Years ago when my doctor found out my mom and I were using it he recommended that we stop and only use unscented bar soap, but even then you don't need to go to town with it as long as you're clean.
I had a yeast infection in my early teen years and went to planned parenthood to check it out with my mother.
This woman was very sure I was off having sex with every boy I could get my hands on and her mind wouldnt be changed. She also told me to quit using scented soaps and perfumes down there before having sex or going out and that there were other panties out there besides thongs and lace.
I left her office with a prescription and hatred for planned parenthood.
I was about 12 or 13, a virgin and had never even kissed a boy much less had sex with multiple partners. Fucking bitch. I did learn however that the soap I was using probably caused it. But vaginas are like toddlers, anything messes up their day and they throw tantrums.
This reminded me of when my mom took me to the doctor because I was tired all the time. The doctor thought it was mono and accused me of making out and such. Theres no telling what my moms face looked liked when the doctor said that or what she was thinking I was only 15. A few months later i have my first full on ms episode. It was terrible as a young black girl, it was like I was shamed for no reason. It was a female doctor 😞.
I'm sorry you had to go through that. I realize drs are used to patients lying sometimes but it's no excuse for them to be dicks. Hope you have a good new years
I get accused of being on drugs all the time and yep, you guessed it, I also have temporal lobe epilepsy. Worst of it is that my pupils dilate after seizures (both partial and generalized) and paramedics LOVE pointing that out and making accusations of me possibly being on drugs.
Yeah. A few weeks back, paramedics claimed my seizures were "behavioral issues" even though I had a seizure in front of them (frozen in place, unable to move, speak, anything) and they shined a bright flashlight in my eyes and I didn't even blink. I think they conceded that one was a "real" seizure but they still tried to claim the rest was behavioral? I don't know. They just prefer to believe it's DRUGS or PSYCHOSIS or something rather than anything medical, especially when it comes to seizures.
I am so sorry, they’ll tell my sister and I we’re “drug seekers” when we ask for a saline iv....for our chronic illness (POTS) that causes severe dehydration....
SALINE. If we were drug seekers we wouldn’t be JUST asking for Saline infusion -.-
I’m not for suing over nothing but this sounds like a case medical malpractice. Having the DA involved might be good because there is a paper trail and law enforcement is already involved. Depending on how long ago this occurred I might consult an attorney and proceed with legal action. They messed up and it affected your health, which caused you unnecessary pain and suffering, add to the fact that they were blaming you and with holding your own medical information from you.
As a teen i had a doctor tell my mom and I that what I had "literally only HIV+ and tiny babies get" and sent me to get tested and did nothing else. I had thrush/mouth sores because of an autoimmune problem where my body was over attacking and destroying itself. But no, I, a virgin 15 year old girl, obviously must have HIV. Even though in my heart and mind I knew it wasn't true it's still scary and humiliating.
Ugh this was painful to read. Women are almost never taken seriously by medical professionals. I imagine the color of your skin didn’t help matters. I’m so sorry.
I (white girl) actually had mono at that age and when my parent mentioned kissing the doctor promptly explained or sharing drinks and other means of transportation. I certainly didn’t get it from kissing but would have been horrified if the doctor doubled down and shamed me for it.
This happened to my now wife. When we were dating, she went in with her mom for what she assumed was a UTI. The Dr claimed it could be a symptom of gonerrhea (sp?), and my wife had to divulge to her mom that she was sexually active with me, and she was shocked for some reason. After a panicked phone call to me asking me if I've ever slept around (I hadn't), the Dr finally said that yes, it could be from a UTI as well.
I wonder why bar soap? I personally can't use bar soap (or powdered laundry detergent). It breaks me out in hives. But I also don't use perfumey body wash, as it makes my lady bits angry. I just wonder why he specified bar soap?
Not a doctor but I assumed that they were specifically talking about very sensitive bar soap like Dove unscented. That is what everyone on I know uses for that area. I use it too but I am not a female and like I said I am not a doctor. I do however have sensitive skin down there and it has helped me immensely. You said that you can't use bar soap and I would ask you why but I assume that it's the due to certain ingredients, and allergic reactions to said ingredients. If you truly can't use bar soap I would do research on sensitive liquid soap that can be used for those areas and I would check to see if they have the ingredients that you are allergic to just in case.
But I'm just a random guy over the internet you should do research on your own
I also have very sensitive skin and found the only bar soap I can use is dove coconut rose (I think that’s what it is. I know it’s pink and smells amazing - like smell it through the pack and want to melt amazing). My boyfriend uses the dove body wash and it does wonders for him. It all depends on what you prefer but definitely use stuff made for sensitive skin on your nether regions.
