Do Filipinas Really Need Feminine Wash? A Filipino OB-GYN Explains

Let’s be honest: no one ever taught us how to wash down there. We picked up our feminine care habits from our mothers, sisters, and friends who were going through the same thing. Perhaps even from an overbearing tita’s unsolicited advice, delivered with a “Kailangan mo ‘yan para mabango ka,” or a “Hindi ka malinis kung hindi ka gumagamit.” 

One product they swore by once we hit our teens was feminine wash. Between the commercials and the drugstore aisles lined with bottles in soft pinks, greens, and florals, all promising to keep us fresh, clean, and confident through the sweltering heat and the Manila traffic, it felt like the natural step. 

But do we really need it? To find out, Allure Philippines spoke to Lyra Chua, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, FPSRM, who heads The Medical City Women’s Health Care Center, is the Section Head of OB-GYN Ultrasound at the Institute for Women’s Health, and was the Past President of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS). 

Below, she discusses what she says your body already handles on its own and what a wash can and can’t reach.

First, know your anatomy: Vulva vs. vagina

According to Dr. Chua, the whole conversation hinges on knowing the difference between these two terms. The vulva, she explains, “is the outer portion that you see when you look at the woman’s private parts.” The vagina, on the other hand, “is the inner, tubular portion that’s usually about three inches in length.” 

In a separate article, Allure Philippines wrote that the vagina is the internal muscular canal, where we insert tampons or where penetration occurs. 

With this, anything you lather and rinse in the shower only ever touches the vulva. Margaret Joyce Cristi-Limson, MD, vice president of the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine, said that this is the area that’s actually visible to us, and it’s “the bulging area right before the opening to the vagina.”

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The vagina is a self-cleaning organ

“The normal vagina is a self-cleaning structure,” says Dr. Chua, “as long as it is normal. That’s why I do not usually prescribe cleansers for the external genitalia.” 

She asks us to picture it this way: “Just imagine the vagina is a river with an upstream and a downstream. The cervix is the upstream, where mucus is produced and flows down to the opening, or downstream.” A healthy vagina expels normal discharge and hosts bacteria that keep irritants and infections in check. 

“These are good bacteria,” Dr. Chua says. 95% of the good bacteria in the vagina are lactobacilli species, which produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide that help maintain a slightly acidic environment. 

Trouble starts when that balance tips. “When a woman’s immune system goes down, or she gets sick, the pH [level] of the vagina changes,” explains Dr. Chua. An acidic vagina becomes an alkaline one, “and so this is the situation where all of the bacteria multiply rapidly.” 

But a wash alone can’t prevent or treat that, since, as Dr. Chua says, “What a woman washes is only the outer part, but the inner part will not be cleansed thoroughly.” 

Do Filipinas really need feminine wash?

Dr. Chua is firm when she says, “The word is not ‘need.'” She advises that women should use it “if you feel comfortable with it, and it makes you feel clean and fresh.”

For most people, she says, ordinary soap is enough. “A woman doesn’t really need any specialized cleaning wash, except for just your ordinary soap or whatever bath soap she uses. And if you’ve used the same product for years with no irritation, you can use it forever.” Of course, it’s up to anyone if they want to use and buy feminine wash, but Dr. Chua advises everyone to remember that it will only wash the vulva, not the vagina. 

Dr. Chua also adds a take on shopping budgets: “Why add to your shopping budget when you can just use any ordinary soap if it works for you? But if you feel fresher and more confident with a feminine wash, then why not use it?” 

Victoria Poblete, MD, of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, said in a previous article that she doesn’t dismiss feminine wash entirely and advised women to use it only when it’s necessary. These could be situations such as after exercise, sexual intercourse, or menstruation. 

The labels, ingredients, and habits to skip

Dr. Chua also cautions against several ingredients and habits done in the name of feminine care.

First, bottles with “pH-balanced” labels shouldn’t sway you, says Dr. Chua. “The skin of the vulva is just like the skin of our face and our hands,” she explains. The part of the vagina that is sensitive to pH changes is the lining, or the mucosa, which is found inside. 

Her verdict on this claim: “So if you think about pH changes, the skin can always adjust to anything that you apply on it, as long as you rinse it off very well. So whether it’s pH-specific or non-pH-specific doesn’t really matter for me.” Once you rinse it off, she says, pH talk is irrelevant.

Second are antibacterial washes. “I don’t advise the use of a wash with antibacterial components,” says Dr. Chua. “Because if you use that antibacterial [product] every day for the whole month, then you’ll wash away any good bacteria that are there, and the bad bacteria or fungal elements will multiply.” 

She will only prescribe the use of these for two specific situations: when a woman is menstruating and when she has a cervico-vaginal infection. 

Third is fragrance, especially if it bothers the user. “If you’re allergic to fragrance, you should avoid using that particular brand.

Last is the habit of douching, or the cleansing of the inside of the vagina. Dr. Chua explains that douching used to be prescribed but has since become an unpopular practice “because sometimes, it’s just introducing bacteria from the outside to the inside.” 

For an actual infection, Dr. Chua says that treatment for it is through antibiotics and vaginal suppositories. “We don’t say vaginal wash, because the vagina cannot be washed by anything that you use when you take a bath.” 

Can you overdo cleaning?

Filipinos are known for their personal hygiene habits. Dr. Chua sees this habit positively, especially for women. “That’s one good thing about the Filipino woman. She really cleans herself very well, and I think that’s a good trait to keep herself as clean as possible,” says Dr. Chua. 

But there’s a catch. “If you overdo the cleansing,” she says, “you might just wash away all the good bacteria that should be there.” As with using antibacterial washes, she explains, this can lead to fungal overgrowth. 

Another habit that Dr. Chua asks readers to rethink is the frequent use of a bidet. “It’s not a good thing to use the bidet every time a woman pees,” she says, citing a personal observation she had with one of her patients. Using the bidet after a bowel movement is necessary, yes, but when it comes to peeing, Dr. Chua says it’s better to wipe. 

Her reason for this is moisture. “Fungus thrives in wet, damp, moist environments. It’s the same with bacteria.” She usually advises her patients to use the bidet two to three times a day and says that if you do use one, “be sure to dry the area very, very well.” 

Knowing your normal vs. “see a doctor”

Dr. Chua, along with other OB-GYNs, wants to make one thing clear: vaginal discharge is normal. It’s a helpful way to find out about the health of your vagina, and a way to track your fertility and period. 

Normal discharge, according to Dr. Chua, “is whitish or clear,” a bit like mucus or egg whites, and turns creamier as one’s period approaches. But “yellow, greenish, light brown, or even frankly pink or bloody discharge,” she says, “is very indicative of infection.” She also adds that “any foul-smelling discharge would indicate infection.” 

Dr. Chua advises readers to stop using any products once they notice any itching, burning, or irritation, and to immediately see their doctors. The causes can be anything from bacterial, fungal, viral, or even a sexually transmitted infection, so a visit to a doctor can help determine the specifics. 

Plus, she says not to be afraid to reach out to any doctor they’re comfortable with. “I think every woman should have a good relationship with a good gynecologist,” says Dr. Chua. This helps a lot, especially if you’re embarrassed about discharge and odor. 

So, to answer the question: no, we don’t need feminine wash to be malinis and mabango. Plus, feeling clean and confident is ours to define, and we don’t need a product to do that. 

If anything, our body already handles it well enough inside, and ordinary soap is more than enough. Just know what your body can do on its own, choose what works for you, and keep a good relationship with your gynecologist. That’s one habit worth passing on to the next generation.