Most women don’t know the difference between the vagina and the vulva. The vagina is a word that is often used to include everything ”down there". But what we usually refer to is the vulva. Because of this mix-up, there is confusion about using a product for cleansing or not. You have probably heard that the vagina is “self-cleansing”. That’s true, but the vulva is not.
Let’s make this clear: The VAGINA is the inner muscle canal, the birth canal, that runs from the cervix to the outside of the body. The VULVA is the outside part that you can see; the labia, clitoris, vaginal opening and urethra. These outer parts are NOT self-cleansing.
Between the outer and inner labia the remains of dead skin cells, discharge, sweat and menstrual blood can be accumulated and cause bad odour and infections if not properly cleaned.
But very important though, these parts do not contain enough sebaceous glands to stay healthy if regularly washed with soap. That is why doctors and midwives recommend cleansing with oil-based products.