'Perfect' vulva myth debunked by women's health expert including 'vulvamaxxing' explained
Gen Z seems to be obsessed with 'maxxing' out every single part of their lives (and bodies!), and 'vulvamaxxing' is the latest one to be added to the list.
Whether you're a fan of the hyper-optimisation discourse circling around on social media right now or can't stand it, it's clear the whole 'maxxing' thing isn't going away anytime soon.
While many examples of 'maxxing' can be considered controversial, like 'looksmaxxing' or 'pheromone-maxxing', one version of 'vulvamaxxing' is actually a breath of fresh air.
Dr Nikki Ramskill, a GP and founder of The Female Health Doctor clinic, has exclusively explained to Tyla exactly what the term actually means, what women are being encouraged to do and why certain trends could be creating unnecessary anxiety around completely normal anatomy.
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'Vulvamaxxing', explained
Unfortunately, there is still lots of shame when it comes to women and their vaginal health, with many facing pressure over their vulva's appearance, smell, feel or perceived attractiveness.
Bella, a Fertility and Hormone Naturopath who goes by @pointebalance online, took to Instagram last week (25 August) to explain: "I wasn’t going to jump on the 'maxxing' trend… but if it gives me an excuse to talk about vulval and vaginal health without the awkwardness, I’m all about it.
"Women deserve to understand this part of their body without embarrassment or shame. Discharge, changes in odour, irritation, recurrent thrush or BV, cervical mucus and vaginal microbiome health are all completely normal things to talk about.
"So yes, vulva maxxing is a bit of fun. But normalising conversations about women’s health? Very much not a joke."
Examples of positive 'vulvamaxxing'
In her Instagram carousel, Bella helpfully shared a list of things women can do for 'optimal vaginal microbiome health'.
- Wear cotton or bamboo underwear as this allows airflow and reduces excess moisture
- Change out of activewear as soon as you're able to because warm, damp environments encourage unwanted bacteria and yeast
- Eat plenty of fibre as this supports the gut microbiome, which influences vaginal health
- Include fermented foods in your diet as this may help support beneficial bacteria
- Practice gentle vulval hygiene as this lets you clean the area without disrupting the natural balance
- Stay hydrated as this supports healthy vaginal tissues and mucus
- Get recurrent symptoms tested as 'the right diagnosis leads to the right treatment'
A doctor's take
Dr Ramskill says there’s no medical requirement for women to try to 'upgrade' their vulva, but if the 'vulvamaxxing' term is being used to mean taking care of vulval health, there are some genuinely sensible habits worth having.
"The vulval skin is sensitive, so generally less is more," the expert said, recommending avoiding fragranced products and harsh soaps, washing gently externally, wearing comfortable clothing and addressing persistent dryness or irritation.
But trying to make a healthy vulva fit a particular beauty ideal offers no health benefit.
And there’s a bigger cultural shift happening here, too.
"We've gone from women feeling pressured to have the perfect face and body to now feeling they need the 'perfect' vulva too," the expert said.
"Medicine should be helping women understand what normal looks and feels like, not encouraging them to believe another perfectly healthy part of their body needs improving."
Social media has a very specific idea of what a vulva should look like
"Some of what gets grouped under vulvamaxxing is sensible basic care of the area," Dr Ramskill carrued in.
"But at the other end of the spectrum, we're seeing women encouraged to use supplements, fragranced products, oils, exfoliants, bleaching or lightening products and cosmetic treatments in an attempt to make their vulva look, smell or feel more 'perfect' (whatever that means!).
"That's where I become concerned, because there is no medically ideal vulva. Healthy vulvas vary enormously in size, shape, colour, symmetry and appearance."
She warned that women may be encouraged to remove all their pubic hair, use fragranced washes or deodorants, apply oils and serums, use products designed to lighten genital skin, or undergo cosmetic treatments to alter the appearance of their labia due to this pressure, adding that the bigger issue is the beauty standard attached to all of this.
"The main issue for me is the idea that female genitals should be completely hairless, pale, symmetrical and virtually odourless. That's an aesthetic ideal, not a medical definition of health," the expert outlined.
"Remember vajazzling in 2010? That’s a form of vulvamaxxing that came and went. It's the same now, just wrapped up into a 'wellness' package."
Examples of negative 'vulvamaxxing'
"Depending on what someone is doing, there can be risks from 'vulvamaxxing'," Dr Ramskill warns.
"The vulval skin is delicate, and repeatedly applying fragranced washes, deodorants, essential oils, exfoliating acids or other cosmetic products can cause irritation, contact dermatitis, soreness, itching and disruption to the surrounding genital environment."
She continued: "Women can then get caught in a vicious cycle. They notice itching or a change in smell, assume they're not 'clean' enough, use more products, become increasingly irritated and then use even more products trying to fix it.
"There's also a psychological impact. Constantly inspecting, smelling and comparing your genitals against what you see online can create anxiety and shame around completely normal anatomy."
A healthy vulva doesn't have to look a certain way
One of the biggest problems with the 'perfect' vulva myth is that there simply isn’t one standard appearance that healthy vulvas are supposed to meet.
Dr Ramskill says women need to understand just how much normal anatomy can vary: "Vulvas aren't supposed to all look the same.
"Labia can be long or short, symmetrical or asymmetrical, and can range considerably in colour. Pubic hair is normal."
Changes in colour can also be completely normal.
"Genital skin can also become darker during puberty, pregnancy and with hormonal changes," she added.
In other words, what you see online isn't a checklist your own body needs to match.
The bottom line
Dr Ramskill concludes: "Women don't need another part of their bodies to feel inadequate about.
"If 'vulvamaxxing' means understanding your anatomy and looking after your vulval health, I'm all for it.
"If it means trying to make a perfectly healthy vulva look younger, paler, tighter or more aesthetically pleasing, that's a beauty standard, not healthcare, and it will eventually disappear just like the vajazzle."
Topics: Tyla Exclusive, Women's Health, Life, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle