5 Things Your Gyno Wants You To Take Seriously - Page 2

2. Ditch the “feminine hygiene” products.

Let’s be clear: your vagina doesn’t need to be cleaned—it cleans itself. Clear, white, and odorless discharge is typically a sign that things are normal down there. But when you introduce feminine products that contain scents and foreign ingredients into your vagina’s natural ecosystem it could interfere with its natural cleaning process. Using soaps, wipes, sprays, or douches marketed to make you “fresher” can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and pH in your vagina, making you more susceptible to infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.

Kate McClean, MD, MPH, a board-certified OB-GYN and gynecologist in Seattle, told SELF that women should steer clear of cleaning inside their vagina, but there are things you can do to reduce order and bacteria around the outside of the area. You can wash the vulva (that’s the external area) with warm water — no soaps, especially not scented ones. You can also apply this same method to the lips of the vagina. But whatever you do, never insert cleansing products inside your vagina, no matter what the label says.