• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
How often you should really be washing 'down there', according to expert

Home> Life

Published 17:33 30 Aug 2024 GMT+1

How often you should really be washing 'down there', according to expert

Specialists have also revealed when the best time to clean your vulva is

Ella Scott

Ella Scott

Experts have weighed in on how often you should be cleaning your genitals and the frequency may surprise you.

Vulva and vagina health is an important part of a person’s overall well-being.

If not properly maintained, your fertility, self-esteem and ability to reach orgasm could be seriously affected.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you’re advised to keep your genitals clean by washing as well as changing disposable period products at regular intervals.

Advert

Vulva and vagina health is an important part of a person’s overall well-being (Getty Stock Image)
Vulva and vagina health is an important part of a person’s overall well-being (Getty Stock Image)

According to eco-friendly company Cheeky Wipes, you should be rinsing your vulva on a daily basis, particularly after sweating or using the bathroom.

The business, which sells reusable cloth wipes and sanitary pads, also warns people not to over-wash.

This is because the natural balance of bacteria could be disrupted, leading to irritation and unbalanced PH levels.

Advert

“Once a day is usually sufficient for most people,” the site continues.

“However if you have a lot of vaginal discharge, are sweaty, bloody or have had sex, it's fine to wash more often with just water.”

Echoing Cheeky Wipes’ advice is Aleece Fosnight, a board-certified physician assistant who specialises in sexual medicine.

An expert says you should clean your vagina after completing your shower (Getty Stock Image)
An expert says you should clean your vagina after completing your shower (Getty Stock Image)

Advert

She claims that you should rinse your vulva with warm water daily and avoid using feminine hygiene products or soap.

“I tend to suggest rinsing the vulva at the very end as well since shampoo, conditioner, and body wash residue can be left behind," the Fosnight Center founder claimed.

"The vulva is rich with oil glands that emit pheromones and help balance the pH of the genitals."

She further explained to Business Insider that using anything but water could disrupt the organ’s natural PH levels, thus making you more susceptible to infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Advert

BV is a common vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria creating an imbalance, writes the Cleveland Clinic.

While symptoms are few and far between, Melisa Holmes, MD, obstetrician gynaecologist and co-founder of Girlology, claims a smell ‘stronger than a faint whiff of bleach’ emanating from the vulva could point to a BV.

It's advised you wash your vulva once per day (Getty Stock Image)
It's advised you wash your vulva once per day (Getty Stock Image)

“We can all smell ourselves because we’re so self-conscious, but most people don’t smell other people’s vaginal odours,” the medical expert told Tampax.

Advert

“If they do, it could be a sign of an infection like bacterial vaginosis.”

To keep your vulva health, Fosnight has also advised that people reach for cotton underwear. This is because the material is less likely to hold moisture than fabrics such as silk or nylon.

Moreover, the North Carolina-based expert told readers to wear loose clothing at night as tight garments can ‘limit blood flow to the genitals’.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Health, Advice

Ella Scott
Ella Scott

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Here’s how often other couples are really having sex
  • What it really means if you can hear your heartbeat when you lie down in bed
  • How often each US state is really having sex has been revealed and you might be surprised
  • Dermatologist reveals how often you should replace your loofah after warning issued to anyone using them

Choose your content:

2 days ago
3 days ago
  • 2 days ago

    People only just realising why Getty images is called that

    Brace yourself for some pretty wild family stories

    Life
  • 2 days ago

    There’s only one Starbucks in the world where staff are not allowed to ask for your name

    No butchering someone's name in this store...

    Life
  • 3 days ago

    Ozempic user shocked to learn what 'symptom jump' is after no one warned them of bizarre weight loss drug side effect

    The drug is traditionally prescribed to help sufferers of Type-2 diabetes

    Life
  • 3 days ago

    Dark history behind dangerous war weapon that’s now used by millions of cancer patients

    The clue was hidden among the battlefields of World War One for decades

    Life