Clinical Facts

  • Women of all ages need daily intimate care to keep their genital area clean.
    Women of all ages need daily intimate care to keep their genital area clean.
  • Feminine intimate care is essential to women’s intimate and general health. It provides medical protection for the vulvovaginal area and benefits women’s emotional health and well-being.
    Feminine intimate care is essential to women’s intimate and general health. It provides medical protection for the vulvovaginal area and benefits women’s emotional health and well-being.
  • Gentle vulvar cleansing is desirable, and evidence suggests that it is an essential aspect of women’s intimate hygiene and overall vulvovaginal health.
    Gentle vulvar cleansing is desirable, and evidence suggests that it is an essential aspect of women’s intimate hygiene and overall vulvovaginal health.
  • Washing the vulva with water can cause dry skin and worsen itching.
    Washing the vulva with water can cause dry skin and worsen itching.
  • External feminine cleansers are considered more appropriate for intimate health, particularly those containing lactic acid, which has an acidic pH that augments skin homeostasis and may be a helpful adjunct therapy for women with vaginal infections or taking antibiotics.
    External feminine cleansers are considered more appropriate for intimate health, particularly those containing lactic acid, which has an acidic pH that augments skin homeostasis and may be a helpful adjunct therapy for women with vaginal infections or taking antibiotics.
  • Vulvar cleansing may be a valuable adjunct for women with odorous vaginal discharge, and daily use of a feminine wash may reduce the risk of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.
    Vulvar cleansing may be a valuable adjunct for women with odorous vaginal discharge, and daily use of a feminine wash may reduce the risk of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.

References:
1. Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE. Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage. Womens Health (Lond). 2017 Dec;13(3):58-67.
doi: 10.1177/1745505717731011. Epub 2017 Sep 22. PMID: 28934912; PMCID: PMC7789027.

2. Murina PF, Graziottin A, Bagot O, Panay N, Thamkhantho M, Shaw SW. Real-World Practices and Attitudes Towards Intimate Self-care: Results from An International Women’s Survey. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2021 Dec;50(10):102192. doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2021.102192. Epub 2021 Jun 24. PMID: 34175471.

3. Murina F, Caimi C, Felice R, Di Francesco S, Cetin I. Characterization of female intimate hygiene practices and vulvar health: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Oct;19(10):2721-2726. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13402. Epub 2020 Apr 12. PMID: 32281249.

4. Graziottin A. Maintaining vulvar, vaginal and perineal health: Clinical considerations. Womens Health (Lond). 2024 Jan-Dec; 20:17455057231223716. doi: 10.1177/17455057231223716. PMID: 38396383; PMCID: PMC10894559.