Are intimate deodorants really necessary? Here are the risks

Among women across the (wealthy) world, it has now become commonplace to use commercial products for intimate hygiene and for cleaning the external genitalia. The practice is so well established that there are a vast number of specialised products on the market, ranging from internal washes (also known as ‘vaginal douches’) to cleansing soaps and, more recently, intimate deodorants, almost all of which are similar and promise cleanliness and protection against infections and irritation.

The use of intimate deodorants has become much more widespread in recent years. There are products on the market that have been tested, containing well-known ingredients already used in similar products, and whose use does not generally cause any problems for the skin or mucous membranes – except in cases of intolerance, allergies or localised, personal issues. The risk is indirect. The presence of unpleasant odours is almost always a sign of localised problems in the genital area. Bacterial or fungal infections can give rise to this sort of odour: there are infections that are recognisable precisely because of a fairly characteristic unpleasant odour (see Gardnerella infection). For this reason, ‘masking’ the unpleasant odour with deodorants is not only counterproductive (think of what happens when you try to mask a bad smell with perfume: the two scents mix, making the problem seem worse) but it can also be risky because it leads to infections and inflammations being overlooked and concealed, when they should be treated as soon as possible. Ultimately, the risk is that you will waste time without resolving the problem, but rather by making it worse. The use of products on the genital area also has the effect of destroying or altering the bacterial flora normally present in the area, which plays a recognised role in maintaining the correct balance of all genital functions. An imbalance in this bacterial flora has been linked not only to gynaecological problems and discomfort but also to more serious consequences, including infertility.

Almost always, yes. It could also be a sign of a more serious problem. That is why, if this symptom persists for more than a few days, you should always consult your gynaecologist. And for this reason, you should never try to ‘mask’ these odours with a deodorant.

Of course, skin that is inflamed and irritated by an infection is very sensitive and susceptible to any external ‘aggression’. Even a deodorant, despite containing tested ingredients that are generally non-irritating, can exacerbate the inflammation, causing severe symptoms such as itching, a burning sensation, redness, pain and vaginal discharge. This only makes the condition worse, rendering it unbearable and more difficult to treat. For this reason, the use of deodorants is generally not recommended, particularly in the presence of known or suspected local inflammation. The possibility of being allergic to one or more ingredients in the deodorant should not be underestimated.

The use of vaginal douches and intimate cleansers is also a much-debated topic. Vaginal douches, which involve introducing liquids into the vagina, rarely manage to treat gynaecological infections and irritations, because they remain inside the genital area for only a very short time. They serve more of a ‘cleansing’ function, acting like internal ‘showers’ to remove secretions, debris, bacteria and fungi. Whilst this serves a useful purpose, it also creates a problem: along with pathogenic and ‘harmful’ bacteria, beneficial bacteria are also removed – those that are normally present in the vaginal environment and which create a system of protection, balance and normality that actually combats infections caused by harmful microorganisms. By removing everything in their path, these substances can therefore create harmful and entirely unhelpful imbalances and alterations, worsening – rather than improving – an already precarious situation. In some rare cases, the use of internal douches has even been linked to serious pelvic infections (severe abdominal infections, similar to peritonitis). For this reason, the use of internal douches has declined in recent years and many gynaecologists advise against it.