NEVER reuse a razor blade when shaving down there, says gynaecologist
Dr Jen Gunter is known for dispelling vaginal myths - and now she's going after common bathroom cabinet products
DON'T have time for a bikini wax? Whatever you do, DON'T reach for your old razor.
That's the advice of gynaecologist Dr Jen Gunter, who is warning women against using common products on their vaginas.
Dr Gunter is famed for speaking out against the controversial gynaecological advice published by Gwenyth Paltrow's website Goop.
But in a recent interview with , the San Francisco-based doctor explained how many of us are putting our health at risk by using everyday objects kept in our bathroom cabinets.
Never use an old razor
She said that she'd recommend us all steering clear of old and rusty razors and tweezers when trying to attempt any kind of pubic hair removal.
"There are a lot of genital track injuries from grooming," she explained.
She recommended making sure that all razors and tweezers are properly cleaned before any grooming, and that the safest way to remove hair was to use trimmers and then a fresh razor with shaving cream or gel.
But how many of us are seriously going to use a totally new razor each time we go to remove a bit of stubble?
That's why Dr Gunter implores women just get a wax instead. It might be slightly more expensive and more faff, but unless you're going to go the extra mile and buy a brand new razor each time, you're putting yourself at risk from infection.
Douches are like 'cigarettes' to vaginas
She describes douches as "cigarettes" for the vagina.
Some of us believe that they can help with odour and cleanliness, but actually, the opposite is true, said Dr Gunter.
"They offer zero health benefits and increase the likelihood of getting an STI."
Bin the vaginal wipes
Another product she trashes is vaginal wipes.
Like douches, these "flushable" wipes are marketed as a necessary cleaning tool for the vagina - which is essentially a self-cleaning machine.
We don't need any help in making it clean because it does it itself.
As such, wipes will just disrupt the delicate balance of good bacteria down there and will instead make your vagina itchy and smelly.
Itch-relief creams that contain benzocaine make you itchier
Benzocaine is an active ingredient put into many intimate products.
Using creams that contain the chemical, however, will only make your vagina sore.
"With benzocaine, women get a temporary improvement and they think it works," Dr Gunter said.
"But then it gets worse and they put more on and it gets worse and they get so inflamed."
If you are looking for an over-the-counter treatment to soothe your vagina, try looking for lidocaine instead.
Dr Gunter has written a book called The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine, which hopes to dispell the many myths surrounding women's health.
"It is so hard to spot the misinformation, Dr Gunter told Today.
"Women should be demanding facts and they should be demanding quality information. They should be free to do whatever they want with their bodies.
MORE ON HEALTH
"But they should always be vigilant as to why people are giving them what information."
And it's clear that more needs to be done to make sure women are having access to properly certified information.
Last week, we reported that Marie Claire had published an article encouraging women to stick parsley up their vaginas - after a woman died doing exactly that.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours