Intimate toilet these practices to ban urgently

In terms of personal hygiene, some play witch apprentices. Vaginal detox, lemon cleansing ... Everything is good to "clean up" the area. Practices as useless as dangerous. The point with Isabelle Derrendinger, vice-president of the Council of the Order of Midwives.

"Our vagina is not a cavern full of dangerous things that must be sanitized at all costs, but it's not dirty naturally," warns Isabelle Derrendinger,  Vice-President of the Council of the Order of Midwives and Director. of the School of Midwives - University of Nantes.

Indeed, at a time when some women think that scouring excessively and detoxifying this attribute is the right way to go - and advise others on forums or social networks - it is important to remember what the consequences of such practices on their health. Overview of what is worst in terms of personal hygiene.

• The vaginal shower

This intimate grooming method consists of a thorough cleaning of the inside of the vagina using a shower head or an enema pear and a washing product. Bad idea.

"Vaginal douche is not a recommended practice at all," explains Derrendinger, "The vagina has no sterile flora, but a bacterial flora with the acidic PH that is colonized by good bacteria, including lactobacilli. They protect us from a certain number of so-called pathogenic agents such as Candida albicans(responsible for the appearance of a vaginal mycosis) for example, by stripping it, it unbalances this flora.

On the contrary, a detoxification of the vagina will promote the proliferation of bad germs, infections and may even have consequences in the medium or long term on the fertility of women. Nor does she have any contraceptive power. Some women imagine that by eliminating sperm by this type of practice they will not get pregnant: it is not a method of contraception!

It is of no interest outside of very specific situations, post-operative for example, which require a medical prescription. "

• The detox of the vagina

After the food detox and the digital detox, place the detox of the vagina. A practice acclaimed by American celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, and that emulates followers of the return to the "all natural". 

The weapons of crime? Of vaginal steam baths and herbal sachets inserted in the vagina. The goal: to eliminate the toxins present in our vaginas and uterus, but also to prevent endometriosis, to reduce the pain of the menses or to avoid urinary infections.

Let's be clear, the vagina does not need to be detoxified! Since nature is well done, it cleans itself and it is not a session of steam or herbal tea that will make it feel better. "The detox is a popular trend, but it is not applicable to personal hygiene," says Isabelle Derrendinger.

• Wearing the pantyliner every day

Washing the vagina or using panty liners daily at the slightest sign of white discharge (leucorrhoea) is useless. "It's physiological," says the midwife, "which means the vagina has good lubrication, good secretions, and is healthy."

And in the period of rules? It is thought to change its buffer every 3 hours and we do not rely on its absorption capacity (higher or lower), which does not mean that we can keep it longer. At night, we favor the sanitary napkins and we avoid to "refresh" with wipes, too abrasive for the mucous membranes. A little water is enough.

With regard to sexual intercourse, "you do not have to do an intimate bath before and after with a washing product. Water again, the only recommendation that makes sense is to urinate. before and after the report for women who are prone to frequent urinary tract infections, "says Isabelle Derrendinger. 

• The use of natural products: lemon, essential oils, bicarbonate

The mucous membranes of the vagina are very fragile and can not receive the same treatment as the skin of the face. It is therefore presumptuous to think that one can use essential oils or condiments that are found in our kitchen to take care of or cure certain conditions. 

" Essential oils have many benefits, but no scientific study has proven effective in treating discomfort that may affect the vagina. Their use, in general, is already to take with great care. Most of them can not be used in any way. "

What about lemon? "In my opinion, it must be completely forgotten. His PH is extremely acidic, twice as much as that of the vaginal flora, it may completely destabilize it. Also, it can cause burns and tingle on this area sensitive"

"The baking soda, garlic or yogurt to treat and relieve a vaginal thrush have no interest either, at best they will have no effect, at worst they may cause burns. best thing to do is to consult a specialist for an antimycotic prescription.