Vaginal steaming, also known as V-steaming, is the new beauty trend of the year. The name almost tells it all. In a vaginal steaming session, you are supposed to sit over a steaming pot of water infused with herbs such as mugwort, rosemary, wormwood and basil for 45 minutes. Although the idea of exposing your vagina to hot steam seems quite scary, vaginal steaming is gaining more and more popularity. So, what’s science behind it?
What does vaginal steaming claim to help?
Advocates of vaginal steaming claim that the practice improves blood circulation, relax your pelvic floor muscles, and detox your vagina. Other benefits it claims to include relieving pain and stress, inducing orgasms, improving sex life, regulating menstruation, ease menstrual pain, preventing and treating infection, promoting digestive health, managing weight, increasing fertility, treating insomnia and helping with overall wellbeing. Those claims sound too good to be true, right? Well, that’s because they aren’t true, at least at a scientific viewpoint.
The science behind vaginal steaming
Unfortunately, there is no science to back up the so-called health benefits of this trend.
If you have an infection, you would be better off with medical treatment. If you want to prevent infection, you would be better off with vaccination, safe sex, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good hygiene. Vaginal steaming has no power over treating or preventing infection, just like it has nothing to do with your weight. Weight loss is all about healthy eating and living. How does a hot steam going up your vagina help with metabolism? Very unlikely.
Other claims are also shady. It’s true that steaming can dilate your blood vessels and promote blood circulation in the treated area, but that’s temporary. Whether that increased blood flow makes you feel good or not depends on your preferences. People even report to experience orgasms during roller coaster rides. So, vaginal steaming may (or may not) give you orgasms, depending on your body.
Basically, it’s safe to say that other benefits of vaginal steaming are more of a placebo. Stress, pain, digestive health, and fertility are all related to psychological and emotional factors. So, if vaginal steaming makes you feel good, it may help reduce stress and improve any of your stress-related conditions.
Should you try vaginal steaming?
You may do that if you want, but it’s best to be well aware of the risks coming with that hot and intimate steam:
Bacterial imbalances. Your vagina is quite good at taking care of itself. Indeed, it has built-in self-cleaning and self-maintaining systems regulated by a balance of bacteria. Steaming may disrupt that balance and cause you many problems.
Burns. Your vagina is much more sensitive than other body parts. If the steam is too hot, you will get burned. Needless to say, treating vaginal burns is not going to be comfortable.
Infections. Once you decide to go for a steaming session, research where you are going well. Unsanitary facilities may give you infections. Find a place that is clean, organized, and spacious.
You may also interest in:
- Vaginal Rejuvenation: Potential Risks and Complications
- 4 Ways to Prevent Vaginal Infections and Diseases
- Why Does My Vagina Smell?
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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