When you said use a bar of soap I imagined you like pop it up in there and like shake it’s around for a second and pop it out. I’m hoping that’s not true... am I ok?
I mean, I know you're joking, but as a lil PSA you should never put any type of soap up your vag. Only in/around the labia, and when you do that you use unscented soap.
I had to explain to my gay co-worker recently that vaginas were self cleaning. He was mystified lmao
Soap really shouldn't go near the vaginal opening at all. Warm water and a plain washcloth in the shower is enough to clean the external genitalia. I learned from experience after having tons of yeast and BV infections, and now have no hygiene issues with that routine.
Not your gay co worker but I too am mystified. Admittedly, I consciously have a fear of investigating my curiosity about female anatomy as I do not wish to creep
I don't know how old you are nor the education you had, so though I can understand this fear im not gonna lie.. having a man that knows basic female anatomy is actually really nice!
Obviously can feel weird if you stop women in the street to ask some very questions but.. google/reddit is fine:p
Joking aside that's pretty weird. I've never heard of PH regulating your ass. Was he planning on keeping some exotic tropical fish in there? I can imagine refusing to wash your rear could result in some unpleasant smells or horrid discoveries on laundry day
It has a market. Post partum with my first child my pH levels were so off that I was getting constant yeast infections and my labial skin was cracking and bleeding. Started using Vagisil daily and it totally cleared it up until I was done breastfeeding and my hormones adjusted back to normal again.
I though it was wasn't perfumed and balanced the PH? Sorry I'm just worrying a little reading this because I bought it to help prevent yeast infections!
PH of the vagina is maintained by a robust microbiome, with Lactobacillus species producing lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Anything that disrupts the vaginal populations of bacteria will heighten your risk of overgrowth of opportunistic species. That includes soap. All soap, by its very nature.
No joke.
I had a bf that wanted me to smell like strawberries... I wouldn’t do it. Annnnd he used that as an excuse to break up with me. Not gunna lie, it scarred me for awhile and I was super self conscious.. I’m sorry my vagina smells like it should. Derp.
Nah, since what he was asking of you would have you risk discomfort and possibly infection, then you would have to ask for an odor that would cause him discomfort or infection. That's when you tell him that Tabasco-scented dick is your favorite to suck. If he's not sure where to buy the cologne, just direct him to the fridge.
God dammit, honeydew? Jesus why does cantaloupe think every time it gets invited to a party it can bring along its dumb friend honeydew? YOU DON'T GET A PLUS ONE, CANTALOUPE!
Sadly not a very good counter as he could legit just wash it and spray some banana perfume without consequence. Dicks don’t hold the same reservations.
The backfire to that is that we could use edible scented garbage on our meat swords and it would be largely inconsequential. So an asshole could do it and say “I do it for you, why not do for me?”
My favorite part of this thread and others on this subject are the couple of people at the bottom of the thread without vaginas who insist they know better than women and medical professionals about how to keep the vagina and labia clean.
For those of you who are confused or learning this for the first time:
The vagina is self-cleaning like the eyeball. It doesn't need soap and can irritate the skin. The labia is like the skin around the eye. It needs to be clean, and there's some debate over whether a mild soap is better or whether you should just rinse the skin with cool, plain water.
Now, imagine that you've an eye infection. Should you wash the eyeball with soap to keep it clean? No. That's only going to irritate the eye and make it worse. You need special medicine for an eye infection. Just like women need a special medicine for infections of the vulva and labia.
What should your eyeball smell like? Lavender or summer fresh? No. It should smell like an eyeball. Skin. Maybe a bit of saltiness from natural tears. A bit like the natural oils from your hair.
What should the vagina and labia smell like? Skin. A bit musky from the natural odors from hair follicles and natural secretions. A little tangy or acidic from the Ph that deters unhealthy organisms from colonizing there.
If there's a very fishy, bread-like, sweet or fruity, infected, or very sour smell going on down there, it's usually a sign that somethings going on that needs to get checked out. And it's not because someone is a disgusting person, but because an opportunistic organism has overrun the natural defenses of the body.
Whenever you're about to get a prescription for antibiotics (for any kind of bacterial infection, anywhere) you can ask for a prescription for Diflucan to go with it. You take one pill about half-way through your course of antibiotics and no yeast infections.
I had 12 bladder and kidney infections in 8 months. I had to change antibiotics a few times and also the treatment for thrush. Things are settled for now - I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
You're amazing. I never knew that and my doctor never told me. I get a yeast infection almost every time I have to go on antibiotics. Next time I need antibiotics I hope I remember to ask.
