Tackling taboos on feminine hygiene

Have you ever felt your face get a little hot or cringe at the thought of visiting your gyno? There are millions of women around the world that feel the same way. Whether it be cultural taboos, societal pressures or a lack of information, don’t let external pressures take over and prevent you from getting the answers you need to live a healthy life. To separate facts from fiction, one of Ada’s medical experts Dr. Mariana Schiffer, a gynecologist and obstetrician, shares insights about the stigma and the truth behind women’s health.

1. Why are some women reluctant to have a gynecological examination?A personal examination in such an intimate area can often make women feel quite exposed or open to judgment. Women should know that their doctors are laser-focused on the examination and figuring out how to help you, shaming you is the last thing on their mind. Gynecological examinations are an important part of seeing a doctor if you have symptoms, as well as for routine care and screenings. An exam may help uncover underlying problems and test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Based on my experience, female patients often feel more embarrassed to speak openly about these issues, yet tend to be much more aware of their bodies and take better care of their own sexual health than men. Male patients on the other hand, are more likely to speak about sexual health issues, but less likely to seek medical consultation. While each patient situation is different, perception of our intimate areas are often shaped by socio-cultural factors and influences how we discuss and address our health. For example, when I was practicing gynecology in Sao Paulo, I heard of the Mangaian Tribe who live on an island of the same name in the South Pacific. The elders encourage teenagers, both male and female to explore their bodies and had more open views and communication around matters of sexual health.

In general, it’s important that people know their own bodies, seek the medical guidance they need and recognise that there are millions of other people who are experiencing the same issues.

2. How might some hygiene practices such as douching and vaginal steaming affect women’s health?
There is also no medical evidence to support hygiene practices such as douching or vaginal steaming. If you’re not familiar, steaming is an ancient medicine practice adopted by contemporary Western culture where a woman squats over a bowl of steaming water infused with herbs. In fact, gynecologists don’t encourage internal showers, because it removes the natural good bacteria, making it easier to develop a yeast infection.

3. Why is women’s hygiene important?
We should take care of our genitals with the same care as we do other parts of our body. But be careful not to overwash or use vaginal deodorants, as these can increase humidity, potentially leading to yeast infections. Every woman has a natural amount of daily discharge in her underwear. If the discharge smell is not too strong, and there’s no itching or any other symptoms, this should not usually be a cause for concern.

4. What are some good feminine hygiene tips for women?

• Use a pH neutral soap (right level of acidity to protect the good bacteria)
• Wear underwear with natural fibers such as cotton
• Sleep with loose underwear, or none at all
• Avoid high-temperature water when taking a bath
• Stay away from daily underwear protectors/panty liners, because they can increase the humidity and risk of yeast infection and other conditions
• Avoid leaving tampons in for more than six hours, because this can lead to infection, and in severe cases, toxic shock syndrome

5. How can we encourage an open conversation about women’s hygiene?Both women and men should be encouraged to discuss health, hygiene, and sexuality openly and from an early age. I think overall, the internet has been a great tool to access information people are often too embarrassed or ashamed to ask about face-to-face, but it is also rife with unreliable sources of information about intimate health and hygiene. The internet can also be a place that disseminates unrealistic and harmful images that can make women uncomfortable and ashamed of their bodies in the first place.

This is why we hope Ada is valuable: People can address health concerns through the symptom check in the app to know whether it’s time to have a gynecological examination, find credible information in Ada’s Condition Library, and read the experiences and opinions of the human doctors behind Ada on this blog.