Doctors are warning women to stop putting toothpaste in their vaginas to try and tighten it because it can do some nasty damage to the body.
Vanessa Mackay, consultant gynaecologist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to The Sun: “It is a myth that toothpaste will tighten the vagina.
“Putting toothpaste into the vagina, or on the vulva, would not only be uncomfortable but it could also cause serious damage and disrupt the natural flora of the vagina leading to the potential for infections like bacterial vaginosis and thrush.”
She also added that some toothpastes contain small particles that could also cause painful microabrasions to the vaginal walls.
Nigerian doctor, Oluwole Yusuf, also disclosed some of the nasty damage toothpaste can cause to the vagina.
“Toothpaste is caustic and too abrasive for a sensitive body part like the vagina and using such on it can destroy the organisms meant to protect the vagina from possible infections.”
“When the vagina can no longer protect itself, the body is prone to infections which could later destroy the tubes and block the chances of getting pregnant.”
He urged women not to be “body shamed” by their partners and to be confident in their own skin.
Dr. Yusuf also said that women can resort to exercises or practices to slowly tighten the vagina.
“Kegel exercises and Yoga exercise are part of the exercises that can make the vagina tight without engaging in harmful practices,’’ Dr Yusuf said.
Dr. Mackay also recommends pelvic floor exercises for women who are concerned about the tightness of their vagina.
She said: “There are various different ways in which women can carry out pelvic floor exercises but the easiest is to sit or stand comfortably with knees slightly apart and then engage and draw up the pelvic floor muscles as if trying to avoid passing urine or flatus.
“To check that the correct muscles are being exercised, women can place a finger or thumb into the vagina and squeeze the pelvic floor muscles at the same time, they should feel a gentle squeeze as the muscles contract.
“Women can build up the strength of their pelvic floor muscles by doing ten slow contractions and holding them for about 10 seconds each.
“The length of time can be increased gradually and the slow contractions can then be followed by a set of quick contractions. This process should be carried out three or four times a day.
“In some women, however, vaginal laxity may be due to pelvic organ prolapse, in which case it may be appropriate to be referred to a gynaecologist for an expert opinion.”