were first rumored to be romantically involved after being photographed riding together through the streets of New York City on a BMX bike. The following month, they were seen leaving the Met Gala together, and Tatum confirmed their relationship on Halloween by posting a picture of them wearing a couples costume from Martin Scorsese's iconic 1976 film Taxi Driver on Instagram.
Instagram/@channingtatum
After collaborating on Zoë's directorial debut, Blink Twice, where Channing played a starring role, their relationship blossomed into a full-out romance. Approximately a year later, the Step Up star popped the question.
Because the streets are always watching, PEOPLE reported that Channing joined Zoë in seeing a production of a play by Blink Twice costar Levon Hawke in New York City's Red Hook neighborhood on Oct. 6. Most recently, Kravitz has been seen in public without her engagement ring, notably during an outing with her Big Little Lies co-star Shailene Woodley.
So the news of the split kinda comes as a surprise as we were just oozing over the couple’s undeniable chemistry during their Blink Twice press run in August. Channing and Zoë openly discussed their relationship and collaborated on multiple videos that went viral.
Even proud papa Lenny Kravitz gave his approval. During an interview with BBC’s Radio 2, he said, "He was raised well. So, you know, he’s got manners. He’s charming. He’s a soulful human being. And so, he’s become part of the family quite quickly. He fits and they're in love. We’re going to have a wedding next year."
As we mourn this breakup, let’s run back some memorable moments from the possibly uncoupled pair.
"Art is our love language."
When asked about future collaborations with her boo during the premiere of Blink Twice on Aug. 23, Zoë shared, "I think it's what we love, and we love talking about it, and experiencing it, and supporting each other.” Channing chimed in saying, “This is what I'll say about creating with someone that you are with or love: I suggest it. If you are thinking about having a kid or if you're thinking about getting married, go find the hardest possible creative project with your partner.”
“I got you forever.”
Channing took to Instagram to share an adoring photo of him holding Zoë. He captioned the photo, “This little sweet. She So tired bro. Every time I wondered if she’d break…. She just kept going and going and going. Always on the dig for truth. She pour’d every single ounce of her into this film. I’m so proud to stand ten toes down for her, this film and everyone in it. forever. Knowing what it took to make it. No one will ever know.”
The last line took us out: “Thank you for finding me and seeing me. I got you forever. Me and you back to back against it all. I’ll never blink. Let’s go. #blinktwice”
GOAT Talk
On Complex’s GOAT Talk, a show where stars are prompted to reveal their favorites of all time, Channing and Zoë disclosed their go-to song for singing in the shower, their beloved ad-lib line from Blink Twice, and their stance on conspiracy theories and their favorite rapper. The moment Channing challenged Zoë’s answer that Catwoman is the best superhero of all time was just too cute.
“The Lie Detector determined…”
The cast of Blink Twice underwent Vanity Fair's well-known lie detector test, facing a barrage of probing questions. Among the inquiries were: Did Channing Tatum and Naomi Watts ever irritate Zoë Kravitz during the filming of Blink Twice? Did Naomi ever pilfer anything from the set? Did Channing's portrayal of Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine surpass his personal expectations?
Best of all were the moments you saw Zoë and Channing look at each other adoringly and when they would finish each other sentences. “We are equally cool,” Zoë beamed.
Puppy Love
The pair hung out with BuzzFeed and a slew of adorable puppies while chatting about their favorite improvised moment on set, who has the best rizz — which is apparently Channing according to Zoë — and their first impressions of each other. Not only did they binge-watch Love Island together but they also boasted they would win Love Is Blind if they were on the show.
The Pressure
Zoë Kravitz recently sat down with Esquirefor an interview and got real about her thoughts on becoming a parent. She shared that she's always kinda thought motherhood might not be her thing. “For a long time, I felt like there was something wrong with me. I was waiting for this light to go off in my head, and it never did. When you’re younger, you’re like, ‘Well, I can’t have kids. I’m too young! It’d be crazy.’”
Her viewpoint on childbirth and parenthood has evolved as she has matured and witnessed the societal pressure placed on women to reproduce. While she recognizes the immense strength and courage required to carry and raise a child, Kravitz believes that women should not be made to feel obligated to do so.
Zoë continued, “For a lot of people that have children, it is this giant, life-changing event – and I do think there is a certain amount of focus and respect that they should get from their community. There’s a lot of pressure on women to have children, and there’s a feeling that if you don’t, you don’t have purpose here.” The director feels a special connection to her new movie akin to giving birth.
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