Woman having vagina steaming

A Specialist Obstetrician Gyne­cologist. Dr. Karen Renee Zu, has cautioned some vagina steaming to put an end to it be­cause it could be detrimental to their l

The practice has gained prom­inence among women especially those who wed to sexual organ af­ter having a baby or heal a cesare­an section scar faster.

Others also engage in the act to cure ovarian cyst, fibroid, blocked tubes, deal with menstrual cramps, and detoxify the vagina among others.

This is usually done by mixing various herbs which are boiled or soaked in hot water which a woman is made to sit on naked to enable the steam go directly into the vagina.

But according to Dr. Zu, there was no need to steam the vagi­na after birth because the blood vessels of the womb could open up as a result of the heat and cause bleeding to death

She said the stitches could also fall apart if the person has an epi­siotomy or any other stiches

She said there was no proof that the practice worked or solved any of the problem for which they en­gaged in the act.

“There are so many claimed ben­efits like womb detox, clearing of ovarian cysts, shrinking of fibroid, hysterectomy, shorten menstrual periods, stabilise menstrual cycle, curing endometriosis and others which doctors can’t speak to,” she stated.

She said no trained obstetrician and gynecologist would make such recommendation to anyone.

Dr. Zu said it was a dangerous practice which could hurt a per­son in the process, adding that some have come with severe burns of their vagina as a result of the steaming.

She said the steam could damage the lining of the vagina and when that happened, healing could take a while and such persons had prob­lems with vaginal dryness

“This can upset the acidity of the vagina. When this happens, risk of getting infections high. The steam kills the good bacteria in your vagi­na which survive at nor­mal vagina temperatures. You will have problems with infections once they are dead,” she cautioned

She said in dealing with menstrual cramps, “one can drink something warm, place a warm water bottle or towel on your belly, add exercise to the daily routine or have sex before menses begin that would help reduce the pain associated with it,” she advised.

She explained that, if a person’s tubes were blocked, no amount of steaming would open them or make them more fertile.

“Such a person must see a fertili­ty specialist to help,” she added.

According to her the womb does not need detoxification because it takes care of itself by shedding it lining monthly.

Steaming your vagina will not tighten it. It will not in any way balance your hormones. These two do not go together. If your tubes are blocked, no amount of steam­ing will open them or make you fertile. See a specialist for help. The cervix is always tightly shut except during menses and ovu­lation to prevent infections from getting into the womb. The herbs don’t get into the womb” she clari­fied.

Dr. Zu also denied claims that vaginal steaming shrunk fibroid, explaining that fibroids were very hard and could not be shrunk by vaginal steaming.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema