3 vaginal health trends we need to ditch in 2024, according to a gynaecologist
A gynaecologist has revealed the vaginal health trends we should be avoiding in 2024.
Sure social media is great for drawing our attention to new wellness trends to try or cleaning hacks to test, but when it comes to our down-there health, we really shouldn't be taking advice from Dr TikTok.
"In the ever-evolving world of social media, social media has become a hotbed for various trends, some of which unfortunately extends into areas where expert advice is paramount, such as vaginal health," explains Dr Melanie Bone, a gynaecologist and member of gynaecological health company, Daye's medical board.
"As we delve into the landscape of certain social media health trends in 2023, it becomes apparent that several concerning practices have gained notoriety."
Here, Dr Bone sheds some light on the crazes we need to steer clear of and emphasises the importance of seeking accurate and safe vaginal health guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.
The vaginal health trends we should be avoiding:
1. Yoni pearls, vaginal steaming, and douching
TikTok is awash with videos discussing yoni pearls (bundles of cloth-wrapped herbs marketed as vaginal or uterus cleansers and detoxifiers), vaginal steaming (squatting or sitting over a pot of hot, steaming water that is infused with herbs), and douching (washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids), but most of the content creators are not medical professionals.
"The advice propagated through these videos often ranges from outdated to outright unsafe practices," explains Dr Bone.
"It is crucial to remember that the field of vaginal health is best navigated with the guidance of trained medical experts who can provide evidence-based care."
Dr Bone explains that anything placed inside the vagina has the potential to disrupt the vaginal microbiome and increase your risk of vaginal infections and Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).
"It's important to remember that the vagina is designed to keep itself clean," she continues. "Douching and vaginal steaming, in particular, have been shown to increase your risk of recurrent vaginal infections like thrush and bacterial vaginosis."
2. Placing ice cubes in the vagina
This trend that gained traction on TikTok this year involves the insertion of ice cubes into the vagina, purportedly to tighten it and address bacterial overgrowth issues.
However, Dr Bone warns that this practice carries potential risks and limitations and should be approached with extreme caution.
"It also propagates the myth that vaginas need or can be tightened," she adds. "If the vagina is tightened, this may lead to painful intercourse and chronic pelvic pain. The vaginal is a muscle, which needs to stay flexible to function well, and it does not need to be tightened."
In addition, Dr Bone says there is no evidence that low temperatures can affect vaginal infections.
"If you suffer with vaginal infections, you should focus on repopulating the good bacteria in your vaginal microbiota and utilise accepted medical treatments, which are proven to be effective," she advises.
The only time the vagina might need to be tightened, according to Dr Bone, is after childbirth if muscle strengthening or pelvic floor physical therapy is not successful.
"This is usually done with surgery by a specialist in the field and not by a topical application of cold, which simply results in a temporary contracting of the tissue that goes away right after it warms up," she adds.
3. Vaginal dabbing
Dr Bone says this is the practice whereby vaginal secretions are applied to specific areas of the body in a misguided effort to enhance attractiveness to potential partners.
"This is not only unhygienic but also medically unsubstantiated and should be avoided," she explains. "In addition, using your fingers to collect vaginal fluid to then dab on your body can disrupt your vaginal microbiome and increase your risk of vaginal infections.
Dr Bone concludes by reiterating that the vaginal health trends being shared on social media often lack endorsement from medical professionals and could potentially pose risks to those who try them.
"Depending on such information from platforms like TikTok or other social media can jeopardise one's wellbeing," she explains. "To guarantee precise and safe guidance on vaginal health, consulting with a healthcare provider continues to be the most reliable approach, and the gold standard."
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