Steps
What Is What?
The vulva is the external “skin” part of the female genitalia (the part that touches your underwear). The vagina is everything that is inside/internal.
Both the vulva and vagina require very little, if any, cleaning.
The Dos
Use plain water as needed to clean the vulva.
If you'd like, you can use a gentle, fragrance-free, non-soap cleanser with water, as needed, to clean the vulva. Examples of appropriate cleansers include Cetaphil, Eucerin, or CeraVe.
The Don'ts
Do not wash inside the vagina (not even with water):
- The vagina cleans itself. It does NOT need to be washed or cleaned in any way, even after sex, your period, or a pelvic exam.
- Water can be gently used at the external opening of the vagina.
Do not use products with fragrance of any kind. Even "natural" fragrances can be irritating to the vulva and vagina.
Do not use wipes on the vulva or inside the vagina:
- Wipes can be irritating to the skin, and definitely should not be used internally.
- If you have urinary incontinence, some of these recommendations may need to be slightly modified. Please ask our medical team if you have any questions.
Do not douche:
- Douching means flushing the vagina with any sort of solution, store bought or homemade.
- Douching changes the pH inside the vagina and damages the protective mucus layer. This increases the risk for bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Douching products are also full of fragrance and chemical irritants, and can lead to irritation, rashes, and itching.
It's easy to keep your vagina and vulva healthy!
