Deeply clean your private parts to make sure you are really clean? A preconceived and even dangerous idea, as Nadège Billery, author of Soins Intimes, a short guide to women’s health, explains to us.
When we read that 89% of French women say they are well informed about feminine hygiene, we say to ourselves that we can sleep peacefully. Our vaginas are well pampered! And yet, many women unknowingly practice actions that are strongly discouraged, such as douching, which involves cleaning the inside of our sexual organ. “This is a common mistake that can harm our intimate healthreminds us of naturopath Nadège Billery, specialist in women’s health. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ that has a specific microbiota and an acidic pH allowing it to naturally defend itself against infections.
Any internal cleaning, even with water, should therefore be avoided. Because the consequences can be very serious: reduced fertility due to endocrine disruptors, inflammation and irritation due to toxic chemical compounds, risk of infections… And even worse: “Studies have shown that women who douch regularly (around twice a month) have higher levels of chemical compounds in the blood, such as 1,4-dichlorobenzene (+81%), known to be potentially carcinogenic” warns the expert. Another study from 2016 showed an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
We therefore avoid: soap (even “mild”), water, bubble baths (including bath bombs), antiseptics, wipes. Or even the hair dryer! (Yes yes!) And we adopt the right actions: “Wash once a day, only the vulva, pubis and anal region with a fragrance-free cleansing treatment, ideally with a physiological pH”advises the intimate health specialist and trainer. “The vulva is the exterior. And it plays a key role: it is the first line of defense against infections.” Pubic hair is particularly known to be a very effective barrier against microbes and bacteria, removing it therefore contributes to an increased risk of infection.
Instead of wanting to clean, it’s more about taking preventative action: using cotton underwear to avoid perspiration, preferably loose-fitting, and changed every day. Ideally, you should also not wear it at night, “to let the skin breathe and avoid unnecessary maceration”specifies Nadège Billery. Nor should we confuse what is natural and what is dirty. Like the famous “white losses”, for example. “They are not a problem, they are a sign of good functioning and participate in the self-cleaning of our vagina!”. The bad idea in this case: wearing protection all day long, which again will help the microbes to proliferate.
The idea is simple: “The female body is not defective: it is intelligent. It’s when we want to do too well that we unbalance everything”recalls Nadège Billery, who trains health professionals on these issues and runs the YouTube channel “Happiness and Health”. However, certain signals should alert you: strong odors, an unusual color or texture, itching, pain when going to urinate or during intercourse. In this case, you should quickly seek advice.
