Vaginal and Vulval Hygiene

“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 definition is:

“A douche flushes water up into the vagina, clearing out vaginal secretions. Some women use a douche to “clean” the vagina.

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:

“Douching is different from washing the outside of your vagina during a bath or shower. Rinsing the outside of your vagina with warm water will not harm your vagina. But, douching can lead to many different health problems.

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 can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. If you already have a vaginal infection, douching can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious health problem.

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:

Vaginal and Vulval Hygiene

“It’s a good idea to avoid perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics as these can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in the vagina and cause irritation.

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:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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  1. Caredownthere.com.au
  2. Disorders of the Vulva: Common Causes of Vulvar Pain, Burning, and Itching
  3. Douching
  4. Essential Information: Caring for Your Skin Down There
  5. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  6. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  7. Menopause Management: Managing Vaginal Problems
  8. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  9. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  10. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
  11. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  12. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: New! Sexual Anatomy 101 Sexual Anatomy 101
  13. Self-Help Tips
  14. Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy
  15. Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy: Washing Your Vagina – Vaginal Douches
  16. The Itchy Vulva [Video]
  17. The Vulva & Vagina Fact Sheet
  18. The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & treatment – Booklet
  19. Top Tips for Talking To Your Doctor
  20. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  21. Urogenital Problems
  22. Vaginal Discharge
  23. Video Series-2019 – Talking To Your Clinician About Sexual Health Concerns
  24. Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
  25. Video Series-2021 – Common Issues Surrounding Sexuality and Menopause
  26. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Management & Treatment [+ Video]
  27. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: What Is The Vulva?
  28. Vulva and Vaginal Health: Getting the Right Advice
  29. Vulvovaginal Health
  30. 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

  1. Douching: What Is the Best Way To Clean My Vagina? 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: 09 July 2021
  2. Douching: What Is the Best Way To Clean My Vagina? 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: 09 July 2021
  3. Douching: What Is Douching? 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: 09 July 2021
  4. Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina: Vaginal Douches. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 09 July 2021
  5. Douching: What Is Douching? 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: 09 July 2021
  6. Douching: Why Should Women Not Douche? 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: 09 July 2021
  7. Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 09 July 2021
  8. Essential Information: Caring for Your Skin Down There – Cleansing. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/information_care.html Accessed: 09 July 2021
  9. Sexual Health: Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy – Washing Your Vagina: Scented Wipes and Vaginal Deodorants. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/#washing-your-vagina Accessed: 09 July 2021

Topic Last Updated: 09 July 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 July 2021
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