Ask Dr. Janie: Is My Vagina Dirty? The Truth About Vaginal Hygiene After 60
Dear Dr. Janie,
Is my vagina dirty? I am so confused about whether I’m supposed to do something special to clean my vagina. There are so many products advertised for “feminine hygiene” that I don’t know which ones I should be using. I hear ads on TV all the time about feminine washes, sprays and even a deodorant made specifically for “down there.” My friend even told me she heard on Tik Tok that we should be douching with apple cider vinegar. I pride myself on being clean and certainly want to follow good hygiene for my vagina, but I’m a little overwhelmed with so many products and what I should be doing. Can you help guide me?
Hygienic Helen
Dear Hygienic Helen,
Despite the message of all the products and ads, your vagina is not dirty, and it doesn’t need a spring cleaning. That’s just hype to make you think you need to scrub and disinfect it. It’s absurd how an entire industry has been built around feminine hygiene and convincing women that they need a bathroom cabinet full of products. In fact, your vagina is an amazing self-cleaning and self-sufficient organ. Leave it alone.
Just to clarify the two important body parts and terms I’m referring to. Even though the term vagina is often used to refer to your entire genital area, your vagina is actually the internal muscular tube or canal on the inside. You can’t see it. Your vulva is the visible external part that includes the inner and outer lips, clitoris, and openings to your urethra and vagina.
A healthy vagina maintains its own naturally acidic environment. The normal discharge you might notice is your vagina doing its job. It sheds old cells and combines them with natural lubrication while helping maintain a healthy bacterial balance. You don’t need to do anything. No products, no washes, no sprays, no soaps. And definitely no vinegar douches. That’s a big No No! Your vagina is not a salad. Please keep the apple cider vinegar in the kitchen.
The vulva, your exterior skin area, does need a gentle cleaning. Warm water is enough by itself, but you can use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser if you prefer. The goal is to keep chemicals found in soaps, fragrances, and washes away from your vagina and not risk upsetting that healthy balance.
Menopause and Vaginal Changes
As estrogen levels decline during and after menopause, vaginal tissues can become thinner, drier, and more prone to irritation. Burning, itching, and vaginal discomfort can show up at any time during the day and not just during sex. What worked for your body at 30 may not be enough when you get older.
Vaginal moisture becomes important and something you cannot leave to your body alone. For sexual activity, a good fragrance-free vaginal lube can make sex more comfortable and pleasurable. Some lubricants contain hyaluronic acid, which may provide additional hydration. Lube is not a sign that something is wrong with your vagina. For many older women, it’s not optional and simply part of the equipment. For other nonsexual times, fragrance-free hydrating vaginal inserts will help hydration from the inside out. Both the lube and inserts can be found at your drug store or online.
One important note: menopausal dryness and irritation can feel similar to infection. If burning, itching, or discomfort is new, doesn’t improve with lube or a vaginal moisturizer, or keeps coming back, that’s worth a conversation with your doctor rather than something to just chalk up to “getting older.”
Do’s and Don’ts of Vagina and Vulva Care
The Don’ts
Anything inside the vagina. No douching, washes, sprays, deodorants, or other cleaning products. Your vagina is already taking care of housekeeping.
Wearing non-breathable underwear. It can trap moisture and create an environment for bacteria (the bad kind) to thrive.
Staying in a swimsuit or sweaty work-out clothes too long. This can irritate the delicate vulva skin.
Wiping back to front. This brings bacteria toward your urethra and vaginal opening and risks infection
Using a scented lube. The fragrance producing chemicals in the lube might inflame vaginal tissue
Don’t use plastic bath poufs or loofahs near your vagina and vulva. They can trap bacteria that could cause irritation or infection
The Do’s
Wash your vulva daily with warm water. Be gentle in washing and pat dry with a clean towel.
Wipe from front to back when using the toilet. This keeps the bacteria away from your urethra and vaginal opening.
After sex, urinating may help flush bacteria from the urethra and is a reasonable habit, especially if you’re prone to UTIs.
Use a fragrance-free lube designed for vaginal use. Check the label.
Wear cotton underwear so your vulva can breathe.
Sleep without underwear or wear loose cotton sleep shorts to lower moisture buildup.
If you wear a pad for a leaky bladder, change it regularly when damp or soiled.
See Your Doctor
If you have any concerns about your vaginal health, you should consult your doctor. Thick, green or yellow vaginal discharge, painful urination, persistent vaginal itching, new or persistent odor, painful intercourse, or new bleeding, especially after menopause, warrants a discussion with your doctor.
Less is more. Don’t over complicate things.
Good vaginal hygiene is pretty simple: no perfumes, no deodorants, no douching, and definitely no apple cider vinegar. Your vagina has been handling housekeeping quite nicely without your help.
A little warm water for the vulva, some good lube when you need it, and leave the rest to your vagina.
Here’s to a low-maintenance, healthy vagina and one less thing on your To Do list!
(Image Source: Canva)
Disclaimer: The advice provided in this column is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a licensed medical professional for any health-related concerns or questions.
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