What’s the most hygienic way to use and insert stuff like boric acid or yeast infection suppositories—like do I need gloves, how far up, and what should I not do after?

Q: What’s the most hygienic way to use and insert stuff like boric acid or yeast infection suppositories—like do I need gloves, how far up, and what should I *not* do after?A: Hygienic doesn’t mean clinical; it means “don’t piss off your vagina’s ecosystem.” For boric acid capsules or yeast infection suppositories, wash your hands, get in a comfy position (lying down, knees up is easiest), and use a clean finger or applicator to push the capsule **about a finger-length inside**—far enough that it won’t fall out, but you’re not jabbing your cervix. Gloves are optional; they’re helpful if your nails are long or you’re using boric acid and don’t want residue on your skin.After insertion, wear a liner, skip sex, tampons, and douching, and let the medication do its thing. Boric acid is vaginal-only, not for swallowing, not for pregnancy, and not a forever solution if symptoms keep coming back.Want to talk through your discharge, symptoms, and meds without getting side-eyed? Chat with Gush and walk through what your body’s actually doing.

How to use boric acid and vaginal suppositories safely and hygienically

What boric acid and vaginal suppositories actually do

Vaginal suppositories—boric acid, miconazole (Monistat), clotrimazole, etc.—aren’t “dirty.” They’re just medicine designed to melt inside the vagina and rebalance things like yeast or bacteria.- **Boric acid**: Helps reset vaginal pH, often used for recurrent yeast or bacterial vaginosis (BV).- **Yeast infection suppositories**: Antifungal meds that kill off extra Candida.Your vagina is a self-cleaning, bacteria-hosting powerhouse. The goal is to support that ecosystem, not nuke it.

Prep: what to do before inserting a vaginal suppository

1. **Confirm what you’re treating.**- Itching + thick, white, cottage-cheese-like discharge → often yeast.- Thin, grey discharge + fishy smell → often BV.- Burning with urination, pelvic pain, or bleeding → could be STI or something else.Self-diagnosing forever with random products can mask bigger issues. See a provider if you’re not sure or it’s recurring.2. **Wash your hands.**- Use mild soap and water.- Dry them—wet, slippery fingers make it harder to control the capsule.3. **Gloves or no gloves?**- **Optional nitrile/latex gloves** if:- Your nails are long.- You’re using boric acid and don’t want residue on your skin.- Clean bare hands are fine for most people.4. **Choose your timing.**- Night is best.- Lying down gives the suppository time to dissolve without leaking right out.

Step-by-step: how to insert boric acid or yeast infection suppositories

1. **Get comfortable.**- Lie on your back with knees bent.- Or stand with one leg on the toilet or tub.2. **Locate the vaginal opening.**- Below your urethra (pee hole), above your anus.- Use one hand to gently separate your labia.3. **Insert the suppository.**- If it’s a **capsule** (boric acid):- Hold it between your fingers like a small bullet.- Gently push it into your vagina **about one finger-length** (roughly 2–3 inches), angled slightly toward your lower back.- If it comes with an **applicator** (like many antifungals):- Load the suppository into the applicator.- Insert the applicator until your fingers touch your vulva.- Press the plunger fully to push the medication in.4. **Clean up + pad up.**- Remove your finger or applicator.- Wash your hands.- Put on a panty liner—there will be some leaking as it dissolves.How far is “far enough”? Think: secure enough that it won’t immediately slip out when you stand, but not so far you’re scraping your cervix. If you feel sharp discomfort high up, you’ve probably overdone it.Your experience might not look exactly like any list of “typical” symptoms. If you want help matching what you’re seeing (color, smell, timing in your cycle) with what might actually be going on, Gush is there for a judgment-free deep dive.

What *not* to do after inserting a vaginal suppository

Protect your vagina’s peace while the meds work:- **Don’t douche.**- Douching wipes out good bacteria and wrecks pH.- It actually makes BV and yeast more likely.- **Avoid sex (especially penetration) right after.**- You’ll just push meds around, irritate already-inflamed tissue, and possibly expose your partner.- Some meds can weaken condoms—always check the package.- **Skip tampons or menstrual cups while treating.**- They can soak up medication and reduce effectiveness.- Use pads or period underwear if you’re bleeding.- **Don’t double-dose because you’re impatient.**- More is not more.- Stick to the prescribed or package schedule—overdoing it can burn or over-dry your tissue.- **Don’t swallow boric acid.**- It’s for vaginal use only.- Also generally not recommended during pregnancy—talk to a provider.

How your menstrual cycle and hormones affect infections

Your risk of BV and yeast doesn’t happen in a vacuum—your menstrual cycle is in the chat.- **Menstrual phase (bleeding, low estrogen + progesterone):**- Blood temporarily raises vaginal pH (makes it less acidic).- BV can flare around or after your period because bacteria love that pH change.- **Follicular phase (estrogen rising):**- Estrogen thickens and strengthens the vaginal lining.- Lactobacillus (good bacteria) thrive, making lactic acid and keeping pH lower.- You may feel more balanced and less prone to irritation.- **Ovulation (estrogen peak, fertile cervical mucus):**- Cervical mucus gets stretchy, clear, and slippery.- More discharge is normal, not automatically infection.- **Luteal phase (progesterone high, PMS zone):**- Progesterone can slightly dampen immune response.- Many people notice **yeast infections flaring right before their period** when hormones drop.Birth control that flattens hormone swings (like the pill, patch, or ring) can:- Reduce some cyclical swings in symptoms.- But in some people, **increase yeast risk** if estrogen dose or vaginal environment gets thrown off.

When you should stop DIY-ing and see a provider

Use boric acid and OTC yeast meds as tools, not a forever band-aid. Get medical help if:- You’re having **symptoms for the first time** and aren’t sure what it is.- Discharge is green, grey, or bloody when you’re not on your period.- You have **severe itching, swelling, or pain**.- You have pelvic pain, fever, or pain with sex.- You need boric acid or antifungals **over and over**.These could signal:- Untreated BV or yeast- STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, etc.)- Allergic reaction to products- Skin conditions like lichen sclerosusNone of this makes you “gross.” It makes you a human with mucous membranes in a misogynistic healthcare system.If you’re stuck in that cycle of "Google, freak out, shove in a suppository, repeat," you don’t have to do it alone. You can bring all your TMI details to Gush and walk through what’s normal, what’s not, and what to ask a provider for—without being rushed or shamed.