There was a moment this year when Gwyneth Paltrow reached what we can only describe as 'peak Gwyneth'. She's long been an advocate of some pretty bizare holistic beauty practices (oil pulling, drinking charcoal, denying yourself potatoes) but this one really took the biscuit.
According to Gwyneth, we all need a steam-cleaning of our nether regions. Writing on her blog, Goop, Gwyneth advised: 'The real golden ticket here is the Mugwort V-Steam. You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al.'
Leaving aside that mugwort is a herb usually found in Korean food, heating your vagina isn't such a great idea, as you know, your body LIKES to be 36 degrees. Not only that, making your vagina hotter only makes it more susceptible to infection, as if there's one thing bacteria and yeasts like candida love, it's being warm and cosy. Plus, the heat will make your protective enzymes sluggish, so they're not as effective at fighting infection.
As bizarre - and deeply unwise - as steam treatments might be for your vagina, Gwyneth's post did put feminine hygiene on the map. With sales of feminine hygiene products going from strength to strength, there's even been a launch of a whole new brand, SASS, dedicated to intimate hygiene and health. But with vaginal 'refresher' sprays, barrier creams and shampoos all on the market, it's possible that we could have be going too far in our quest to stay clean.
A quick recap on vaginal health - your vagina is essentially self-cleaning. The pH, aforementioned good bacteria, the mucus plug (sorry) at the top of the vagina, plus your womb lining all work together like a well-oiled machine to stop outside nasties infecting you. Of course, infections can be transmitted sexually or from surgical complications, but on the day-to-day, your vagina does a pretty good job of it.
That pH is crucial too. A lot of so-called feminine hygiene products can upset that balance and in turn actually make your vagina a whole lot less happy. Every time you use a 'cleansing' product, nature's ecosystem is thrown off, and you're more susceptible to infection while it tries to get back to normal. In the three days it takes to restore equilibrium, unhelpful bacteria that could lead to yeast infections, pelvic inflammations and even chlamydia multiply much more rapidly.
The upshot? A healthy vagina is an independent vagina. If you're not experience any discomfort, soreness or rashes or odours, normal washing with water is all you need (and if you are having any issues, see your GP).
If you do want something else, lots of sexual health clinics recommend Aqueous cream, which despite being used by eczema sufferers as an emollient, makes a fab soap for down there, thanks to it's skin-friendly pH and lack of foaming agents and perfumes.