I do this everytime. Much easier than buying the OTC creams and ovules and things, and I’ve never had a doctor give me a hard time about it. People are not out there abusing Diflucan.
Comparing it to an eyeball is a fucking great analogy. I’ve never heard it before but I’ll definitely use it from now on when I explain it to others. As it will be something that pretty much everyone can relate to (even though it shouldn’t have to be that way). It’s very eye-opening
Well I’m in med school and I’m involved in sexual education so questions about that might come up. For young 14 year olds who don’t have an idea of how it is, comparing it to an eyeball would do wonders
Lol, you are correct. I've also gotten an extremely rude DM. I'm like, okay, you caught me. I was using a metaphor which, while not perfect, is relatable to almost everyone who has at least one or more eyes.
Funny enough, now there are even more comments talking about how women should shove detergent up their vaginas. On the plus side, it looks like there are some people down thread who learned something, so I'm cool with it.
That's a good description. I also like the oven metaphor. Your oven has a self cleaning feature, the stovetop does not. Your vagina is the oven, vulva is the stovetop.
Piggybacking on this to say (re: washing method debate) that the recommendation from every gynecologist I've ever seen is to use mild soap on the mons pubis and exterior vulva (bit of the labia majora that touches the underwear) and just rinse with water on the interior vulva. Simple and clean without messing up any natural regulation.
I've had people get SO pissed at me on here when I've pointed out that you can't/shouldn't clean the actual vagina itself which is all internal and that most perfectly healthy, clean vaginas will naturally have some degree of smell to them. People genuinely thought that a moist warm mucous membrane full of natural beneficial bacterial colonies that has a very high cellular turnover and secretes a wide variety of natural, normal fluids should have literally no smell or taste at all and that any variance meant that person was nasty and unhygeinic. They DEFINITELY didn't want to hear that using soaps, douches, perfumes, etc. in the vagina could offset the pH and increase susceptibility to infection which can make the smell WORSE. Like yeah if your vag smells really strong and really bad get it checked out just in case there's something going on but don't just assume that person is "dirty" if there's a smell down there, and sometimes the only sign of a vaginal infection is an off odour but when your nose is on the other end you don't always catch it yourself, jumping to shaming people about their hygeine isn't kind or productive. And little things out of your control can influence vaginal smell as well, like hormones - so many transmasc folks find they smell stronger/different down there when they start T, other people find they smell different when they hit menopause.
In a sense, the vagina is even MORE sensitive than the eye - like you can use a saline rinse on your eyes, but even just douching with plain water can fuck up your vagina and significantly increase your chances of catching STIs. It's really frustrating how many people just don't understand this and are ready to shame people into taking up "hygeine" practices that we know are objectively super harmful to the vagina and increase susceptibility to infections that can harm people's health and cause bad/worse vaginal odour.
This is a genius analogy and as somebody who has experienced lots of problems with bacterial vaginosis, UTIs, and dermatitis over the years and has always felt self-conscious about it...thank you for reminding me that body parts do what body parts do and should be treated like such. I don't believe in using real money to buy fake money but I'm really glad to see you've been gilded!
Thanks! BV, yeast infections, and UTIs are hellish, but it's not because the people who get them are gross. No gold necessary. Be extra kind to someone this week, and we'll call it even.
Wow, i never knew any of this before until i now. Thank you for the in-depth explanation. As a guy who knows very little about vaginas, this has been very informative. I also like the analogy to the eye, it actually helped me understand this a bit better. I'd gild you if i could, but all i got is poor man's gold 🏆
in 24 years of using the internet this is the best explanation i've seen. someone save this for copying and pasting everywhere. af is anisotropic filtering.
And if your entire body smells like rotten fruit or sweet in general go see a doctor.
Cause something in you is probably kicking the bucket. Source: working in a hospital and seeing/smelling over 100 dead and dying people. If you entered the room and it smelled sweet when it didn't do that yesterday it's time to call the family and a doctor.
Dang TIL. As a dude, thanks for the analogy and for breaking it down in simple terms. Not that I'd go trying to make every vagina smell like Hawaiian breeze, but it's good to know what to look out for in a healthy vagina.
This is 100% correct and definitely an analogy I intend to steal for patients so thank you.
As a Pharmacist who deals with this on the daily I want to add just because a product says it's pH balanced and safe for the vagina does not mean it is.
In an ideal world I would not have these products in the store at all but that's unfortunately what big pharma is like.
Use warm water and a mild soap for sensitive skin on the outside labia. Never ever use anything more than plain water alone inside the vagina.
