Female Hygiene Products: Unecessary And Bad For Your Vagina

Love your vagina. Give it a break.

That's basically the advice of gynaecologists who have raised concerns about the increasing number of vagina 'cleaning' products being bought by women to 'freshen' their lady gardens.

Over a quarter of women over the age of 16 in the UK have used feminine wipes or wash in the past six months - presumably attempting to make their vagina 'fresh', 'clean' and remove any perceived odour.

But by doing this they're disrupting the delicate balance of the natural vaginal environment, putting themselves at risk of infections, of which odour can be a symptom.

Dr Austin Ugwumadu explained in an interview with the Daily Mail: “They promise to keep you 'fresh'.

"However, fragrant though they sound, I'm afraid these products are completely unnecessary and, in my opinion, are exploiting women's anxieties about their bodies.

“The advertising and packaging of feminine hygiene products play on the impression that women need to be squeaky-clean - otherwise they'll be more at risk of infection.

“In fact, the opposite is true. The vagina is a perfectly-balanced ecosystem, and the bacteria there play a crucial role in gynaecological health.”

Diana Mansour, Consultant in Commity Gynaecology and Repoductive Healthcare agrees: "If you must use products they should be free from preservatives, colours and are designed to help support the natural pH balance of the intimate area."

The only time you might need to use a product such as this, though, is if you're struggling with vaginal dryness thanks to hormones or stress, or to soothe a recent infection. And in both cases, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor about the best products to use.

She adds: "You should avoid shaving 'down there' or wearing tight underwear and clothing, as this can also contribute to irritaton."

The fact is that the vagina is a very perfectly-balanced thing. It's sensitive and the skin can be prone to irritation - if you bother it.

"The intimate area has its own unique microflora, or 'good bacteria', which can be affected by a change in pH. Normally these bacteria are totally fine and kept in check by the immune system, but sometimes our lifestyles can disturb the pH-balance and therefore the microflora," Dr Mansour adds.

The best way to look after your vagina is to go au naturale. Wear cotton underwear (if any at all) and don't wear it to bed. Wash only with water and avoid regularly using pantyliners - they're not necessary and can contain irritating materials and chemicals. Though during your period just remember to change your sanitary protection regularly.

While we're talking about harsh chemicals, you're best off avoiding anti-biotics unless you absolutely need them, as they can unravel your vagina's bacteria balance from the inside out.

And if you want mindblowing orgasms? Don't we all?! Do your kegel exercises. And if you need a bit of extra help, check out this HILARE kickstarter campaign to help incentivise those pelvic squeezes.

Big Up The Vagina

But most of all we need to accept that the vagina is a beautiful thing. It does a brilliant job and if occasionaly it gets poorly, it's a sign you have to treat it better.

If you've ever been on the Vaginas Of The World Tumblr (and you really should, though NSFW), you'll know that every single vagina that exists ever in the whole of the world, EVER, is completely unique.

Big flaps, little flaps, deep, shallow, long, short, hooded clitorises, the ones that are hard to find - all vaginas might have been made equal, but they're certainly not identical.

And we're cool with that. Take care of yours.

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