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?

[MaBaya]

Its different for men.

[MaBaya]

BOAK at fem fresh too

[HiggsBoson]

Women produce smegma as well though.

As a soap user I would def experience a whiffy vulva if I just swished with water next time I showered.

Are we saying that it is the soap use itself that causes the smell?

In which case I may experiment with soap free showering for a few days.

[Cartoonjane]

Agree I smell if I do use soap. Water only all over. Even the mildest shower gel gives me eczema. I occasionally wash my feet with shower gel and always regret it.

[TheDetective]

I would urge anyone using soap or other products down below to try just water for a couple of days, and see! You won't smell, seriously!

I shower every morning, so everything is clean at the start of the day!

[MyelinSheath]

Water water everywhere except for head and pits.

[CunningPlan]

Another water washer here. I was always told by my mother to never put soap there because it would sting. As I've never tried it, I've no idea if she's right, but I have an aversion to the idea.

Good swish round is all that's required.

[Mintyy]

Alright, I can tolerate people not washing their vulvas with anything other than water.

But ... feet? bums?

Why on earth wouldn't you?

[ScarahScreams]

I must admit to being that some Women don't use anything other than water to wash their vulvas. But each to their own. In terms of sex life, to be blatantly graphic, could you seriously give someone a blow-job that hadn't washed their dick?

I use a very plain unscented soap or baby wash, DDs aqueous cream. I have never had thrush or soreness - it feels and smells lovely and clean and fresh. I could engage in sexual activity if I didn't do this tbh.

[AuntieMaggie]

YOU NEED TO WASH YOUR BUM WITH SOAP!!!

Sorry but water alone does not get rid of traces of poo from your bum - its too fatty/oily!

Dr Christian did a test on some volunteers (I think it was a rugby team) who used shower gel and even the traces they were left with was enough to give you nightmares!

[Sparklingbrook]

I use Andrex Washlets after having a poo. Squeaky clean here.

[Quadrangle]

I use shower gel and will continue unless i suddenly start getting thrush or something. Haven't until now.

[IWipeArses]

Well, each to their own, iyho, but 'it isn't hard' = 'you can't be bothered' in my judgey experience.

[PogoBob]

Another one who uses bodywash - can't imagine washing anything that has hair on it with water only. Doesn't help that I am pregnant at the moment so more prone to 'glowing' (as my nan wouldn't put it) and don't feel clean with just water.

Only use a little bit of bodywash though so nothing ventures inside IYSWIM!

[Mooq]

I always use soap everywhere and I have never had thrush.

I use bodywash inside 5 year old DD's vulva - should I not? It's baby body wash.

[MaBaya]

I would never use soap on my daughter.

I repeat - boys bits are different. Ask a doctor. They are not as prone to infection, UTIs etc and boys do not get BV. They can have a good soap wash happily. Females really shouldnt. But hey...its been said. I'll get off my soap box now

[Mooq]

So (possibly TMI) I should just use water on her (DD), but I still have to sort of wipe around the labia with my finger, otherwise it wouldn't be clean, would it? There are always some tiny bits of something in there! I wonder when she should do this all herself?

[IWipeArses]

I was taught to wash the outside. I clean inside DDs vulva when changing nappy as she's 1, so get's poo everywhere still. A good rinse with water should get any bits of loo roll out of a 5 year olds. Probably do that herself around now too.

[Elibean]

Cold water wouldn't do it for me, but warm/hot water is fine - I only ever use soapy things on the outside bits. And no smell, ever.

Did I really just type that?!

[SuiGeneris]

Warm water only, but probably more often than average as we have a showerhead attached to the loo and can (and do) use the shower when necessary/possible instead of loo paper.

Since we are on the subject, do people without bidets or an arrangement similar to ours really wash those parts only once a day in the shower/bath? Even when having a period or after having a baby?

[MimsyBorogroves]

Since having given birth I can't use soap without getting itchy/sore/thrushy. Soap and Glory products are the worst.

Just water/aqueous cream here.

[LeFreak]

I use soap or shower gel.
The only time I ever get thrush or anything else is when I take antibiotics. Or the one time I shaved all my pubes off

[TheDetective]

I don't get Thrush when on antibiotics.

But then I just use water, so my natural flora must be doing its job

Sorry, that sounds a little smug! (I have had Thrush btw, after a colposcopy grrrr!)

[out2lunch]

never had any infections or anything but after i read one of these threads before i tried the water only thing - fine for a day but after that there was a def smell and i had to go back to shower gel/soap
i am sure water works for some but not for me

[MakeHayNotStraw]

I am another water-only on everything except pits (and around humongous breastfeeding norks) and I am a juicy lady I don't smell, and it was a revelation to realise that soap=thrush (for me, anyway). Definitely no to scented panty liners and loo-roll (in fact I now use cloth liners and cloth loo wipes....).