Fresh Isn’t Always Healthy: Dismantling Misconceptions in “Feminine Care”

As soon as I hit puberty, I was taught that every single part of my body needs to smell like soap.

Turns out, I wasn’t alone in thinking this way. Jill, who finds herself in Reddit forums about “feminine care,” has gone through a similar phase of misinformed cleanliness—one that Filipinas, with some just entering adulthood, are now trying to actively break away from. 

“Discharge isn’t normal, so you need to wash that away with feminine wash,” recounts Jill about the practices shared with her, which she once believed. 

For Jill, and for many Filipinas, we gravitate toward what we believe makes us feel clean. Despite the attractive marketing of the industry, many doctors and studies agree on a universal truth about the external female genitalia: It doesn’t need much to stay healthy. 

With the help of two board-certified OB-GYNs, Allure Philippines is breaking down a handful of long-held misconceptions.

Misconception #1: You should use a “feminine wash” every day.

A quick trip to the supermarket immediately greets you with aisles lined with products being marketed as feminine wash. Clad in pretty packaging and descriptions, Jill was one of the many consumers drawn in by the idea that using them was essential.

But these agents can “potentially be irritants,” shares Margaret Joyce Cristi-Limson, MD, vice president of the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine. Why? Our vagina houses natural bacteria for a reason.

Think of our bodies as a habitat for all sorts of microbes to thrive— microbes that serve as the body’s first line of defense against infection. Overusing these products disrupts this natural balance and function. “It may alter the natural microbiome… the natural bacteria that protect the body from the more harmful ones,” explains Dr. Limson.

Victoria Poblete, MD, of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, doesn’t dismiss using these products entirely. The caveat? They should be reserved for days when you have your period, where gentle cleansing can sometimes be necessary. “Only for ‘red days,’” emphasizes Dr. Limson, who, despite some reservations, also acknowledges the purpose of these products. “Kasi it’s a bit strong. Puwede ‘yan, but still, do not overly wash kasi magdadry.”

Misconception #2: Your vulva must smell fresh like flowers.

Many of us are conditioned to believe that our vulva—what we commonly call our “vagina”—must smell like flowers or body wash in order for it to be clean.

What doctors recommend? Understand your vulva’s natural scent instead. “You should be familiar with your normal odor and discharge, which varies depending on the day of your cycle,” explains Dr. Poblete. (To get our terminology right, the vagina is the internal muscular canal where we insert tampons or where penetration occurs. What’s visible to us, the area we clean, is actually the vulva, which Dr. Limson describes as the bulging area “right before the opening to the vagina.”) 

Remember how overcleaning and overwashing can disrupt the vagina’s natural bacteria? Well, this natural bacteria is also why discharge has a smell. The odor varies depending on your lifestyle, with factors such as stress or period cycles playing a role. A mild, sour smell is associated with a high pH level, which indicates a good balance of bacteria. 

However, the market for “feminine care” products tells us otherwise. Consumers often “read about having to smell fresh,” says Dr. Limson. 

Instead, Dr. Poblete says that we should simply look out for “anything foul-smelling, itchy, or a different-colored discharge.” These are the signs that require medical attention.

Misconception #3: You have to wash every single time you pee.

Douching, the act of using a strong stream of water to clean your private area, is a common cleaning practice that’s been passed down through generations of women. But there’s merit to breaking the cycle: “Some people douche or try to clean, when it may not be necessary,” says Dr. Limson.

Aside from potentially washing away healthy bacteria, the water you’re pushing up the vulva may carry pathogens that could eventually reach your genital tract, causing infection. 

Overcleaning and overdrying the perineal area can also lead to dryness and itchiness. “Some patients just wash all the time and it’s so dry when we look down there. Kaya pala kating-kati sila. Kasi super dry, overly washed,” Dr. Limson stresses.

Just like any part of the body, this area requires basic hygiene practices regularly—but not excessively. Dr. Limson doesn’t recommend washing every time you pee (patting dry is enough), but she advises to still wash at least twice a day. “You don’t have to be overly clean. What you really need is to wash twice a day, with a mild soap,” she says.

Again, having your period can be an exception. “It won’t be necessary to wash every time unless the patient feels the need to, [to] wash off blood from the perineal area,” Dr. Limson adds. 

Misconception #4: You must be hairless to be hygienic.

Ads lead most of us to believe that the vulva has to be free of hair in order to be hygienic. But for those who shave this area without professional assistance, it may cause more harm than good. 

“A lot of problems we see in the clinic are patients who shave their pubic hair. That actually promotes a bit of irritation doon sa skin and promotes the growth of ingrown hair,” shares Dr. Limson. “Nagkakaroon ng small abscess formation because of an irritated nick or cut that is induced by the shaving process.”

For Jill, the idea of having pubic hair used to be shameful, because she was taught that “having hair that’s not in your scalp is embarrassing.”

But pubic hair exists for a purpose. “[Filipinas] think that they have to be clean and bald there when, in fact, hair, to some extent, protects the perineal or the vulva area from the invasion of other pathogenic microorganisms,” says Dr. Limson.

It won’t hurt to just let your pubic hair be, although we know that personal preference matters, too. “Maybe for hygiene purposes, maybe just trim a bit, but [no] need to be bald down there,” adds Dr. Limson.

Misconception #5: You should wait for signs and symptoms before consulting an OB-GYN.

Dr. Poblete believes in one fool-proof advice: know your normal to recognize your abnormal. As mentioned by both OB-GYNs, you must watch for certain symptoms—like a foul smell or greenish discharge—to determine if you need medical assistance. But you don’t have to be actually experiencing a problem before you get checked.

“It’s important to remember that you can go to your gynecologist even though nothing is wrong,” says Dr. Poblete. “You can seek consultation if you are interested in getting pregnant, if you want to get screened for disease like HPV (human papillomavirus), or if you want to confirm that ‘your normal’ is actually normal, or just to get a basic check.”

Outgrowing the secrets we grew up with

These misconceptions aren’t simply inherited—they’re often passed down in secrecy. Reproductive care used to be a foreign concept for Jill. “My family didn’t know any better. School never taught girls about personal care. They simply made us watch some kind of show and gave products without explaining, then called it a day.” 

Seeking reproductive care has also become a subject of shame for some, in fear of judgment. “When I ask them if I can do a pelvic exam or take a look down there, they say, ‘Doktora, I didn’t shave, I’m not clean down there,’” says Dr. Limson.

Whether from misconception or long-standing cultural beliefs, what’s clear—as emphasized by both OB-GYNs—is that Filipinos often feel uncomfortable talking about anything related to sexual organs. Many see sexual education “as incorrect or improper since it may influence the young to engage in sexual practices,” explains Dr. Poblete.

But for women like Jill, it doesn’t have to remain this way. There are steps that we can take, and also more systemic shifts that institutions can implement. “Healthcare can be a safe space for everyone to ask questions, get consultations and the right products—if healthcare providers are empowered and trained to communicate in a healthy, supportive manner,” she says. 

Dr. Poblete also emphasizes the importance of sex education and breaking down the stereotypes Filipinos often attach to it. “Sex education teaches us things like how menstruation and pregnancy happens, or how unique the vagina is with its self-cleansing mechanism.”

When we talk openly about our physical bodies, it also strengthens our mental and emotional wellness. Embracing these conversations can empower Filipinas to care for ourselves fully and honor the needs of our most personal parts.

“Walang malice, walang bastos about these discussions,” Dr. Limson affirms.