S1 Ep33: A Walk Down the Feminine Hygiene Aisle

"Feminine Hygiene" is big business- "feminine" of course being the acceptable marketing euphemism to avoid saying the word "vagina". Over 50% of post-menopausal women are using at least one so-called “feminine hygiene” product on their vulvas or in their vaginas. But are vaginas so smelly that there need to be thousands of products and a billion-dollar industry to eliminate the stench?

In this episode, Dr. Streicher discusses: 

• Where the term FEMININE HYGIENE comes from
• The origins of VAGINAL SHAMING 
• PERCEIVED vaginal ODOR as opposed to actual vaginal odor
• The role of pH in maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome
• Things that can INCREASE pH and cause vaginal odor or BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV) 
• WHY you shouldn’t buy an over-the-counter kit to see if you have BV
• Strategies to keep your pH in BALANCE
• The PROBLEM with VULVAR WASHES and wipes
• The PROBLEM with vulvar PERFUMES, deodorants, sprays, douches, and other products.
• Why the term “DOCTOR TESTED” is meaningless 
• 7 TIPS TO AVOID VULVAR IRRITATION
• How to CLEAN your vulva and vagina

For further information on this topic:
 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

 Episode 3: What's Up Down There? Genital Dryness & Misbehaving Bladders 
 Episode 4: Is Your Lubricant Helping or Hurting Your Vagina?
 Episode 5: Vaginal Estrogen- Rings, Creams, and Other Things
 Episode 18 The Itchy Vulva with Dr. Jill Krapf
 Episode 25  Moisturizers are Not Just for Your Face 

Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGNMorningNews, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr.Radio,Nightline,Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS ThisMorning,ABCNewsNow,NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and WorldNewsTonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 

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Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones , Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy