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Health

24th Oct 2017

Women are urged not to put this ointment on their vaginas

First cucumbers, now this.

Laura Holland

ointment

First cucumbers, now this.

Women are being urged not to put Vicks VapoRub on their vaginas. Somehow, it was believed that the VapoRub could cure thrush and other types of vaginal issues.

But, in reality, it doesn’t and it can actually make things a lot worse.

As we’ve learned before, the vagina is a very sensitive area that needs very little products to make it function properly. If anyone feels they need some sort of ointment or cream for an issue they are having, then a doctor is best placed to advise on that.

VapoRub as an ointment is certainly not the answer.

The use of VapoRub on vaginas seems to have stemmed from some online blogs which have been telling women to use it to cleanse their vagina and even to give it a different odour. It’s also been given as a suggestion to spice things up in the bedroom.

Now, we know that VapoRub is a godsend when we have a chesty cough or cold, but that’s where it ends.

The Sun spoke with Dr Vanessa Mackay, a gynaecologist from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the matter and she said:

“Using Vicks VapoRub on the vagina would not only be uncomfortable but also has the potential to cause damage and disrupt the natural flora of the vagina. It is a myth that any products need to be used to odourise or clean the vagina.”

She added:

“Mild soap or a mild shower cream and water is all that you need to wash the outside of your bottom, front and back. And you don’t need to wash your vagina – it self-cleans. If you have any concerns about odour you need to contact your doctor.”

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