To not wash the inside of my vagina?

[Secretname123]

First AIBU so please be nice! There is a huge debate going on on twitter where people are horrified that some women wear tampons in the shower (it seems to be the majority of the many women responding to the tweets who are horrified). They claim it’s unsanitary because then you can’t wash inside your vagina. I thought we weren’t supposed to do this? I’m sure I had this drummed into me as a child. I never have and have never had an infection. Have I been doing it wrong all these years?!

@StarlightLady I meant on twitter, sorry if that wasn’t clear. Unless you mean you responded to someone on twitter about it which I didn’t see.

@Jumpingthruhoops I don't think it should be a smell so offensive it needs washing because you can smell it so clearly, that sounds like something bad going on. Sorry to be crass but even using toys there's nothing foul left over afterwards and I imagine that's much more thorough than a showerhead

But the vagina IS self cleaning! You should wash your vulva but you shouldn't be hosing down the vagina... Period blood can smell a bit so you change your pad / tampon / have a vulva wash surely?!

There a difference between a healthy vagina smell and an infected vagina smell. The healthy smell can vary through your cycle and can be quite strong, but it is natural and normal. Knowing what your own healthy vagina smells like should be something every woman should know because then we can tell if something has gone wrong. The big lie is telling women their natural smell is abnormal and offensive and convincing them to douche which actually then causes problems and infections and bad smells.

I think some people not only confuse the terms vagina and vulva, they are confused by the word inside. Inside the vaginal canal, or inside the labial folds?

It’s the only thing that makes some posters posts make sense anyway because otherwise they read like they are written by people with no actual knowledge of the female body.

???

I must've been under my rock that day... Mop the WALLS?!?!?!

@nonumbersinthisname talk about "knowing it all" people have a wash to take smells away. You can smell sweaty (armpit and vagina) doesn't mean infection. Everyone's body differs. I think vaginas do smell if not washed though or you need to wash... I wouldn't assume someone has an infection.

No periods now but of course I wore a tampon in the shower - this did not stop me washing my vulva and I would not have dreamt of washing inside my vagina.

Is some of this idiocy coming from the other side of the pond? I was baffled when I lived in the US by the array of 'douches' available in the drug store, evidently designed for washing out the vagina.

I've a sneaking feeling they may be the products of the same companies who sell remedies for thrush etc.

How do you wash inside your vagina
I don't wash inside my anus

Enough do to make a noticable noise about it online.

you surely wash inside though because there can be a build up... which smells and needs cleaning.

No nothing builds up inside a vagina! It will make its way out on the secretions. If you're got something up there smelling I suggest you make a gp appointment!

2000 years of human civilisation and we're still debating this topic, it's fascinating

I'm surprised people don't rinse blood out. You don't power wash, you hold the shower head downwards and use your hands if necessary. Blood won't immediately drip when you get out if you do this.

This creased me too ! 😂😂😂

Do you wash out your rectum as well? Because if anything is going to smell, its going to be there...
I can also guarantee that your vagina does not sweat... Vulva yes, but vagina, no.

You can give your self bacterial vaginosis with washing it!

never ever use soap or douche!!!

Well the adverts are for toothbrushes and toothpaste…… although I imagine it would be a once in a lifetime experience if tried and worse than the tea tree shower gel 😂 if anyone tries this please post a thread

Well the adverts are for toothbrushes and toothpaste…… although I imagine it would be a once in a lifetime experience if tried and worse than the tea tree shower gel 😂 if anyone tries this please post a thread

In the morning, I’m 40 and I’ve not got any fillings, no issues with my gums and the dentist said I only need a checkup once a year so it works for me!

Definitely confusion on the thread agree with @Blanice. You surely wash inside though because there can be a build up... which smells and needs cleaning.

@Rnaom by “inside” do you mean past the vaginal opening?

Cause the bits I’m washing (with water) are still considered external ie the labia minora and majora. The vulva essentially.

My water pressure is not strong enough for a deep clean!

This made me snort my drink.

These comments probably come from men who don't even bother to wash under their foreskin.

They are utterly clueless about the vagina.

Isn't it funny that even in 2024 vagina's are still regarded as something that is unhygienic yet it appears to still be socially acceptable for men to not clean their arsehole's probably and leave skid marks in their underwear.

😳😳

Downwards ? I don't get how that works then?

😁😆

The vagina has a one way seal, fluid comes out but should not be going in. That is why when you swim or bathe your vagina doesn't fill up with pool water.