Doctors have warned women that a “vagina brush” may be both pointless and possibly dangerous.
The period product, known as the Blossom Brush, is a long, pink stick-like brush costing £15.91.
The brand claims that it can be used to shift period blood which remains in the vagina during and after menstruation.
The grooves on the brush remove the left behind debris and it’s creators recommend using it every day during your period.
On Instagram, they wrote: “Featured here is the Blossom Brush designed for a woman to use during her menstrual cycle and up to three days after to remove residual blood and debris.
“As you can see here the Blossom Brush does not have actual bristles, but grooves that glide along the walls of the vagina removing residual blood and debris.”
They continued: “The Blossom Brush, when added to your menstrual routine can help a woman feel more fresh and make her period more manageable.”
However, medical professionals have slammed the product and called it “unnecessary” and potentially “harmful”, reports the Metro.
Popular gynaecologist, Dr Jen Gunter wrote on Twitter : “Every day it seems as if someone comes up with a new and thoroughly unnecessary, yet harmful vaginal cleaning product marketed as empowerment.
“I present to you today’s entry.”
She included a screenshot of the brush on Instagram which has since been removed.
The tweet has been liked 16.4k times.
(Image: Blossom Brush)
One person replied: “Have you ever seen an ad selling some product to specifically make the penis and scrotum ‘more fresh’?”
“I didn’t even brush my hair today, let alone my vagina,” added another.
The Blossom Brush brand have since released a statement defending the product.
They said that the brush is made of silicon rubber and was brought to market with “good intentions.”
(Image: Blossom Brush)
They commented: “The product has been safe to use among the women who have tried it, and we have had an overwhelmingly positive response among the women who have already used it.
“The benefits have included less usage of tampons and a reduction in the number of days a woman required feminine hygiene products.
“We do not believe that ANY PERSON has a “dirty” vagina and we wish to work with the gynaecological community and people who have periods to understand how to appropriately provide women with a new choice in their menstrual management.”
However, the NHS states, in its sexual health section, that: “The vagina is designed to keep itself clean with the help of natural secretions (discharge).
“ There are lots of bacteria inside the vagina, and they’re there to protect it.
“If the balance of bacteria is disturbed, this can lead to infection and inflammation.”
The bacteria protects the vagina in the following ways:
- Outnumbering harmful bacteria which may enter the vagina.
- Keeping the pH balance at an even level – if disturbed this increased the risk of bacterial vaginosis and thrush.
- Producing “bacteriocins” – naturally occurring antibiotics – to kill other bacteria entering the vagina.
- And, finally, to produce a substance which stops invading bacteria from sticking to the walls and invading the tissues.
Washing, clearing or scraping the vagina could lead to the removal of the beneficial bacteria inside.
Professor Ronnie Lamont, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “The vagina contains more bacteria than anywhere else in the body after the bowel, but the bacteria are there for a reason.”