I Douched With Hydrogen Peroxide
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience with using this douching method. Please consult your gynecologist beforehand. Otherwise, use at your own discretion.
There's no immunity for womanhood. Whenever it begins, it comes at you full force and, because of this, you're always learning something new about your body. From the whiskers that line your chin to the horrific vaginal upsets that come a dime a dozen.
As much as I'd like to b*tch about not being forewarned, I'm not sure that there was any sex ed class that could've prepared us for the lesser parts of p*ssy power. The only thing that actually changes more than our bodies are the do's and don'ts, and I believe this inconsistency has a lot to do with the lack of expansion on certain topics.
For instance, we've been told a million times that our vaginas (not to be confused with vulva) are "self-cleaning ovens" and that we shouldn't put anything in it. We've been warned against tampering with our va-jay-jay to attain the scent of cherry blossoms and we've heard that douching is the absolute worst of the worst – a sin of the vulva flesh. No less, we've never expounded upon this topic informing women that vaguely speaking a douche is quite literally a "shower of water" according to my quick Google search. Vaginal douching is "the process of intravaginal cleansing with a liquid solution."
I say all this to say, there's a whole world of douching that we know nothing of because everything has been so vague and misleading.
Douching with products like Summer's Eve is problematic in that they contain all types of unknown shit, but what about douching with natural elements? Elements that your vagina is already working with? Specifically peroxide, which is produced and works inside your vagina alongside bacteria to fight off yeast and other infections.
I'm no expert (yet), but the recommendation for a hydrogen peroxide douche came via Certified Sex Therapist Raquel Savage, who created a Twitter thread on the topic. Naturally, I had to try it out and guess what?
My vagina didn't burn to the ground.
What Is The Purpose Of Douching?
Douching serves different purposes for different people. Some simply feel more clean. While they serve a basic hygienic purpose (whether they work that way or not), they are also said to prevent and treat infections.
Hydrogen Peroxide For Bacterial Vaginosis & Yeast Infections
With this knowledge in mind, Savage recommended using this solution when you feel a bout of bacterial vaginosis or a yeastie (formerly known as a yeast infection) rising. However, this was not recommended in place of treatment and it's certainly not recommended on a daily basis.
Additionally she uses them after she finishes menstruating, which is also a common practice of douching. Because I was coming off my period and halfway through a bottle of antibiotics, this thread was gold!
My Experience With The Hydrogen Peroxide Douche
To get started with the hydrogen peroxide douche, grab a store-bought douche and empty out the solution, rinse it out thoroughly, and per Savage's recommendation, replace it with half-cool water and half-peroxide (one part peroxide, three parts water if you're scurred). After screwing the top back on and rinsing the nozzle for good measure, I went about it as the directions state on the box – gently squeezing.
Like so many others, I was in full anticipation of my vagina sizzling as Savage assured her followers it would not and slightly disappointed to find that this did not occur. It was more like a tingle.
Really, nothing occurred except the cooling sensation of squirting peroxide-water solution into my vagina. (I walked away with a greater understanding of a bidet and those who spend money to have one.)
When I pulled out the douche and seen a little mucus membrane on it, likely normal discharge from my recent period, I immediately thought: "clearly, my vagina needed a good blow." It was literally like taking a nasal aspirator and clearing all the vaginal boogers out.
Although, I'll likely have to do this regularly before I know how they they will affect me -- it did feel refreshing and rejuvenating to my vagina. Lately, every time I use a tampon my vagina just feels so eck and upset with me so I've definitely been learning what it means to have a happy vagina. Furthermore, it won't take long for me to bare witness to the magic of the peroxide because as I jokingly tell my doctor, I suffer from chronic BV.
After posting about it on my Insta Story, a friend reached out and told me that her gynecologist actually told her to use this solution because of all the yeast infections that she was having. That said, it is in fact a thing but be sure to get your doctors opinion. Frankly, I've put much harsher sh*t near and (sometimes) in my vagina so there was little fear of any potential risk. But, safety always comes first so do what you've got to douche.
Meanwhile, my vagina and I will be sipping hydrogen peroxide douche cocktails once a month for the rest of the summer.
Featured image by Adene Sanchez/Getty Images.
- Keep Your Vagina Tight & Right - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- How To Care For Your Vagina AFTER Sex - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Home Remedies For Yeast Infections That Work - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Different Vagina Smells Meaning - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Best Vagina Care Tips Spring Warm Weather - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Bacterial vaginosis, Yeast Infections and UTI's - my must have ... ›
- Hydrogen Peroxide For Yeast Infection - 3 Simple Ways To Use ›
- Peroxide Douche for Bacterial Vaginosis: Does It Actually Work For ... ›
- Hydrogen Peroxide douche: uses & side-effects | PatientsLikeMe ›
- Vaginal Douching: Evidence for Risks or Benefits to Women's Health ›
- Vaginal Douching With Hydrogen Peroxide ›
- Why I Put Hydrogen Peroxide On My Vagina ›
Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
Courtesy
Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy