Illustrated by Ly Ngo. Why is it that feminine-care commercials go into painstaking detail on how to keep your nether regions fresh and clean, but don't actually have the gusto to come out and call a spade a spade. We're talking about the vagina. Not va-J-Jay — just vagina, thanks. Also, whatever happened to the powers of good, old-fashioned bathing? To expand on the mystery of girly personal hygiene prods, Bustle listed the top four products not worth your time — or money.
Starting with the douche, one of the most popular-yet-dated items, Bustle reports that most experts agree you don't need "vaginal irrigation" to keep things in tip-top shape. The vagina is a sort of self-cleaning mechanism. Unless there's an infection of some sort going on, your body will naturally keep things in balance. Furthermore, you should know that the original douche (a bleach-and-vinegar solution) was invented in the 1800s because men were disgusted by their wives' vaginas. Oh, how times have changed...
Next up: vaginal freshness sprays. Sorry, but you're not doing yourself any favors by spritzing away with a chemical-and-fragrance-infused solution. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), "Nature made female vaginas to be self-cleaning." So, as long as you're changing those tampons and washing up like normal, you'll be in good shape. Click here to view the rest of the products on the list. (Bustle)