To not want nor agree with fucking douching or moisturising MY OWN Vag.

[frogslegs35]

I can't go anywhere nor watch TV without being reminded that I 'Should' be doing one of/both and I'm getting slightly pissed off with this severely outdated information.
Dr's recommend it here Half of pharmacies are taken up with feminine products such as Provag gel - moisturiser for your vagina (WTAF?) and floraVag - to purify your vagina I'm getting leaflets in the mailbox and even got given one on a visit to the cinema ffs!
Final straw today was in the pharmacy - the assistant asked if I'd like to buy some on promotion so I told her I didn't use it and didn't want to cause myself thrush and she looked at me like I'd just told her I ate newborn babies
If my translation of language would have allowed I'd have also informed her that my own Gynaecologist and GP both advise against using anything other than gentle soap on the outside - so thank you very much but my vag is capable of cleaning itself, is clean and hygenic, doesn't smell and I manage perfectly well without FloraVag.
Rant over

[MrsWedgeAntilles]

Good question Skoda, I'm not sure, most of the teaching I've had has focused on the vagina.
I probably wouldn't as the skin is pretty delicate and there's no way of excluding any product from the vagina completely. However, I have no idea of the evidence base to back this up.
I'm going off to speak to some of the big brains and I'll be back at some point.

[fuzzpig]

Late coming back to this but DETTOL?!?

Bad enough as a kid when my mum made me use it for a grazed knee. But using it as a douche, aaaargh

[fuzzpig]

Wait, Valium, what's that about aqueous cream?! (DS has eczema)

[valiumredhead]

Fuzz-yeah not advised now to use it as a moisturiser. It was only every designed as a soap replacement, but I'm not sure they advise it at all now as it can be an irritant. It burns me, ouch!

[squoosh]

fuzzpig here's some info on aqueous cream and eczema.

[MrsWedgeAntilles]

We used to be all about the aqueous cream but now we're only recommending it when the skin is dry and for short periods.
Why are the eczema society not recommending to any more?

[ExcuseTypos]

What are we taking about here? How is anyone able to wash a vagina? Are they squirting something up there

I've always washed my labia/lady garden area with Samex, which doesn't have soap on it. That's ok isn't it?

[valiumredhead]

Wrt dettol,Dh used to put a capful in his bath, his mum always did it when he was growing up. Seemed unnecessary imo.

[ExcuseTypos]

Sanex

[LadyMedea]

OK I'm back with the whole vagina vs vulva/pubic area distinction.

Nothing, not even water goes near my vagina... Its lovely and self cleaning as it is.

My pubic area, particularly my labia majora, thigh/vulva intersection and anus get some action with some unscented shower gel as frankly I'm a sweaty Betty and if I didn't use it I would have a stinky sweaty crotch just like if I didn't use soap on my under arms.

Are you guys seriously saying you just use water on a sweaty crotch?

[TheBigJessie]

I'm still shuddering at fakebook's post.

Dettol in human orifices?! I use dettol products to kill the mould on the walls, and we open the windows very wide indeed because it hurts your lungs otherwise.

[squoosh]

Oh no crotch area, especially thigh crease gets a good soaping.

[Sallystyle]

I only use water.

Still get thrush 1-2 times a month. Mostly the week before my period.

I do use shower gel on my vulva but it goes no wear near my vagina or labia.

[MoominMammasHandbag]

I use just water and I'm not stinky. I would respectfully suggest that use of shower gels can make you stinky down there. The skin on your fanjo is not like the skin under your arms is it? It moisturises and cleans itself, only needs a rinse.

[LadyMedea]

The skin on the outside of your genital area IS the same as on your underarms - it is covered in pubic hair and sweat glands. Mine smells a bit of sweat at the end of the day.

It surely is personal preference whether you use soap or not on this outside area but I can see no medical reason not to... It is not covered in a mucous membrane like your vagina or labia minora and unless you find personally find it unnecessary or irritating there is nowt wrong with it... I wouldn't expect my DH not to wash his nuts....

[MoominMammasHandbag]

No I mean my labia Lady. I use soap on my hairy bits. No soap on anything pink then basically.

[soontobeburns]

I use a ph balance soap and yes shocker a moisturiser which is good during my period when wearing pads.

I wouldn't feel clean just using water and wouldn't use soap due to thrush possibly.

[Kerosene]

Lysol was originally marketed as a douche. An American obstetrician I used to work with mentioned how it was used during labour in the 40s (because a floor cleaner is precisely what you want swished up your bits when you're trying to deliver a baby) as well as a general hygiene product. How do you feel about your intimate daintiness?

In comparison, VagWax becomes just another entry in the "are your armpits pretty enough" school of product barrel-scraping.

[JRmumma]

Skoda your last post made me laugh so hard i woke my baby up!

[LadyMedea]

NHS advice on not washing your vagina but yes to washing your vulva and perineum... The latter being important to prevent thrush!

Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the area around the vagina (the vulva) gently every day. The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge). “During your period, washing more than once a day may be helpful,” says Dr Elneil, who points out that keeping the area between the vagina and anus clean is important too. “Good perineal hygiene is necessary, by washing that area at least once a day using your normal bathing routines.”

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/vagina-health/Pages/keep-vagina-clean.aspx

[MrsWedgeAntilles]

Thanks for that Squoosh, I was a bit worried I'd been recommending that the patients wash themselves in something dreadful but I think our use of it ties in with what the eczema society are saying.

[sashh]

it has nothing to do with deodorising, scenting or douching, but people like to use preset responses to what they imagine you've said

Well considering this entire thread is about deodorising, scenting and douching............

BTW if you got thrush from taking antibiotics how is a wash stopping it? Surely not taking the antibiotics any more is what is stopping it.

[Mintyy]

I like a proper wash. I would also feel unclean if I didn't use something on the general surrounds. It has to be femfresh for me ... the day I use anything else I get horrendous thrush. I ran out of f'fresh on holiday and had thrush within 24 hours.

I do hate it when other Mumsnetters tell you that you must be wrong about something that you actually experience.

[ParvatiTheWitch]

A nice hippy, cheap tip for you all: camomile tea (cooled of course) is a nice, gentle anti-inflammatory rinse for the fanny, especially after shagging. That definitely won't do you any harm and is very soothing on the old bearded clam.

[Minifingers]

Thank you for that MrsWedge.

Now you see - here is a woman who knows a thing or two about vaginas.

As we have an expert on thread, can I ask you a nosy question?

Are pubic lice now only a problem for the hairy over 40's? Have they been wiped out by recent trend for almost total pubic deforestation by the young?