“It is best to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina cleans itself naturally by making mucous. The mucous washes away blood, semen, and vaginal discharge”.1
Umbrella
What may the Vaginal and Vulval Hygiene Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Genital Care/Health/Hygiene
- Vaginal Care/Health/Hygiene
- Vulval Care/Health/Hygiene
Self-Cleaning
Is the vagina self-cleaning?
In Douching: What Is the Best Way To Clean My Vagina? the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov elaborate on:
“It is best to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina cleans itself naturally by making mucous. The mucous washes away blood, semen, and vaginal discharge”.2
Douching
What is douching?
DotS the definition of douching may vary. In Douching: What Is Douching? Womenshealth.gov’s definition is:
“The word “douche” means to wash or soak. Douching is washing or cleaning out the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. The water mixture then comes back out through your vagina”.3
In Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina: Vaginal Douches the (United Kingdom) NHS’s (National Health Service) definition is:
But using a douche can disrupt the normal vaginal bacteria, so it isn’t recommended that you use one”.4
Bath/Shower
Is douching different from washing the outside of your vagina during a bath or shower?
In Douching: What Is Douching? Womenshealth.gov’s explain:
Most doctors recommend that women do not douche”.5
What can douching lead to?
In Douching: Why Should Women Not Douche? the Womenshealth.gov elaborate on:
Douching is also linked to other health problems”.6
Keeping Clean
How may women keep their vagina clean?
In Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina the NHS note:
Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the area around the vagina (the vulva) gently every day
The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge)”.7
In Essential Information: Caring for Your Skin Down There – Cleansing the (Australian) Caredownthere elaborate on:
“Just in case you have been wondering if your vulval problem is happening because you aren’t washing enough….you don’t have a hygiene problem. Using soap, particularly if this is done frequently, will in fact make your skin more sensitive. It is best to avoid soap, particularly perfumed liquid soaps, abrasive washes and wet wipes. A soap substitute, available from your chemist, or simply soaking in a bath with a couple of handfuls of ordinary salt thrown in is the best way to clean vulval skin”.8
Health Care Provider
What if I’m worried about the way my vagina smells?
If you’re worried about the way your vagina smells, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The NHS explain:
“If you’re worried about the way your vagina smells, the smell is unpleasant or you’re using perfumed products to cover up your vagina’s smell, you should see your GP. You might have an infection that needs treatment”.9
Who is a GP?
DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to the Vaginal and Vulval Hygiene?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Vaginal and Vulval Hygiene?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.#LetsDiscuss Vulvovaginal Pain Disorders
- Caredownthere.com.au
- Douching
- Essential Information: Caring for Your Skin Down There
- Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
- Menopause Management: Managing Vaginal Problems
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- New! Guide To Sexual Health Providers
- New! How To Build A Positive Sexual Health Team
- Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
- Self-Help Tips
- Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy
Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy: Washing Your Vagina – Vaginal Douches
- The Itchy Vulva [Video]
- The Vulva & Vagina Fact Sheet
- The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & treatment – Booklet
- Top Tips for Talking To Your Doctor
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Urogenital Problems
- Vaginal Discharge
- Video Series-2019 – Talking To Your Clinician About Sexual Health Concerns
- Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
- Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Management & Treatment [+ Video]
- Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: What Is The Vulva?
- Vulva and Vaginal Health: Getting the Right Advice
- Vulvovaginal Health
- Women’s Wellness: Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Health Problems
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted:
Sources
- Douching: What Is the Best Way To Clean My Vagina? Medical Review In 2014. Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Douching: What Is the Best Way To Clean My Vagina? Medical Review In 2014. Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Douching: What Is Douching? Medical Review In 2014. Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina: Vaginal Douches. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS (National Health Service) https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Douching: What Is Douching? Medical Review In 2014. Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Douching: Why Should Women Not Douche? Medical Review In 2014. Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS (National Health Service) https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Essential Information: Caring for Your Skin Down There – Cleansing. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/information_care.html Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina: Scented Wipes and Vaginal Deodorants. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS (National Health Service) https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 18 January 2021