Pelvic health expert issues warning against vaginal steaming which can cause burns and explains how to prevent a prolapse
A PELVIC health expert has issued a stark warning against vaginal steaming as women are giving themselves severe burns by trying out the ‘revitalising’ treatment.
Stephanie Taylor, managing director of , a company specialising in pelvic toning, explained there was no medical benefit to steaming your genitals, also called a yoni steam or V-steam.
She likened the procedure to squatting over a cup of herbal tea, pointing out there was a high chance women could injure themselves by trying out the untested treatment.
Stephanie, 57, from Hull, spoke out after a Canadian woman recently attempted to treat her prolapse by steaming her vagina, and ended up giving herself a severe burn.
The woman saw a herbal doctor who recommended the treatment, advising her to squat over a bowl of boiling water filled with herbs for 20 minutes.
The 62-year-old gave herself second degree burns after trying out the treatment twice, causing her to need antibiotics, delaying the surgery she needed to fix the prolapse.
As the treatment grows in popularity, Stephanie warned women against trying it out, and explained how common issues can be treated properly instead.
Stephanie told the : “Even if you escape without injury, there’s no scientific benefit to squatting over what is essentially just herbal tea.
“’Detoxifying’ your vagina isn’t a thing and it certainly won’t cure a prolapse or other intimate health problems.”
A vaginal prolapse is when one or more of the pelvic organs drop down from their normal position.
It's a common condition affecting one in three women, and can cause intimate discomfort, problems urinating as well as pain.
Pelvic floor exercises can help prevent a prolapse, while strengthening that muscle group can also improve an existing condition, Stephanie said.
She explained most causes of prolapse were “entirely preventable”, and looking after our pelvic health should be as common as our oral or mental health.
Stephanie said: “Pelvic floor weakness is often thought of as an ‘old woman problem’ but the truth is it can affect any woman, and indeed men, at any point in their life.”
Exercising and making the pelvic muscles stronger can be done manually or with an electric toner, with Stephanie saying results can be achieved in “a few weeks”.
- Vaginal Cones, Kegel8, £34.99 –
The controversial V-steam soared in popularity after Gwyneth Paltrow wrote about the treatment on her lifestyle website, Goop.
A range of Yoni steams are available to buy online, and claim to alleviate a range of symptoms from cramps to fertility.
One for a steam kit with herbs says: “This women’s treatment gently and effectively cleanses, tones and revitalizes a woman’s center, providing a benefits from reduced menstrual cramps to increased fertility.”
Despite the claims, multiple health professionals have dismissed V-steaming as giving no medical benefits.
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Meanwhile we recently revealed a vagina spa is coming to the UK.
And another doctor explains why vaginal steaming is bad for your health.
Plus we revealed vagina sheet masks are soaring in popularity but experts have issued warnings over them.