Feminine wash guide: what doctors advise and how to choose one
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- Summer's Eve Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Wash. Best for: People who want an external wash without fragrance. See options on Amazon
- Fragrance-free feminine cleansing cloths. Best for: Travel or after exercise. See options on Amazon
- Mild unscented soap. Best for: People who prefer a basic option. See options on Amazon
Your body already cleans the vagina
The Office on Women's Health (OWH) explains that the vagina cleans itself naturally by making mucus, and that your body naturally flushes out and cleans your vagina. Its advice for washing is simple: wash the outside of your vagina with warm water when you bathe. It adds that some women also use mild soaps.
That means a feminine wash is optional. If you like using one, treat it as a gentle soap for the vulva and outer skin, not something that goes inside.
Why not douche
OWH defines douching as washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids, and says most doctors recommend that women do not douche. It explains that douching can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can lead to bacterial vaginosis, and that douching does not prevent pregnancy and can make it harder to get pregnant.
The CDC says BV is the most common vaginal condition in women ages 15-44, and that factors like douching and multiple partners increase the risk. Its prevention advice includes not douching.
OWH also warns that douching can cause problems during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, skip douches entirely and ask your doctor or midwife before using any new intimate product.
Choosing an external wash
| What to look for | Why |
|---|---|
| Fragrance free | OWH advises avoiding scented tampons, pads, powders and sprays, which may increase the chance of a vaginal infection |
| Labeled for external use only | Summer's Eve's directions say for external use only |
| Mild formula | OWH notes some women use mild soaps on the outside |
| Free from dyes | Summer's Eve lists its fragrance-free wash as free from dyes and parabens |
Summer's Eve's Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Wash, for example, lists water, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, lauryl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, lactic acid, sodium benzoate, disodium EDTA, polyquaternium-7 and sodium lactate, and describes itself as pH-balanced, hypoallergenic and free from dyes and parabens. Those are maker claims.
How to use a feminine wash
- Outside only. Summer's Eve's directions: pour a small amount onto your hand or a washcloth, apply to wet skin, and rinse thoroughly.
- Warm water is enough on days you skip the wash, as OWH describes.
- Stop if it stings. Burning, redness or itching after a new product is a sign to stop using it.
- Skip odor-masking sprays and powders. OWH says scented sprays and powders may increase infection risk.
For the rest of your body, see our body wash guide.
Odor is a symptom, not a hygiene problem
Washes are sometimes marketed for odor, but a new or strong odor can be a sign of infection. The CDC lists BV symptoms as a thin white or gray vaginal discharge, a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex, and pain, itching or burning in the vagina. It says a healthcare provider can treat BV with antibiotics, and that if you have symptoms you should be checked and treated by a provider.
A scented wash can hide an odor without treating its cause, so get checked rather than washing more.
When to call a doctor or nurse
OWH says to call your doctor or nurse if you have vaginal discharge that smells bad, or vaginal itching with thick, white or yellowish-green discharge with or without an odor. The CDC adds that pain, itching or burning in the vagina can be BV symptoms that need checking.
For urinary symptoms such as burning when you pee, see a provider; our D-mannose guide explains what the research shows about urinary tract support supplements.
What to look for when you buy
Summer's Eve Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Wash
Best for: People who want an external wash without fragrance
Summer's Eve lists it as fragrance free, for external use only, and free from dyes and parabens.
Watch out: External use only; stop if it irritates.
See options on AmazonFragrance-free feminine cleansing cloths
Best for: Travel or after exercise
Summer's Eve sells Fragrance Free Daily Gentle Cloths alongside its wash.
Watch out: Use on the outside only and do not flush unless the pack says so.
See options on AmazonMild unscented soap
Best for: People who prefer a basic option
OWH says washing the outside with warm water is enough and some women use mild soaps.
Watch out: Avoid scented products, which OWH links to higher infection risk.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- Do I need a feminine wash?
- No. OWH says the vagina cleans itself, and washing the outside with warm water when you bathe is enough.
- Is douching safe?
- Most doctors recommend against it; OWH says it can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, and the CDC lists it as a BV risk.
- Can I use feminine wash inside the vagina?
- No. Washes like Summer's Eve are labeled for external use only.
- Will a feminine wash fix vaginal odor?
- A strong fish-like odor can be a sign of BV, which needs treatment from a provider, per the CDC.
- Are scented feminine products safe?
- OWH advises avoiding scented tampons, pads, powders and sprays, which may increase infection risk.
Sources
- Douching (womenshealth.gov), Office on Women's Health, HHS
- About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) (cdc.gov), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Wash (summerseve.com), Summer's Eve