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Sooo lots of women are sticking cucumbers in their vaginas but it’s not a sex thing, I promise
Not that there’s a ~non-weird~ reason
by Katie Way
Here's a fact: People are dumb as hell and will try anything they see online. Another fact: Many women are a little shaky on how exactly to care for their lady bits due to a lack of comprehensive sex-ed, the stigma within some cultures surrounding female genitalia, and the aforementioned fact that people are dumb as hell and will try anything they see online.
I guess what I'm trying to say is women are sticking peeled cucumbers into their vaginas and then twisting them around for up to 20 minutes as part of a little internet trend called a "vagina facial." The purported benefits of the "facial" include cleansing, increased STI protection, and a pleasant odor. None of these claims are backed by science.
Do not stick a peeled cucumber in your vagina. It is bad for you, and you shouldn't do it.
Why is it bad?
According to Canadian gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter, inserting a foreign object like a cucumber into your vagina upsets its natural pH balance, which can lead to trouble in paradise.
"This idea that some kind of vaginal cleansing is required, be it a peeled cucumber or the “feminine” washes” sold at drugstores, is misogyny dressed up as health care and I am having none of it," Dr. Gunter wrote in a blog post. "Vaginas are not dirty."
How bad is it?
"By damaging lactobacilli and the mucosa attempts at vaginal cleaning increase a woman’s risk of contracting HIV or gonorrhea if she is exposed," Dr. Gunter said in the same blog post. "Paradoxically it will also cause odor."
In short, pretty bad. Don't do it.
What should I do instead?
Vaginas are surprisingly low-maintenance. Unless you're experiencing symptoms like itching, excessive discharge, or unusual odor then soap and water should suffice for keeping clean down below, just like the rest of your body.
If you are experiencing unusual symptoms, back away from the produce aisle and head to the gynecologist for an STI test. In fact, even if you aren't experiencing symptoms it's a good idea to get an STI test every few months or after you have unprotected sexual contact with a new partner.
It's truly that easy, no veggies required.