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'm still chuckling at the idea of washing one's fanjo with a cactus from upthread....!

mooq - she is 5! I haven't washed my dds vulvas since they were in nappies!

and you really shouldn't be washing inside her vulva with anything soapy.

I use soap for underarms and bottom, but don't use any soap elsewhere. The soap I use id dove no scented soaps

My dcs don't always have soapwashes in their bath, and I don't wash them with soap. they wash hands with soap, no-where else unless they are muddy/ painty and it won't come off with water. Do use E45 junior soapwash in the bath about once a week.

Don't shampoo their hair much either. You skin and hair don't actually need much soap/shampoo

yoghurt

it is pro biotic it will help you.

wash with yoghurt.

If you really can't bring yourself to only use water, you can use aqueous cream instead if soap.

I only use water down there and I don't smell. I give myself a good rinse with the shower head and that is more than sufficient!

just read that back, i mean I haven't washed them myself, they do it (sounded as if they hadn't had a bath since potty training

I never use soap or shower gel anywhere! It dries my already dry skin out. So I run a warm bath, soak for 30 mins, then get out. And I don't stink. Am I missing something? Do you all scrub like maniacs everyday?

My gyno told me to use only water (best), or aqueous cream (you can get from pharmacies cheap) or Simple brand soap if really really needed. NOTHING else.

Have followed this for 10 years and never smell (as far as I know!)

I use normal perfumed soap / gel for my pits and feet though, and face cleaner stuff for ze face.

Bill, do you just water wash your hair and face too?

"I don't get Thrush when on antibiotics... But then I just use water, so my natural flora must be doing its job"

If you take a strong enough antibiotic long enough, you will get thrush. That is because ABs will kill your treasured flora regardless of what you wash your fanjo with.

Now I know why so many people smell so awful

Re "I don't smell" - Of course you do. It is impossible for an adult mammal with normal hormones not to smell.

Those of us who take daily showers with soap or shower gel can tell when we start to smell, but you always smell the same so don't notice your body odor anymore. Like smokers who can't smell the stale smoke on themselves.

Exactly, Bonsoir.

Regular supermarket shower gel is not appropriate for washing your genitals (in the same way that it is not appropriate for washing your hair or your face). Buy some good quality ph neutal soap or gel but please wash your genitals with a product designed to remove odours, bacteria and dried on urine and faeces

Any kind of soap on my fanjo results in stinging, stinging wees, so I'll carry on using just water, thanks. Hard as it is for some people to believe, I do not smell. I can assure you, DP would not go down on me if I did.

Some peopleon here are very strange. Not washing your fanny with soap does not affect your ability to recognise smells. I can still tell if my armpits smell for instance. Many people who wash their genitals with detergents will end up with bacterial vaginisis which has a fishy smell. Granted you may not smell for a wee while after you wash as the soap will mask the smell, but you will start to smell when it wears off. Normal vaginal flora does not have an unpleasant smell. The only way to preserve this is NOT to use harsh soaps.

And yes I do use soap on my armpits, but the tissue is completely different there. I do not use soap to wash my face, I use natural oils and my face doesn't stink. I use shampoo to wash my hair, but then again my hair is not living tissue and my scalp is skin that is resilient enough to cope with detergents.

Im sorry but i dont feel clean after just washing with hot water. I use a very mild soap

Read with interest.
I am one who often gets bv etc. I always use femfresh, but after the borth of ds1, the doc told me no soap because of stitches and i swear i could smell myself.
My gp has told me that femfresh is basically the work of the devil and if I must use something other than water, to use aqueous cream, which was fine for a few days but then I'm sure I started to whiff so am back on the femfresh.

Aqueous cream is the work of the devil - it has been proven to be BAD for eczema after all, and therefore probably no good for the genitals, either....
I try not to get any soap near my mucous membranes - after all, I wouldn't want the stuff in my mouth, either... HOWEVER, I think it's pretty disgusting not to use soap or some kind of extra cleaning product on your anus... no wonder so many people leave so many disgusting bugs around public toilets, even if they do wash their hands, if their bottoms are teeming with uncontrolled bacteria... It is NOT just hands that can spread diseases. Given that there is a link between uncircumcised men and cervical cancer as a result of the bacteria and viruses that can thrive inside the foreskin, I think it is only fair for both men and women to make a little bit of effort to lessen the bacterial and viral load around their genitals, even if the mucous membranes at the entrance to the vagina are a different case and better only ever cleaned with water (which bit I do actually agree with).

(or, in the case of cervical cancer in particular, obviously it's the viruses that are the problem... although the bacteria can help cause bacterial vaginosis and other infections....)

ie using harsh cleaning products isn't the only way of getting thrush and bacterial vaginosis...

I wouldn't put anything in my fanjo that I wouldn't put in my mouth. I shower every other day, shower gel on my pits and bum, shampoo on my hair and a good rinse down. On the days I don't shower, I wipe down all over with a clean wet flannel and then soap and rinse my pits and bum. I haven't used soap on my fanjo or face for years. And I don't smell!

Interesting. It reminds me of reading "The Dirt on CLean" and how perceptions of cleanliness differ in cultures and over time.

Sorry but at Bonsoir's face.

Maybe YOU smell awful to others Bonsoir