If you're someone with a vagina/vulva, raise your hand if you've ever taken a stroll down the "feminine care" aisle of your local Target and been like, "Do I need to use ALL of these products to keep my downstairs healthy???"
According to Dr. Fatima Daoud Yilmaz, MD, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology based in Long Island, New York, that isn't the case. She recently went viral on TikTok for her series "A Gynecologist Visits The Feminine Care Aisle," where she debunks different products and explains "what's trash and what's worth the cash."
"It's absolutely shaming, it's just vanilla-scented-with-a-good-PR-team shaming," Dr. Daoud told BuzzFeed. "I think as long as there is money to be gained from telling people with vulvas/vaginas that they are not 'fresh,' 'balanced,' or 'clean,' companies will continue to create fake problems for us. And the products get more and more ridiculous. From 'panty spray' to vaginal brushes for menstrual debris, the spirit of capitalism and misogyny is illustrated in no better way than the feminine care aisle."
Dr. Daoud explained that she started her social media account and TikTok series to combat misinformation and inform others about pregnancy and gynecologic care. "TikTok has a large teen/young adult audience that's curious to learn more about their bodies, but some of the most popular content for 'feminine health' is created by people with no credentials who are (usually) trying to sell something. That's where I come in. I wanted to use the knowledge I've accumulated over my years of training to create content that is educational, interesting, and practical. (And never sponsored!)"
And the number one thing she DOESN'T recommend? "Douching! It's the absolute worst. There is no medical condition that is treated with vaginal douching. Douching will throw off the balance of the healthy vaginal bacteria, which can lead to infections and inflammation. Douching can push vaginal bacteria (including sexually transmitted infections) through the cervix into the uterus, causing a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This can lead to serious health consequences, including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and pus collecting in the fallopian tubes/ovaries (tubo-ovarian abscess). Don't do it!"
Above all else, Dr. Daoud recommended speaking with a medical professional about any concerns before running to the feminine care aisle. "If you think there is something wrong (odor, discharge, itching, etc.), get evaluated by a credentialed medical provider. Accurate diagnosis leads to appropriate treatment, without exposing your body — and wallet — to random over-the-counter potions that usually don't work."
