Vagina Steaming

Vagina Steaming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pseudoscientific form of alternative medicine

^ Jump up to: a b c d Ghose, Tia (January 30, 2015). "No, Gwenyth Paltrow, Vaginas don't need to be steam cleaned" . LiveScience . LiveScience . Retrieved 9 March 2017 .

^ Jump up to: a b c d Hull, T; et al. (July 2011). "Prevalence, motivations, and adverse effects of vaginal practices in Africa and Asia: findings from a multicountry household survey". Journal of Women's Health . 20 (7): 1097–109. doi : 10.1089/jwh.2010.2281 . PMID 21668355 .

^ De Gezelle, Jillian (2014). Q'eqchi' Maya Reproductive Ethnomedicine . Springer. pp. 21–22. ISBN 9783319107448 .

^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Robinson, Ann (30 January 2015). "Sorry, Gwyneth Paltrow, but steaming your vagina is a bad idea" . The Guardian . Retrieved 9 March 2017 .

^ Oliver, Dana (20 April 2016). "I Tried A Vaginal Steam Treatment, And Here's What Happened" . Huffington Post . Retrieved 9 March 2017 .

^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Vandenburg, Tycho; Braun, Virginia (10 October 2016). " 'Basically, it's sorcery for your vagina': unpacking Western representations of vaginal steaming". Culture, Health & Sexuality . 19 (4): 470–485. doi : 10.1080/13691058.2016.1237674 . PMID 27719108 . S2CID 8176129 .

^ McDermott, Annette (7 November 2017). Weatherspoon, Deborah (ed.). "Vaginal Steaming: Use, Safety, Benefits, and More" . Healthline . Retrieved 2020-04-13 .

^ Robert, Magali (June 2019). "Second-Degree Burn Sustained After Vaginal Steaming". Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada . 41 (6): 838–839. doi : 10.1016/j.jogc.2018.07.013 . PMID 30366886 . S2CID 53101127 .

^ Jump up to: a b c Gunter, Jen (27 January 2015). "Gwyneth Paltrow says steam your vagina, an OB/GYN says don't" . Dr. Jen Gunter Wielding the Lasso of Truth .

^ Beck, Laura Hopper (January 27, 2015). "I Went To A Spa For My Uterus And This Is My Story" . Fast Company .

Vaginal steaming , sometimes shortened to V-steaming , [1] and also known as wormwood steaming , is an alternative health treatment whereby a woman squats or sits over steaming water containing herbs such as mugwort , rosemary , wormwood , and basil . It has been practiced in Africa ( Mozambique , South Africa [2] ), Asia ( Indonesia , Thailand [2] ), and Central America (among the Q'eqchi' people [3] ).

Vaginal steaming is described in spas as an ancient Chinese treatment for reproductive organ ailments and is claimed to have other benefits. No empirical evidence supports any of these claims. [4] It has become a fad for women in the Western world. [5] In a paper for Culture, Health & Sexuality , Vandenburg and Braun argue that the rhetoric of vaginal steaming mirrors sexist Western discourse about the supposed inherent dirtiness of the female body, and that its claims of improved fertility and sexual pleasure continue the view that the female body exists for male sexual pleasure and childbearing. [6]

There is no evidence that vaginal steaming has any benefits, [7] while there is evidence that it can be dangerous.

According to a study on vaginal practices by the World Health Organization published in 2011, one of the ways in which women practice vaginal care is by "Vaginal steaming or smoking: the 'steaming' or 'smoking' of the vagina, by sitting above a source of heat (fire, coals, hot rocks) on which water, herbs, or oils are placed to create steam or smoke". [2] For that study, over 4,000 women in Tete (Mozambique), KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Yogyakarta (Indonesia), and Chonburi (Thailand) were asked about their vaginal care. When it came to vaginal steaming/smoking, very different results were obtained, and very different reasons were given: in Chonburi, 67% of women reported having performed vaginal steaming or smoking, "which they associated with maintaining wellness and feminine identity", especially after having given birth (85.5%). In Tete, only 10% of women practiced steaming or smoking, "mostly intended to enhance male sexual pleasure by causing vaginal tightening (64.1% of users) and drying (22.9%)". In the two African locations, 37–38% of women said they practiced it to enhance "male sexual pleasure"; in the two Asian ones, 0% gave that answer. Conversely, of the Asian women 26% reported their "feminine identity" was a reason, compared to 0% of the African women. [2]

Vaginal steaming is marketed with pseudoscientific notions of "balancing" female hormones and "revitalizing" the uterus or vagina. [1] [4] [9] It is also marketed as "cleaning" the vagina, which it does not do. [4] [9]

In an article for Goop , actress Gwyneth Paltrow in reviewing a Santa Monica, California spa, described several of their treatments and said of one, "[y]ou sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al". [4] [1] A report in The Guardian responded by debunking the claim of the heat, steam, and mugwort having any benefit, and noted it could be harmful. [4]

