Soaping your bits (TMI)

[Pachonga]

So I’ve had a stubborn bout of thrush recently (brought on by a sugary lube ) and found it tricky to shift (can’t use pessaries or soothing creams) so I read every yeast-related thread on Mumsnet and a recurring suggestion was not to use soap on your a vulva at all. Now I’ve never used soap inside my vagina but have always given the flaps and everything external a good soap up daily. However, as I was so sore and so sensitive, I decided to give it a go and after a few days, the area actually feels loads better. But I do have a few questions:

Is warm water really enough on it’s own? Am I getting rid of any sweat/normal discharge just by rinsing?

I still wash my outer pube area and the inner tops of my thighs, bum crack (sorry) and external part of the bum hole (even sorrier) with soap. Is this ok?

Can confirm there is absolutely no smell coming from that area and it does feel a lot less sore so I’m going to continue. I just want to hear from people that know that I’m not storing up problems for the future.

Thanks in advance

I’ve always used plain, unscented soap to wash my front and back bits otherwise i just don’t feel clean. I’ve never suffered any issues. I tried the water only method once when I read about it on here, it didn’t work for me but we’re all different. Do whatever works for you.

Soap where hair grows (plus bum obv). However I’m led to believe I have more hair than most women these days, I remove/trim very little.

Thanks everyone!

I’ve always known not to wash your actual vag but have always used soap on the vulva etc. I’m in peri now so have to start looking at things differently, I guess

I can't imagine just using water. I honestly can't.

Only ever used water, no smells, femfresh is a total con as others have said.

No need for soap, or any of those 'feminine hygiene' bollox, nature's own water ;)

I use soap/shower gel all over the vulval area and I haven't had thrush in years.

We're all different though, I know I wouldn't feel clean with just water, I need a lather to feel properly fresh down there.

Also, not to be tmi but I couldn't imagine a post sex clean up using just water

A gynecologist advised me just to use water 20 years ago and that's what I've done ever since with no issues

I wash the outside, it smells if I don’t. Then plain water on the inside. I wash my bum with soap to remove the pile cream etc, it doesn’t wash off with just water.

@Maskless

I just googled it and its called

"Femfresh Intimate Hygiene Daily Intimate Wash"

I will spend money on this when they start marketing penis wash at men.

sanex zero works great and never had issues. definitely couldn't not use soap.. and tmi too but I find it very unpleasant to be orally intimate with someone who doesn't use soap. vulvas definitely do not self clean in the creases!. although that may not bother some people if they don't do it..

@whereisthekey

sanex zero works great and never had issues. definitely couldn't not use soap.. and tmi too but I find it very unpleasant to be orally intimate with someone who doesn't use soap. vulvas definitely do not self clean in the creases!. although that may not bother some people if they don't do it..

The creases are where the yeasty discharge gathered and made me so sore so this is definitely a concern, thanks

I only use water now. I used to use shower gel, then plain Unscented soap like Simple. I had to stop using that too eventually. I can’t use any scented soap or bubble bath or any sort of soap in a bath. I use olive oil unscented soap to wash my body and water for the intimate bits.

@Summerfun54321

Soap on hairy areas only.

This is perfect!! Yep that's my rule too. have always given the flaps and everything external a good soap up daily this made me wince, totally unnecessary

In the shower

@Maskless

I just googled it and its called

"Femfresh Intimate Hygiene Daily Intimate Wash"

Yeah, no, don't use that, if you want to wash, use a sensitive wash.

sanex zero works great

I've only ever used sanex zero and I'm late 40s. No irritation

I will spend money on this when they start marketing penis wash at men

There's something for balls...

Here

I use aqueous cream in that area (and round bum) which leaves me clean but not irritated. I tried using nothing but ended up with accumulated waxy discharge round the flaps.

I'm a recent convert to femfresh wash. It allows a good scrubbing. A swoosh with water isn't going to cut it for me. I get that people don't like the marketing of such products, but I like it.

If you use water only you shouldn’t smell down there.
It’s using things like soap that creates the smell as it messes with the pH balance.

This is how you get bacterial vaginosis/thrush/yeast infections.

I don’t out soap directly onto it but as I wash my bum crack and outside some is bound to go in but I try and wash it off as quickly as possible.

I was under the care of a joint consultant clinic of gynaecologist & dermatologist who prescribed aqueous cream for washing, but told me it was cheaper to buy over the counter which I did instead.

water doesn't wash away smegma ..which smells. same as it doesn't when's its collecting under a guys foreskin not envy.

I find vagisil intimate PH wash on all areas down there does the job nicely.