What to do when your lady parts feel like they're on fire

Switch your undies.

Your lady parts are very sensitive to excess wetness, so keep them dry by wearing cotton. "It wicks moisture away from the skin, unlike most synthetic fibers," says WH advisor Shari Brasner, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of gynecology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

If that doesn't work. . .

Apply an ointment.

Frequent wiping or vigorous intercourse can annoy the delicate skin of your vagina, says Brasner. Head to your pharmacy's baby-care aisle for a topical petroleum jelly-based diaper-rash ointment, which can help protect and heal the area.

If that doesn't work. . .

Tame the yeast.

Vaginal itching is the hallmark of a yeast infection, which is often accompanied by a cottage cheese–like discharge, says Brasner. Try an over-the-counter antifungal cream or suppository to clear it up in three to seven days. Pair with an over-the-counter antihistamine, like diphenhydramine, to calm the itch factor.

If that doesn't work. . .

Get tested.

Your M.D. can figure out the cause of the irritation, give you proper treatment, and rule out the possibility of an STD.

And It's Internal. . .

Call your doctor.

Burning or irritation when you pee can mean you have a urinary tract infection, which can be treated only with prescribed antibiotics, not cranberry juice or tablets, according to a study from the University of Stirling in Scotland. While you wait for your prescription, an OTC product containing the numbing agent phenazopyridine can ease your discomfort and pain.