Products for the female vagina are on the rise. Are they necessary or

In recent years, products have been released on the market that interfere with the natural appearance and balance of the vagina for aesthetic reasons. Their release has often caused anger, concern but also excitement since these products are quite blatant: Passion dust capsules , for example, are inserted into the vagina and when dissolved, they fill it with gold dust so that the vaginal fluids are fantastically interesting…! The edible gold dust used in these capsules is essentially sugar. However, the deposition of sugar (glucose) in the vagina can disrupt the balance of bacteria and its acids and increase the likelihood of infection .

Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website, promoted “ jade eggs ,” egg-shaped crystals inserted into the vagina that are claimed to “balance hormones, regulate a woman’s cycle, prevent uterine prolapse, and increase bladder control.” Goop was eventually ordered to pay $145,000 for unfounded marketing claims .

A Missouri jury has ruled that 22 women's ovarian cancer was caused by using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder because it contains asbestos. The women were awarded $4.14 billion in damages.

The question is ultimately what business does talc or other absurd products have inside women's vaginas?

The vagina is an organ with amazing abilities. To maintain its healthy state, it develops a sticky membrane that protects it from infections as well as a complex composition of bacteria, essential to any part of the body that is open to the outside world. In fact, it is“self-cleaning”, that is, it regulates its own hygiene with secretions.

As the menstrual cycle progresses, it is normal for vaginal discharge to change cyclically with hormones and to have a different appearance, consistency, volume and smell. Changes are also observed when there is sexual arousal and after pregnancy. If the changes observed are dramatic, perhaps the cause is different from the usual vaginal cycle and consultation with a gynecologist is recommended.

The message we get from the feminine hygiene industry is that there is a lot of pressure to clean, freshen, and scent the otherwise perfectly functional vagina.

Of course, everyone wants to be and feel clean, even more so during their period!

But for about 100 years, the feminine hygiene product industry has been trying to convince us that periods are dirty and that women inevitably smell.

It's hard to find a sanitary napkin ad that doesn't use the words "freshness" or "cleanliness." These words draw on the fact that we all want to feel clean and are aimed at convincing us that we're not fresh or clean when we're on our period. We've all been afraid of smelling bad during the day, and the advertiser's goal is easily achieved.

“It’s a myth that the vagina needs thorough cleaning with scented soaps, liquids or wipes,” says Vanessa Mackay, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists .

"It is best to avoid scented soaps, gels and antiseptics because they can upset the delicate balance of bacteria and pH in the vagina and cause irritation. Instead, we recommend using a plain, unscented soap for daily cleansing of the area around the vagina, not inside it."

I hope we can soon comfortably discuss our concerns about gynecological issues with our doctor or pharmacist, like when we have a headache! Perhaps this will eliminate the demand for products that do not benefit our bodies but are an industry of fear and shame.