To douche with tea tree oil before a smear test?!

[floraeasy]

Was talking with friends today. I have a smear soon. Just mentioned I was going to pick up some tea-tree oil on the way home. They asked what it was for so I told them I douche before these appointments.

I occasionally do it after sex too. In fact I try not to have sex in the few days leading up to an internal.

They were .

Now I feel weird To me, it's like giving my teeth an extra good brush, flossing, mouthwash before seeing dentist. Just preparing myself, you know?

A lot of women in the US seem to have this as part of their regular routine.

By the way, I've been doing this for a few years now and no gynae problems so far.

Can't imagine discussing douches with friends or administering one to myself.

I have a douching bottle with a squirty applicator (it has holes all along it). It fill it with warm water and just add a drop or two of tea-tree oil.

TT oil is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

As American women douche a lot and all seem to have a personal gynaecologist at their disposal (have you noticed that on forums?) their gynae doctors don't seem to be telling them not to do it.

So I thought I'd do it too. I definitely feel fresher for it.

Ahem....it all started one day after sex when I just couldn't get fresh enough iyswim.... I don't know if the semen was very strong-smelling or what, but I felt much better after the TT oil douche.

So glad this is anon!

Yabu!

Surely the smell of tea tree oil is more overpowering than your natural smell?

Tbh it's more disgusting to shove that up you than to not

I'm 😮😯 too.

Why, oh why, would someone put tea tree oil up there? Why would you even douche? Surely that can tamper with the smear results too.

Bizarre.

what is tea tree oil supposed to achieve?

Presumably to act as a kind of disinfectant, only "natural" so less harmful than TCP or bleach or, y'know, Zoflora

I'm amazed that anyone douches. Don't be afraid of your vagina!

A lot of women in the US seem to have this as part of their regular routine.

The US medical world is heavily Marketed! Lots of people thinking they need to buy X product to be healthy. I certainly wouldn't put anything in my vagina just because some US women do it.

Douching of any sort increases your risk of bacterial vaginosis. Please stop.

TT oil is harsh and an irritant.
You don't know if these women are actually doing it or what their vaginal issues really are but the fact you are all on a vagina forum suggests you do all have issues with your vaginas and therefore should avoid the TT oil! There are plenty of neutral cleaning products on the market

Whatever floats your boat. Why are you asking anyway if it works for you?

But I would never use anything like that down there. Feck the American women that's their issue.

OMG OP!

You will probably give yourself some sort of cancer or illness doing this please stop. Who the fuck DOUCHES these days anyway?! Its a weird old thing that some people may have done back in the day but seriously wtf?! No need and you're probably ruining a perfectly good vag.

That is a very odd thing to do.

FFS, NO!!! Don't douche with tea tree. The bacteria and flora in your vagina are very finely balanced.

Tea tree is really quite strong, and considered toxic if taken orally (not that this is "oral", I know! But I'm giving you an idea of how potent it is).

It also has a tendency to burn if dilution isn't correct, and the tissue in your vagina is very fine and sensitive.

Farking hell!

Bloody hell.

On holiday last week I stuck my Tena in the same drawer as my Olbas oil. I don't recommend it

YABVWeird

I was told years ago you shouldn't douche because it changes the natural bacterial and PH levels in your vag that keeps everything ticking along smoothly.

I see you are all horrified at me! How do flush out after sex? I find it just hangs around and comes down later on after showering iyswim?

The US don't have good healthcare so people self administer things like this to save money on medical fees. If they had free healthcare they wouldn't be doing it IMO

The companies make a lot of money from douche products that have no proven beneficial purpose

Just Googled uses for Tea Tree oil...topical treatment of acne, fungal infections, scabies, lice and ringworm. Can cause skin irritation, avoid mucous membranes or ingestion.

To reduce irritation, it can be diluted with raw honey. It could get rather sticky down there though.

We have pathologised the vagina to the point where it's unnatural. And we pay money to make it acceptable.

Won't the nurse think its a bit odd if your vag smells of tea tree?

Never thought it could cause cancer any more than it could cause cancer on the outside of my body - duly noted though!

My innards feel neither fresh nor stale at any point . Please don't let this be another thread where I find out I'm not like the other women...

Your'e off your head, there is no need to do this and eventually it will cause you problems.

You can do exercises that sort of expel it out. Like doing little pushes. Try that over the toilet.