Feminine cleansers come in various forms to meet women’s intimate hygiene needs, including hygienic feminine wash specially formulated for use on the vulva area and protecting it against potential irritation such as soap or scrub products.
Douching should also be avoided as it increases your risk for pelvic inflammatory disease and could even contribute to infertility. A bath with fragrance-free soap and water works just as effectively!
Tampons
Tampons expand women’s choices of menstrual flow management devices and allow them to take part in more activities while menstruating. Earle Haas introduced the first modern commercial tampon with an inner tube applicator in 1933; Gertrude Schulte Tendrich purchased its patent rights, eventually changing the product name to Tampax.
Today’s tampons are constructed from cellulosic absorbent material such as cotton or rayon. Some even feature a thin plastic layer on top to protect both applicator and woman from friction while inserting or removing tampons from her body.
Tampons are generally safe; however, there is the potential risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) if they remain in longer than four to eight hours. TSS may lead to symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting and fatigue which could potentially become serious illnesses.
In the US, legislation known as the Tampon Safety and Research Act has been introduced repeatedly but hasn’t passed into law yet. If passed into law, this bill would require manufacturers to disclose information regarding additives such as dioxin, asbestos and rayon fibers that might lead to TSS symptoms in their tampons.
Cleansing Cloths
Feminine wipes are small wash cloths designed for convenience that are ultra-thin, portable, discreet and gentle – the perfect companions when out and about on-the-go or when cleaning after sex, periods or a gym workout! They’re great for discreetly wiping off after using, cleaning after use or refreshing after working out at the gym!
Feminine wipes stand out from other products such as soap in that they’re designed to specifically cleanse the vulva. According to Tanouye, washes should not be used on this area because they may strip away essential bacteria that protect it and cause irritation and other issues.
Rael’s gentle feminine wipes contain ingredients that are kind to vulval skin. For instance, Rael’s includes soothing aloe vera extract and camellia sinensis leaf extract to soothe dryness and itching, flushable design allows them to be carried around in purse or bag for unexpected moments when quickly cleaning up is needed, and their formulation does not contain harsh chemicals, fragrances or irritants – making these flushable flushable wipes your perfect partner in keeping up with life without worry!
Sprays
Sprays are an easy and efficient way to keep intimate areas fresh. Keep a feminine wash such as Monistat Maintain Feminine Cleanser with Boric Acid handy in your purse or shower to keep these sensitive parts of the body sanitary and healthy.
Gynecologist-tested to alleviate odor and discharge, this spray boasts a pH balance that aligns perfectly with natural range of the vulva skin. Gentle enough for daily use and won’t irritate sensitive areas.
Tanouye cautions that while some may tolerate scented feminine washes, many contain ingredients which may be detrimental to the vulva. Chemicals found in fragrances, parabens, and sulfates may cause irritation as well as increase chances of yeast infections. Furthermore, these scented products reinforce negative cultural constructions of the vulva as smelly caverns that lead to self-shaming of bodies and avoidance of discussion about this region of women’s bodies. For optimal results it would be wiser to opt for something which contains unscented skin care ingredients with pH balance that will leave your vulva feeling smooth and hydrated.
Deodorant
Feminine deodorants come in sprays or powders and are used to eliminate unpleasant odors around the vulva. They either mask smell with fragrance or work by inhibiting bacteria that causes unpleasant odors when combined with sweat, often being promoted as safer and more natural than antiperspirants which may block pores and cause irritation.
Feminine deodorants and washes do not eliminate odor and may actually create more issues than they solve. For instance, these products can increase the risk of UTIs by introducing pathogenic strains of bacteria close to the urethra; cause dry, itchy skin; disrupt vaginal microbiomes that contribute to health and fertility – not exactly what anyone would hope!
Though they cause harm, feminine washes and sprays remain widely available at pharmacies, being sold as essential elements in women’s daily vaginal hygiene routines in order to meet cultural expectations of cleanliness and freshness. Through marketing practices contributing to this belief that women’s vulvae need cleaning with harsh chemicals in order to remain “clean.”
