"Soap or No Soap? The Truth About Washing Your Vulva"

 

In an earlier post https://adebisitemitayo.blogspot.com/2025/02/ladies-get-in-here.html, I took you through the structure of the vulva and functions of the vulva.

Today, I will be making my input on the long standing debate of using feminine products or not. Before then, I will be giving a brief description of the vagina.

The vagina

The vagina is that link between the female genitalia on the outside and the womb inside. It is made up of elastic but muscular tube that extends from the vagina opening on the outside, to the womb (uterus) on the inside.

Functions of the vagina

The vagina performs three (3) major functions:

1. It allows passage of the penis during sexual intercourse

2.   It allows the exit of the menstrual blood during menstruation

3.   It serves as an exit for the baby during delivery

How to maintain vagina hygiene

Just like you eat and drink all sort of food with various smell and taste without ever thinking of washing your intestine, you should also leave the vagina alone. This is because these parts have been equipped with the materials (micro-organisms) necessary to keep them clean. Washing the vagina in fact, can lead to more health problems because you will remove and/or disrupt the balance that helps to maintain its hygiene in the process. 

The implication of this is that you become prone to yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and all sorts of irritation. Therefore, what you can be concerned about is the vulva.

How to maintain vulva hygiene

1.   Spread you legs apart and wash with water and mild soap. Mild because you don’t not want to cause an irritation in the process: just you would do for the skin. You might want to know what makes a soap mild: a mild soap is that which is unscented and colourless

2.   Wash from front to back and pay attention to the folds. This means that you should always start washing from the vulva.

3.   You can use a wash cloth. However, your palm suffices.

4.   Remember to include the area between the vagina opening and the anus as well as the anus

The place of feminine wash, sprays and pads

There are a range of feminine products that are said to reduce odour and clean the vagina in many stores. However, these are not necessary as the vagina is made to have its distinct odour which is not unpleasant and should not cause you to worry.  If you must buy one of these products, ensure you pay attention to the ingredients to be sure its not going to be harsh on the vulva. THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

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