Let’s face it: when it comes to hygiene, women know best. From the right serum, to the right foundation, to the right shampoo, women seem to have it all figured out. However, feminine hygiene seems to be a topic that remains elusive. Around 20 to 40% of American girls and women aged 15 to 44 years old admitted to having used a vaginal douche —- a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar —- at least once in their lives, a practice highly discouraged among health experts. Those who have participated in the study claimed that they douche to “get rid of unpleasant odours, wash away menstrual blood after their period, avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent a pregnancy after intercourse”.
BENEFITS
The important thing every woman needs to know about what’s going on ‘down there’ is that it is a part of their body that needs to be treated differently. Normal body wash is not going to cut it, and neither will face washes, no matter how safe and natural they may be. The vagina is a very sensitive part of the female body and should be dealt with as such —- with products made especially for it like Gynafresh VW Intimate Wash.
BENEFITS
Feminine wash products like Gynafresh are good for the vagina as they are formulated to suit the delicate area. Gynafresh for example, is made up of natural essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary —- making it not only smell nice, but kind on even the most sensitive of skin. It also maintains the vaginal pH level, at 4.5, which both cleanses and kills the odour-causing bacteria while relieving other unwanted symptoms caused by dryness such as itching by replenishing vaginal moisture. The best part? No soap is used in the process of making Gynafresh.
Douching is a huge fat no, hence why Gynafresh was designed for external use only. The vagina is its own cleaning system and many experts have repeatedly reminded women that there is actually no need for douching as it may cause pelvic inflammatory diseases, vaginal infections, pregnancy complications, and even cervical cancer.
So why are feminine washes like Gynafresh right for you? For starters, the pH level of each body and vagina can vary. According to MedicalNewsToday, a healthy vagina should have an acidic pH range of 3.8 to 5, yet most body washes have a pH level greater than 4.5. Disturbing the pH level down there with body washes that contain perfume, alcohol, and other ingredients that will most likely cause infections will lead to the opposite of the results you wanted: a foul or fishy smelling vagina.
Even doctors and health experts recommend using water and a mild soap to wash your vagina. This is because intimate wash products support the growth of good bacteria (Lactobacillus), an important component for a fresh and healthy vagina. Ever feel annoyed or irritated by the wetness and stickiness that comes with fluctuation hormones before or after your time of the month? Then it may be time to consider putting that intimate wash in your shopping cart.
Want to consider more options? Dr. Barb, a Board Certified OB/GYN shares her top five tips for choosing the best intimate wash and what not to choose when shopping for your next intimate wash. Her first top tip is to look for a natural intimate wash that is pH balanced.
Dr. Barb’s advice? Look out for glycerin. Sometimes added as an ingredient to intimate washes masked as a moisturising agent, glycerin is actually a sugar-based ingredient that feeds yeast, arguably a vagina’s number one enemy. Products like Gynafresh VW, for example, will make you rethink the use of your run-of-the-mill intimate wash. This is because most brands in the market are formulated with ingredients like glycerin that may trigger adverse reactions including glycerin.
Instead of using fragrances, Gynafresh VW contains mild emulsifiers and natural fragrances such as lavender, chamomile, and rosemary essential oils. This means that it is a mild, hypoallergenic wash that is safe for all skin types — even sensitive skin. Here’s some good news: it’s also suitable for those suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). You can use it when pregnant, lactating, and even during your time of the month!
Now that you’re armed with the right information, how do you go about using an intimate wash? Take a small amount of the solution on the palm of your hands and rub it until it lathers. Then, apply it on the external parts of the vaginal area and rub it gently before rinsing it with water. When drying, use a towel and pat the area dry.
