The vagina is self-cleaning.
Don't waste your money on unnecessary and potentially harmful products!
There is an entire (multi-million dollar) industry dedicated to vaginal cleaning products. This is frustrating for those of us in science and medicine because these products are not necessary and may actually be harmful.
Special soaps, douches, sprays, pearls, and products to clean or "detox" the vagina are unnecessary-- the vagina is self-cleaning. (We discuss this in detail with Dr. Jen Lincoln on our latest pod episode!) These products can cause irritation, inflammation, and alter vaginal pH.
Vaginal discharge is a clear or whitish fluid that comes out of the vagina. The uterus, cervix, or vagina can produce the fluid. Hormones cause your cervical mucus to change in texture, volume, and color throughout your menstrual cycle.
Normal vaginal discharge serves several purposes: cleaning and moistening the vagina, and helping to prevent and fight infections. It's normal for the color, texture, and amount of vaginal discharge to vary at different times of the month during the menstrual cycle. But some changes in discharge may mean there is a problem (if it comes with itching, burning, odor, or other bothersome symptoms) and signal that it's time to visit the doctor.
So, I don't need to do anything to clean my vagina? You should wash your vulva (external anatomy) with warm water. If you'd like, you can use a mild soap that won't irritate the skin using a clean washcloth or your hands. Avoid getting water or soap inside your vagina.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/.../4719-vaginal-discharge
https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/.../1472-6874...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6244541/
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2016.0187
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/.../how-to-clean-your...
So, how do we differentiate between “normal” and “abnormal” discharge? Let’s discuss!
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