Myths and truths on cleaning your vulva to ensure its health

Modern expert when it comes to rendering the vulva a marketing talisman, Gwyneth Paltrow led us all to believe for a period of time that vaginal steaming was an essential part of our intimate care routine. While experts threw up their hands over the GOOP creator’s recommendations, warning us that her words had more to do with generating headlines than reflecting actual scientific findings, the feminine hygiene market swelled. A myriad of brands appeared that were made for millennials and Gen Z, utilizing not only suggestive names, but also snazzy packaging design. Now, products that were once taboo have been relocated from their hiding spot in the bottom of drawers to be proudly displayed in bathrooms. Yes, intimate care has taken the traditional place of beauty products in so-called #shelfies, photographs in which cosmetic allies are displayed, usually bathed in filters and Instagrammable hues. Leading consumer trend forecasting agency WGSN claims that the intimate health industry will be valued at $38 billion by 2026, which explains why brands are not only concerned about their products’ formulas, but also their packaging. Nowadays, buying a specialized gel, far from being something you keep out of sight, gives you bragging rights.

What products to use and how to clean your vulva

Although on more than one occasion, people have raised their voice against the use of certain intimate hygiene products made for women, the truth is that it’s important to keep in mind we’re talking about items that are designed for the intimate area, and that maintain appropriate vulvar pH for the women who use it. “A little girl, a woman in menopause or someone at a fertile age, they’re not the same. Vaginal pH changes, and we have to remember that everything we do to our vulva can alter the vagina’s equilibrium. Because of this, we must choose wipes, cleansers and vulvar gels that maintain the right pH for the woman’s age,” says Maite Fernández, expert in functional gynecology and vulvar surgery and LELO ambassador in Spain. Diana Montesinos, founder of Pansy, a brand of gels and oils designed to normalize intimate care, says that the main thing in choosing the right product is that it be respectful of the body, as it will directly influence our well-being. “It has to be formulated with natural, quality ingredients that respect the natural external barrier of our intimate area.”

In fact, intimate hygiene products provide extra comfort and well-being in one of the most sensitive areas of our body. “There really is a tangible difference between using them or not,” Montesinos says. “These products are applied to the external genital area. The vagina has its own cleansing mechanism through discharge, and the cleansing of the area should be limited to its external area, which is the vulva.”

“Excessive vulvar hygiene can cause the vaginal flora to be altered, because the bacteria that are at the entrance of the vagina are also lost. One of the big myths is that you have to wash a lot: once a day is enough,” says Fernández. “The ideal step-by-step for washing the vulva is to do it once a day with an intimate gel, preferably one suitable to the woman’s age, and then to apply a moisturizing cream, especially for women who are waxed. It is also important to use cotton panties and avoid panty liners, because they alter the vaginal flora,” she tells EL PAÍS.

It’s no secret that vulvar cleansing has traditionally been subject to a host of hygienic myths. Dr. Marta Sánchez-Dehesa, director of HM IMI Toledo and head of its gynecological team, goes over a few. “Douching is not necessary and can interfere with the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina, which increases the risk of infection. Perfumed vaginal cleansers should be avoided, as they can irritate the skin and alter the natural pH of the vagina, increasing risk of infection. A common myth is the belief that you have to clean the inside of the vagina, because it is capable of cleaning itself naturally, so there is no need to clean the inside of the vagina with any product,” she says.

No spas, no quick fixes

As much as Paltrow has profited from the idea that the vulva (she only uses the word vagina, but this is not the time to focus on semantic inaccuracy) requires a lot of expensive and complicated care, experts in the field say it’s simple to have optimal hygiene. “[Paltrow’s vagina steaming] is a controversial procedure and consists of sitting on a chair with a container of hot water and medicinal herbs. The resulting steam is supposed to enter the vagina and uterus, for the purpose of cleansing. This technique is not backed by solid scientific evidence, and may even present risks of burns, irritation or imbalances in the vaginal flora,” says Dr. Marta Sánchez-Dehesa.

Dr. Bárbara Fernández del Bas, a specialist in gynecology and longevity medicine at Longevity Hub by Clinique la Prairie Madrid, points out that female genitalia has a very specific pH that is easily altered, which can cause changes to the vaginal microbiota and generate infections. “That is why I suggest to my patients to avoid any type of vaginal douching, and if they have any discharge with different characteristics or quantity than usual, or if they experience any symptoms like burning and/or itching, they should see their gynecologist as soon as possible and try not to self-treat. Often, for scheduling reasons, we go to the pharmacy for a quick remedy, and we treat ourselves with something that is not specific to our situation, like when we buy an antifungal medicine when in fact, what we have is bacterial vaginosis. If we have any symptoms, it is better to start with an oral or vaginal probiotic before using a drug,” she says.

We’ve covered anti-scientific Hollywood recommendations and common myths surrounding intimate cleansing, but we mustn’t forget another subject: sex. Fernández stresses the importance of urinating after intercourse, so that bacteria we may have come into contact with during sex doesn’t cause infection. “Urine works to wash the urethra, and ejects bacteria. It is important to always urinate and, if there are any problems with fungus or infections as a result of intercourse, we also recommend washing the vulva with an intimate gel; preferably a foam, which is pleasant to the touch,” she explains.

After having addressed Paltrow, we’ve got to also namecheck Cameron Diaz, who gives advice in her Body Book on embracing a healthier and happier life. She devotes an entire chapter called “In praise of pubes” to defending pubic hair, and railing against Brazilian waxes. In fact, gynecologists are in agreement with her stance, and point out that the purpose of public hair is to protect the area from chafing and infection. “From a physiological point of view, hair protects the genital area, so I recommend avoiding total depilation, leaving at least one or two centimeters of hair as protection,” says Fernández del Bas, who adds that in the absence of hair, it is especially necessary to wash the vulva with an intimate gel. “The hair issue is a question of fashion: it has not been proven that there is an increased risk of infection. However, what is true is that hair insulates from friction, and skin is more exposed when it is not there. In the same way that a person with shaved hair on their head will have to moisturize their scalp, we need to use an intimate gel and moisturizing cream on the vulva, especially in these cases,” says Fernández.

We’d like to conclude with the amusing words of gynecologist Marimer Pérez, who assigned to one of her didactic videos the glorious title “La vagina funciona como un horno pirolítico: se limpia sola” (“The vagina works like a pyrolytic oven: it cleans itself”). It tells a simple truth: it’s simple to take appropriate care of the vagina and vulva to avoid problems, care for their flora and maintain them in good health.

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