A 2017 survey by Vandenburg and Braun [6] (taking as its title one observer's characterization – "Basically, it's sorcery for your vagina") [10]
analyzed "90 online items related to vaginal steaming", including from newspapers and magazines, blogs, and providers of the practice. They identified a general theme, that of the "self-improving woman", which they argue fits in perfectly with modern constructions of what scholarship has called the "neoliberal" woman, a woman who, free of outside influences, seeks to optimize herself and her health (see Healthism ). Within that theme, they found four attitudes that promote healthist practices such as vaginal steaming:

The authors conclude that vaginal steaming is one of many practices that fit "neoliberal, postfeminist and healthist ideologies, colliding with pervasive sociocultural understandings of the female reproductive body both as core of womanhood and as 'embodied pathology ' ". [6] : 480

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V-steaming. Yoni-steam. Vaginal steam treatment. Whatever you call it, vaginal steaming is a thing. Marketed as an age-old spa treatment for your vagina, the practice has no scientific backing, but tons of celebrity endorsements.

Conversations around women's health are a social concern and worthy of discussion, especially because misinformation about women's health is so rampant. Ahead, our expert OBGYNs discuss the physical and psychological dangers of vaginal steaming, and how to circumvent harmful well-woman messaging and practices.

Although vaginal hygiene is not exactly a new market, over the past few years, we've seen a rise in the types of products aimed at improving vaginal wellness. One of the most popular treatments is a spa treatment for the vagina, also known as vaginal steaming. Vaginal steaming is steaming of the vulvar skin. "Usually water and a mixture of essential oils or herbs are placed in a steamer and a person sits above the steam with their legs open to let the steam reach the vulvar or vaginal area," explains Dr. Sara Twogood.

Dr. Kim Langdon adds that vaginal steaming involves a process where "hot water is vaporized (steaming) which contains a variety of herbs thought to relieve cramps and digestive issues and help the healing process."

Vaginas are notorious for self-cleaning, so why do people steam their vaginas? "A lot of it is marketing," says Twogood. "It became popular when Gwyneth Paltrow discussed it. That’s the power of Goop."

But the trend also capitalizes on what Twogood calls a larger cultural narrative, or "concern people have about their vulvas and vaginas." Dr. Kelly Culwell adds that concerns about vaginal care are not inherently so problematic, especially because, as she explains, "women's health is such an under-researched area. There are many health problems that people with female reproductive organs face (such as recurrent vaginal infections, endometriosis, or severe cramping with periods) for which there are not many good diagnoses or treatment options." However, many times brands or celebrities tap into a type of cultivated concern, which "leads to desperate folks looking for solutions outside of mainstream medicine."

The problem is when a practice like vaginal steaming is "marketed as a non-medical way to improve the vulvovaginal health," explains Twogood. So, what's the appeal? "I’ve heard some of my patients do it out of curiosity or just to say they’ve tried it," she says. "I’ve had some patients who were struggling with what they perceived to be an odor or abnormal discharge and wanted to see if it would improve their symptoms."

Culwell says people steam their vaginas in a misguided attempt to get a deep clean down there. "There is no evidence that this works, and in fact, it does not make logical anatomic sense." Breaking it down, she says, "the vagina (the interior tube that leads from the outside—the vulva—to the cervix/uterus) is actually a potential space, meaning the walls are shut against each other unless something is put inside. Steam does not 'open' the vagina. It does not actually make it very far inside, and even if it did, the cervix (opening of the uterus) is designed to keep things out of the uterus to prevent infection." Finally, she says, "Steam cannot reach inside the uterus."

Twogood adds that there's also no medical backing to vaginal steaming. "It’s not studied in a robust manner even though the marketing promises more than it could deliver from a medical perspective."

Not only is vaginal steaming ineffective—it carries both physical and psychological dangers. "Anytime anything is put inside the vagina (such as douching or in the case of steaming, the vapors of essential oils/herbs), this can cause an imbalance of the natural bacteria in the vagina which can lead to irritation or bacterial vaginosis," says Culwell.

Vaginal steaming may also result in burns. "There have been reports of skin irritation and even burns on the genital skin from the heat," says Twogood. "You could burn the delicate tissue that is inside the vagina, called mucosa," adds Langdon. "It is much thinner than skin and it also absorbs chemicals more easily. The herbs are chemicals that can irritate this tissue and make you prone to scarring."

Infection is another concern. "Heat causes yeast infections and may cause other harmful bacteria to grow and overcome the normal vaginal microbiome," explains Langdon. Twogood adds that the equipment used in any type of steaming procedure can be a breeding ground for bacteria. "Cleaning and sanitation of the equipment and water itself would be very important," she says.

