When your gynecologist says to only wash with water

[instantfamily]

When I've had bacterial infections or thrush more than one gyn has told me to wash my fanjo with water only and not to use any soap "because it upsets the ph/destroys the vaginal flora" etc.

I was too slow stunned to ask: are they talking about the vulva or the vagina?? I would never douche or wash inside with anything, but how can you keep your vulva clean with water only? I mean how can the vulva "self-clean" sperm, blood, discharge?

I've recently started using water only to wash my bits, and haven't noticed a smell. I use soap on my arse though!

I used to get thrush. I started using lactacyd wash which did the trick. But mostly just water.

some people can get away with soap, others can't. I can sometimes. if you really want to use something aqueous cream is good. If you have a hand shower you can sort of direct it for a really good rinsing (obviously not in an upwards direction). Actually if you aim it right it can be quite good fun.

That'll make me forget about any smell paranoia, bonzo !

Body wash from the neck down to my toes! Every single area is thoroughly cleaned. I have heard the "water only" theory but I cannot see how it would work. I wouldn't feel clean without having a good scrub.

Water only here. Clean cotton knickers and no smell ever.

I personally find it odd how many people admit to scrubbing their fannies with soap. If I did that even once I'd be itching for weeks.

Another vote for water only. The thought od anything else makes me .

What do you clean your mouth with?

You might use toothpaste on your teeth and a quick rinse with mouthwash but do you get a flanel and soap and wash the inside of your mouth and inside your nose?

Structurally the tissue of your mouth and vagina are very similar.

And no scented loo roll-that is bad news for your bits. Aloe Vera, Shea Butter=Festival of Thrush.

Yes water only here too. And for the rest I use that soap free Zero shower gel. Very allergic to soap me. And Aloe Vera

Just to be really confusing, I was my vag area with raw, organic honey. Nothing goes near my bits which I wouldn't be happy to put in my mouth

I'm a bit of a hippie though.

no chance. Just water leaves me feeling dirty.

graphic on a tuesday morning.

I use shower gel on a loofah on the outside bits. If it's got hair on it - it's getting a soapy scrub and I don't care what anyone says! The inside bits, those which never grow hair, get a scrub with a rinsed loofah and nothing at all ever goes inside the vagina*. that is the self cleaning bit. Not the mons and majora .

*which is a whole other thread...

A loofa? On your Fanjo?

Yes. A good scrub on the outside bits and a gentle rub, erm, through (the minora). But never inside. That's the bit that'll give you problems, if you stick some soap on a bottle washer and try to scrub your cervix.

To echo sashh: A loofah on your fanjo . Why??

you do know they're not hard and scratchy when they're wet, don't you?

I'm not scrubbing myself with a cactus

If you shower with shower the gel, it runs off your body and into all the 'cracks' on the way down anyway.

Yes, sassh, i don't put soap in my mouth but I would clean my chin with soap or some kind of detergent if I had dried blood, urine or similar on it - all unlikely to be on my chin, I hasten to add.

Also, my Fanjo is slightly hairier than my chin but only just so I feel that more "dirt" is likely to get tangled up.

I don't even get flannels, so the loofah doesn't sound like something I would try either, though.

Hecate I did know but had forgotten. It sounded like the personal hygeine equivalent of a hair shirt at first!

Well I am hairless down there but I wash everything top to toe with shower gel... couldn't bear not to !!

One of the main causes of bacterial vaginosis / thrush etc is using soaps creams etc on the area .

Water only here too

Oh and no smell either - OH is amazed that I never smell of anything ever .
I obviously use shower gel / soap everywhere else though . Oh and I shave .

My best friend who used soap for years down there was always getting infections . When I told her to just use water the infections stopped .

Funny in a way soap makes you smell because you end up with horrible smelly infections!!

Ooh scented loo roll

OH gets a severe telling off whenever he buys it( he doesn't now) .

Just one wipe and I've got thrush!

had to google hair shirt