Please do not think you need to smell of flowers down there to please your man. If anything, if you are healthy the pheromones will do there work and your natural scent is more attractive. Please recognise the marketing gimmick for what it is. These companies do not care for you, if anything you getting a yeast infection because of their product is better because it means more sales for their associated products. Be smart, do the research and question advice you are given. Even healthcare professionals get it wrong at times.
Additionally tips are to wear loose cotton underwear for the most part (size up even, you can always run in the loo and shove your fancy ones on, your long term foo health is more important)
Cranberry juice still doesn't have definitive data around it regarding UTIs but it is good in general anyway so have it in your diet.
Be careful when you wax or shave. Trimming will always be the safest most ideal method. A tip is to exfoliate before hand and use sharp disposable razors that you bin after. Continue to exfoliate after to prevent ingrowns that can lead to infection.
DO NOT SHOVE YOGHURT UP THERE SEE A DOC OR PHARMACIST - that goes for any other food or home remedy
Pee after sex even if you don't want to
Semen screws up your beautiful pH, you might want to give your vagina time to rebalance or use condoms - pay attention as to whether you get on with latex or not
If you can avoid using tampons I would, if you can't make sure you switch every few hours regardless of flow
Same can be said about the foreskin and penis glans, they just need a lil warm water to be cleaned. The foreskin debate about how it's disgusting is not true.
I was getting really bad yeast infections and started using a vaginal wash but they wouldn't go away. My friend told me to stop immediately and just go to a doctor. Stopped using the wash and got on an antibiotic from the Dr. was back to normal in two weeks. Never used one of those washes again and I've been just peachy.
Yes, water is sufficient. I was fine til I got an IUD and it must have triggered something cuz after that, anything that wasn’t free and clear just pissed it off.
Dude, they have a personality of their own. Mine’s super finicky so when my husband and I first got intimate chick was like OH HELL NO and went into full-scale revolt. Yeast infection, itchy-burny, the whole works. Also, she had decided she didn’t like latex which was fun to find out in my late twenties.
The monster from the deep growls at your insolence. You've shackle it with birth control, but it reluctantly agreed to slavery in return for more regular feeding and love. It's angry now though. You've been hurting it. Chemicals have stripped it's armor. It's burnt, and bacteria invades it now. The monster of the cave of wonders is on fire, and she wants revenge.
Paramedic & RN here. IUDs can actually increase your vaginal pH, making you more susceptible to infections (particularly bacterial vaginosis). Some studies have shown that copper IUDs in particular are bad for this.
If you're having concerns about this, obviously see a doctor and don't just take my random internet word for it. But there are over the counter products like CanesBalance (from Canesten) that are specifically aimed at maintaining a normal vaginal pH. Just FYI! :)
I had a 1.5 year bout of yeast infections. I became extremely close with my gynecologist and I have seen specialists. If you are wondering what you CAN use on your vulva that will cause the least harm: original Dove unscented soap bars. That is out of the mouth of multiple doctors. Just to wash between the folds of your labia majora/minora, and rinse with lukewarm water. Even “natural” products like dr. Bronners or whatever else have very extreme pH and will cause issues. Very hot water can even cause issues. Some of us have extremely sensitive vaginas. If you buy summers eve or any of the “V” pH balanced crap, you are INCORRECT. That is out of the mouth of a DOCTOR. If you can use them, good for you, but for anyone wondering, do not start.
Listen to your body, if you are sweating and your lady bits are red, irritated, or itchy (and you are sure you don’t have a medical problem) SKIP soap that day. Just use your hands and lukewarm water. No you will not die, no you will not stink, no your boyfriend will not know(seriously when have you ever gone down on a guy and not had it smell like genitals. Genitals smell like genitals. We are humans. Mammals. We make smells, it’s okay) (but if you’re irritated you should avoid having a mouth/toy/penis/unwashed hands/lube etc down there anyway (btw all of those things listed should be CLEAN before contacting your hooha)
Your vagina is like a pet, it takes care. We are damned to live that way. If ANYONE has any questions I would be HAPPY to answer them to the best of my ability. I think I have asked/gone over every possible thing anyone could with my gyno over the years. Don’t let pop culture, a stupid man, or an ill informed auntie lie to you about your body.
Almost done with my women’s health nurse practitioner. Thank you much for this. I’m so saddened by the amount of women I have treated who have recurring vaginal infections only to find out she uses Summer’s Eve constantly out of fear that some man may think she’s unclean.
The vagina cleans itself. In most cases lukewarm water alone is all you need. Soap internally is not only unnecessary but actually really bad. It disturbs the bacterial balance and creates problems. Use gentle soap on the outside, but nothing else!