There are also psychological dangers associated with vaginal steaming and the dogma underscored by its practice. "One study looked at the marketing and promotion of vaginal steaming and found that it fit into the common theme of other vulvovaginal 'care' marketing—that female genitalia needs improving, that it’s ugly, that it’s disgusting, and that paying for products or services can help with this," explains Twogood. "Perpetuating this idea is detrimental to society as a whole."

Twogood encourages supporting vaginal hygiene with simple, daily practices and by avoiding others. "Don’t put fragrant products on the skin or inside the vagina—this means soaps, solutions, scented tampons, and/or pads. Don’t douche. Wear breathable clothing. Avoid moisture-trapping clothing or athleisure wear. Change period products as recommended." She also likes sitz baths for any type of vulvar irritation. "A soak in mild temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, up to three times a day, can help with so many vulvar and vaginal concerns."

You can also do nothing. Langdon encourages people to "leave the vagina alone. It does not need to be cleaned," she says. "Only the external genitalia (vulva, labia, perineum) need cleaning with warm soap and water, and a rinse."

Culwell also encourages a minimalist approach. "The vagina is amazing because it is self-cleaning," she says. "The vagina has a delicate balance of bacteria which keeps the vaginal pH in the acidic range which wards off other infections. Vaginal discharge also helps to keep the vagina healthy by sloughing off old cells and mucous. The best thing to use for vulvar (external) hygiene is plain water or unscented soaps, used only on the outside." She also underscores the importance of "wearing cotton underwear, regularly washing sex toys, and avoiding putting anything in the anus and then into the vagina (such as a penis or sex toys during sex) without washing first."

Given that there are no benefits of vaginal steaming, Culwell has a bottom line. "I recommend people practice good vulvar/vaginal hygiene and talk to their doctors if they are experiencing symptoms that they think might benefit from vaginal steaming, as there will surely be a better option."

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Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
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We hate to break it to you, but you shouldn’t always listen to Gwyneth Paltrow and Chrissy Teigen—at least when it comes to v-steaming, aka yoni steaming. The celebs are famous fans of vaginal steaming. Sound odd? It kinda is. If you're a little confused, think of it this way: It’s essentially a facial for your vulva.
Vagina steaming has gotten the Goop treatment in the past, putting it in the spotlight. And Chrissy Teigen posted a photo on Instagram that showed her squatting over some kind of contraption with a blanket draped over her knees. (She was also clutching a heating pad over her neck while wearing a face mask, FWIW.)
“Face mask / heat pad / vagina steam no I don’t know if any of this works but it can’t hurt right? *vagina dissolves*,” she wrote.
Oh, but Chrissy—it definitely can hurt. Spoiler alert: Your vagina isn't a set of curtains that needs to be steam cleaned from time to time.
Yoni steaming entails sitting sans underwear on a chair with a hole in the middle, over a bowl containing steaming hot water infused with a blend of herbs, which are often mugwort (Gwyneth’s go-to), chamomile, basil, oregano and wormwood, to name a few. (Those wishing to work their quads can also simply squat over the bowl.) A session typically lasts around 20 minutes, but can last up to an hour, and the purported perks include everything from easing menstrual symptoms, stress, digestive issues, depression, hemorrhoids, headaches, fatigue, and pain to boosting fertility and healing post childbirth.
Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. Between childbirth, your period, and sex, it’s quite an understatement to say your vagina goes through a lot, but that doesn’t mean a special spa day for it is the solution. Whether you try it at home or at a spa, the reality is that v-steaming has absolutely no scientific basis. Since your skin down there is super sensitive and delicate, it doesn’t take much to accidentally burn it. Plus, overheating your vagina could create an environment for bacteria to thrive in—hello, yeast infection. It’s even more important to avoid v-steaming during pregnancy, since some herbs may cause miscarriage.
Then there's the whole thing about how the vagina literally cleans itself . A healthy vagina has bacteria that helps keep the vaginal pH at the right level, but disrupting this environment (through steaming, douching, etc.) can actually increase the risk of infection, according to women’s health expert Jennifer Wider , M.D.
Yeah, that's a hard no. “Although this steaming has been used all over the world it makes no sense,” says Lynette J. Margesson, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. “Why would one do this? The steam almost never gets inside the vagina. Steaming would just affect the vulva and potentially scald the skin. Unfortunately, women mix up the vulva and vagina all the time. They, too frequently, are taught that the genital area is a taboo, dirty area—how sad!”
If you’re having cramps, Jessica Shepherd , M.D., a minimally invasive gynecologist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, recommends taking an NSAID to help with the pain. A heating pad and exercise can also help, Wider says. If it doesn’t, and your cramps are beyond terrible (or you're having them outside of your period), talk to your doctor. This could be a sign that you’re struggling with an underlying condition like endometriosis or adenomyosis, bot
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