Myth 1: Vaginas and vulvas should look a certain way
Healthy vaginas and vulvas come in many different shapes and sizes. This is especially true of the inner and outer labia, or “lips,” of the vulva, which can vary in shape, length, and pigmentation, says gynaecologist Dr Alyssa Dweck. In many cases, labia are asymmetrical, she says.
The vagina and the vulva also can change over time: hormonal changes can affect the pigment of the vulva, and childbirth can alter the size of the vaginal opening, Dr Dweck says. The upshot: every vagina is unique, and unless differences are causing issues such as painful sex, you don’t need to worry about whether yours looks “right.”
Myth 2: Sex stretches out the vagina permanently
Not possible, says gynaecologist Dr Sherry Ross. That’s because vaginal tissue is very elastic, and while vaginal muscles relax during arousal and penetration, both eventually contract again when they are not being used regularly.
What can impact the elasticity of your vagina: age, menopause and childbirth. Menopause can cause thinning of the tissue, for example, and “the vagina in all its elastic glory can stretch only so much during childbirth,” Dr Ross says. After multiple vaginal deliveries, it may not be quite as tight.
Myth 3: You need special products to clean your vulva and vagina
Plain old mild soap and water will do the trick for cleaning the vulva (external genitals), and “cleansing the inside of the vagina is just unnecessary,” says Dr Dweck. In fact, such products can be harmful: douching or washing with harsh intimate cleansers or wipes can disrupt the natural vaginal microbiome, leading to infection, itching, abnormal discharge and (ironically) a bad smell.
One study found that women who had used a douche in the previous six months were seven times as likely to report bacterial vaginosis (BV), and those who used feminine wipes had nearly double the odds of reporting a urinary tract infection. The bottom line: the vagina has amazing mechanisms to support maintaining its normal acidic pH and a healthy environment. A careful balance of yeast, bacteria and other organisms in it “minimises the risk of infection, foul odour, and abnormal discharge,” Dr Dweck says.
Myth 4: The vagina shouldn’t smell
Every vagina has a natural scent, which can vary from day to day and from month to month with hormonal changes, menstruation, and general lifestyle and hygiene habits, says Dr Dweck. Your normal scent isn’t a problem, and no “freshening up” beyond bathing is required.
That said, some smells are not normal and could be signs of a health problem. “Infection with BV and a retained tampon are common causes,” Dr Dweck says. Putrid, fishy, and atypical odour that worsens or is accompanied by abnormal discharge, blood or pain should be checked out.
Myth 5: How you groom your pubic hair is just a cosmetic choice
Not quite. Pubic hair keeps your vulva warm and traps harmful bacteria before they get inside and cause trouble. But if you’re gonna groom, each option has pros and cons. Trimming is safest (do it standing up so you can see where you’re clipping), because that way you avoid cutting close to the skin, reducing the risk of nicks and infections, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Shaving is quick and easy, but 83% of injuries from pubic hair grooming, such as lacerations, that require an ER visit are from razors (ouch!). Waxing is less likely to cause ingrown hairs, Dr Ross adds, but more likely to cause infection around the hair follicle. Laser hair removal slows down growth but is more likely to cause irritation, and because it could lead to discolouration, it works best on those with certain skin and hair types, says Dr Ross. So proceed with caution, and remember: you don’t have to groom at all.
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