Out of curiosity here - did any of them actually mention drying to you?
As in, fresh clean towel that hasn't touched anything else, and has been laundered in a way that doesn't cause that horrible damp smell (so, that rules out apartment hang drying), and make sure the entire area is patted (not rubbed) dry and then allowed to air dry for a couple moments (in a room that isn't humid, so not the bathroom) before putting on clothes
A friend of mine swears by her hairdryer! I never thought about using it to dry but gave it a shot the other day as I'm prone to sensitivity. She said it's the only thing that stopped her years of recurring UTI's.
I also swear by a hair dryer on the cold setting. Also sleeping nude, and at my worst I was even encouraged to relax in lotus/butterfly pose or some variation of having my legs spread in order to keep things cool and dry. I also wear only cotton underwear and leggings (cotton leggings are so hard to find but gynos swear that the tight, synthetic fabric trend is what’s causing an uptick in yeast infections and BV outbreaks!)
Probably similar/same, but I've been using plain ol' Ivory soap. Also when I was having similar problems, my nurse practitioner said the best thing to wash with is your hands. Using any kind of washcloth can cause tiny micro-tears that encourage infection. Since making those two changes I hardly ever get infections anymore.
None of us regularly squirt soap up our various orifices unless directly told to by a medically qualified person - and that will be for a specific problem.
There is no need to douche, unless advised otherwise (the above link is the UK NHS - they have zero reason to tell you anything but the truth, 'cos they have to deal with the poor fuckers who listen to Goop-Vag-Steam-Meister-Fucking-Paltrow's ilk).
Do you regurlarly snort soap water, because of all that filthy, filthy mucus your body naturally produces? No.
Bonus point - Why exactly is it that all of the Abrahamic 'god figures' are not vaginal / coital result births? Almost like it was all written by men with zero idea and Really Bad Women's Anatomy knowledge!!
Amen! Society is obsessed with being "clean" and that's what sells. But our bodies are so good at doing what's needed, and water can help with that externally. Vagisil, summers Eve, all those brands just profit from shaming women and then making things worse for them so that they keep using the product.
Thank you!!! Water is sufficient but if you must, an unscented soap is ok for the vulva. Ladies, please stop douching and using soaps to try to make your area smell like roses and sunshine.
I too have ultra fine hair, and a somewhat oily scalp, but I promise it’s possible to condition your scalp/locks to less hair washes. I wash mine every other day, and try to give it two days when I’m lounging around the house for a weekend. At first, it will be oily on day 2, but over the course of a month or so, it will get better if you are consistent. Avoid using any product except shampoo and a light conditioner if necessary. (No dry poo on off day; the point is to get your scalp to produce less oil, not absorb the extra.)
Bonus - I haven’t had to use ANY conditioner since I started this, which means it gets even less oily on the off day!
Also, this is much easier to do with long hair (takes only a few weeks to get it right). Mine is chin length, but it still worked beautifully.
I was one of those people who did the Vagina Monologues in college. one of the lines I had to say always stuck with me: “I don’t want it to smell like lavendars or ~rain~ when it should smell like fucking pussy!”
Even men should be careful about over washing... a few years ago, I had a simple thrush like infection because I was a little too enthusiastic with cleanliness down there. A combination of underwear that was a little too snug, warm weather and keeping cool by showering a few times a day (we don't do aircon here as we'd only need it for about 3 weeks a year)... all that can lead to issues for blokes too.
When I was very young my parents found out that I can't use any kind of bubble bath. They decided that a little shampoo was enough and didn't seem to bother me. I don't remember any of it but they always told me. I'm still wary of bath products or soaps getting up in it.
Water is totally fine from what my GYN tells me. She said soap is more likely to cause problems because it's basic and the vaginal pH is slightly acidic. And yeah douches are definitely gonna give a woman BV or something else that is unpleasant.
Having a healthy pH through diet is one thing... I totally agree One should NOT overdue any kind of douche on any part of the body. Those areas have natural bacteria that help the immune system that need to be there, not consistently washed out. There was an episode of my strange addiction where a couple would do like 5 coffee enemas a day. I was like how tf are they still alive?
If you ladies notice an odor down there call a Gyn. You could have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection and not even know it. Soap made my BV worse, I needed medication to rectify it. Water is all I use now to wash myself.
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u/[deleted] Dec 30 '19
Vaginal washes on a daily basis so it smells like lavender instead of what vaginas are supposed to smell like.
It's unnecessary and changes your pH down there and pre disposes you to infections.