Many women grow up receiving confusing or incomplete messaging about intimate hygiene. Culturally, there’s often a lot of pressure to smell or feel a certain way, even though much of that pressure isn’t rooted in biology. In reality, vulvovaginal health is determined by natural physiological processes—like pH balance, hormones, and the vaginal microbiome—not by arbitrary standards of “cleanliness” or “femininity.”
The vagina and vulva are complex, sensitive ecosystems that benefit from simple, evidence-based care. Here are some healthy, evidence-based ways to actually care for the vulva and vagina and protect the microbiome, while debunking any myths that can feel dehumanizing.
Feminine Hygiene Myths
Myth: The vagina needs to be washed internally.
Truth: The vagina is self-cleaning, but the vulva needs gentle care. Its natural secretions flush out bacteria and maintain a healthy pH on their own.1 In fact, its products like douches or artificially-scented gels disrupt this balance and can actually cause infections like BV or an overgrowth of yeast.
Most intimate body washes are too alkaline (pH 7+), killing beneficial bacteria and disrupting pH balance.
Added artificial fragrance and harsh detergent can also irritate skin, and these three factors often lead to odor, dryness, and irritation. Our pH-balanced wash cleanses without compromise: gently removing impurities while supporting your body's natural balance. Probiotic ferment, combined with the pre- and post-biotic ingredients, help maintain a healthy microbiome, while this gentle formula minimizes odor, nourishes skin, and keeps you feeling fresh.
Myth: A healthy vagina should have no odor.
Truth: You’re a human being, not a Barbie doll. All vaginas have a natural scent that varies throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle, after sex, or with sweat. A mild, musky smell is completely normal. You should only be concerned with strong, foul, or extra fishy odors, as those can be a sign of imbalance or infection.
Additionally, understanding what healthy & unhealthy vaginal discharge looks like can help you take better care of your body.
Myth: You need scented products.
Truth: While you’ve been spoon fed the notion that your vagina needs to smell like strawberries, fragrances, dyes, and harsh cleansers will actually irritate the vulva and leave you with more issues than not. The safest option is cleaning your vulva with warm water and a gentle, pH-balanced soap like the URO pH-Balanced Probiotic Wash.
Myth: Hair removal and douches are necessary for cleanliness.
Truth: Pubic hair has a biological purpose: to protect the skin, reduce friction, and help maintain a healthy microbiome.2 Removing your hair is totally fine, so long as it’s your personal cosmetic choice and not a supposed hygiene requirement. With that, douching also disrupts the vagina’s natural microbiome and pH, making infections more likely.
Myth: Drinking pineapple juice changes how you taste.
Truth: Hydration and overall health matter much more than specific foods when it comes to vaginal odor & scent. While pineapple is delicious and loaded with benefits for your overall health, that should be the only reason why you’re eating it. For targeted support for healthy vaginal odor & ph, try daily URO Vaginal Probiotic.*
Feminine Hygiene Products You Actually Need
So now that those expired myths have been effectively debunked, what actually matters when it comes to safely and effectively up-keeping your feminine hygiene? Here’s what you need to know.
Cotton Underwear
The kind of fabric that vagina sits in all day plays a pretty critical role in your hygienic wellbeing. Cotton underwear helps prevent trapped moisture, irritation, and overgrowth of yeast.3 Many cute underwear styles mix cotton with spandex for stretch, but what matters most is that the gusset (the crotch panel) is 100% cotton, since that’s the part in direct contact with the vulva.
pH-Balanced Soap
Lucky for you, the vagina cleans itself internally. The only thing you need to worry about is washing the external area, aka the vulva. Use warm water and a pH-balanced cleanser like URO–designed to keep things squeaky clean while respecting your vagina’s natural ecosystem.
Feminine Wipes
Feminine wipes can be helpful after a long workout, during travel, post-sex, or during your period, to feel cleaner between changes. However, it’s important to make sure they’re unscented, alcohol-free, dye-free, labeled hypoallergenic, and made for external use only. Overuse can be irritating, but they’re helpful when used responsibly.
Probiotics
Help your vagina help itself. A balanced diet, hydration, and smoke-free lifestyle all help your natural flora thrive. But what really kicks things up a notch is taking probiotics to prevent yeast overgrowth and keep the healthy bacteria well-fed. URO Vaginal Probiotic are stellar when it comes to maintaining a healthy pH.*
