Erika W. Smith's Recent Articles - Refinery29

Skip navigation!

Swimming On Your Period: The Complete Guide

Why People Do — Or Don’t — Kiss On The First Date

Relationship Advice

How To Survive A Breakup (Because You Will)

Violets, Bi-Angles, And Double Moons: A Guide To LGBTQ+ Symbols

by Erika W. Smith

What Spotting Before Your Period Could Mean

As if bleeding for three to seven days a month isn’t enough, sometimes your vagina will bleed when you’re not on your period. When this happens, the bl

by Erika W. Smith

9 Foolproof Ways To Make Moving In With A Partner Not A Disaster

There are a lot of benefits to moving in together. You no longer have to spend time driving or commuting to see your loved one. You can say goodbye to the

by Erika W. Smith

Advertisement

“No Capricorns Allowed”: A Deep Dive Into Zodiac Shaming

It’s a common situation: one of your roommates is moving out, and the remaining renters need to search for someone to replace them. You sit down to talk

by Erika W. Smith

10 Gift-Worthy Sex Toys To Make Valentine’s Day Even Sexier

by Erika W. Smith

How You Get Wet, Why You Get Wet, & How To Stay Wet

When it comes to sex, “getting wet” doesn’t refer to getting busy in the shower or having sex on the beach. Instead, it’s about natural vaginal lub

by Erika W. Smith

If Your Vulva Is Tingling, This Might Be Why

Depending on the situation, your vulva can sometimes feel wet, itchy, burning, or swollen. Sometimes a new feeling in your vulva is the result of a health

by Erika W. Smith

How To Take A Relationship Break & Not Have It End In Disaster

Twenty-three years after Ross first shouted, “We were on a break!” in an episode of Friends, people are still debating what, exactly, taking a break me

by Erika W. Smith

Reddit’s Dirtiest Pick-Up Lines Will Make You Blush

We’re all familiar with “Hey baby, what’s your sign?” and “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.” But what about… di

by Erika W. Smith

If You’re Bleeding During Sex, This Might Be Why

Sometimes, your vagina bleeds. Of course, you know this, as you bleed during your period. But you might also experience spotting between periods or while y

by Erika W. Smith

Period Poo: It’s A Thing. Here’s How To Deal

Periods can really mess up your day (or week). They’re often accompanied by cramps, headaches, or bloating, and of course, bleeding. Having to change you

by Erika W. Smith

How To Recognise Negging (So You Can Avoid Men Who Do It)

“In one more drink, I’ll be ready to hit on you.” “You’re too much of a nice girl for me.” “I like your shoes, they look really comfortable.?

by Erika W. Smith

11 Tips For Your First Time Having Sex

So, you’ve decided to have sex for the first time. Whether you’re in school, college, in your twenties, or fifties, making your sexual debut can feel l

by Erika W. Smith

These Wedding Night Sex Stories Are Funny, Sexy, & Incredibly Mem...

by Erika W. Smith

The Surprising History Behind The Most Popular Wedding Traditions

by Erika W. Smith

Advertisement

Sex In The Water: The Complete Guide

From the iconic pool sex scene in Showgirls to the steamy hot tub make out in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, movies can make getting busy in the wate

by Erika W. Smith

It’s Totally Normal To Have Dark Labia

There’s no one “right” way for a vulva to look — but society has many of us thinking otherwise. Almost half of all women are concerned about the ap

by Erika W. Smith

No Matter Your Sign, You’ll Love These Astrology Sites

It’s no secret that astrology continues to be important to millennials and Gen Z, even during these turbulent times. “Young people are facing a challen

by Erika W. Smith

If Your Period Seems Watery, This Might Be Why

Let’s face it: Periods can be weird and, right now, under lockdown, there’s a chance yours is being weirder than normal. At various times they migh

by Erika W. Smith

LAT: The Relationship Status That More & More Millennials Are Sig...

When Stephanie Purcell decided to change careers from marketing to production, she soon realised that there weren’t many job opportunities in Omaha, Nebr

by Erika W. Smith

What Leap Day 2020 Means In Numerology

As if 2020 isn’t already shaping up to be stressful enough, it’ll be a day longer than last year. That’s right — 2020 is a Leap Year, and we’re s

by Erika W. Smith

Wedding Season 2020 Is DOOMED, According To Susan Miller

Over the past few months, you might have seen plenty of diamond rings, ear-to-ear smiles, and custom couple hashtags on the ‘gram as engagement season di

by Erika W. Smith

This Pisces Season Might Be Tough, But We’ll Make It Work

Ready to feel all the feelings? After a month in aloof Aquarius, the sun is moving into watery Pisces on 18th February, where it will stay until 19th March

by Erika W. Smith

How To Survive The First Mercury Retrograde Of The Decade

The first Mercury retrograde of the year — and decade — began on February 16. The first planet from the sun has been moving through Pisces since Febru

by Erika W. Smith

How One Kenyan Woman Is Fighting Female Genital Mutilation

“All the cows in the world are gray, white, brown, or black, but have you ever seen a purple cow?” asks Kenyan activist Hellen Nkuraiya. You might pict

by Erika W. Smith

Hickeys Aren’t Just For Teenagers. Here’s How To Give One

by Erika W. Smith

I Donated My Eggs & This Is What It Was Like

by Erika W. Smith

Advertisement