Women are being urged to put a chemical used as a pesticide into their vaginas to stay ‘fresh’, in social media posts that have spooked health experts.
Videos from popular US influencer Allison Hoeller lauding the benefits of using the chemical boric acid in this manner have racked up millions of views.
Hoeller, 28, claimed that popping one tablet in their vaginas would also rid it any ‘odour or taste’. Instead, it would ‘smell like water’.
But medics told MailOnline there was no robust evidence behind the claim and warned women there was no need for them to extensively clean the vagina.
Boric acid — typically used as an insecticide — is found also in low doses in certain pharmaceutical products, including those to treat some resistant vaginal infections.
Videos from popular US influencer Allison Hoeller lauding the benefits of boric acid have racked up millions of views
The 28-year-old claimed that popping one tablet in their vaginas would also rid it any ‘odour or taste’. Instead, it would ‘smell like water’
But experts warned that putting the supplement version directly in the vagina could cause irritating infections or even heighten the risk of STIs. It can also be toxic if swallowed.
However, Hoeller spoke about the supposed benefits of using the substance in a video posted on Instagram.
‘This is the routine to make sure you’re smelling good and tasting good,’ she said.
‘The first thing is boric acid. You’re going to take one of these, pop it up there 24 to 48 hours before your date.
‘They give you no odour or taste down there. It will literally taste and smell like water.
In a separate TikTok video, seen over 1million times, she also said: ‘All you do is take one tablet and the next day there will be absolutely no smell.
‘Absolutely no smell, the smell is gone.
‘I put my sister on these, I put my friends on these — this s*** works. Thank me later.’
However, GP Dr Philippa Kaye, an expert on women’s health issues, told MailOnline that boric acid, an astringent — a type of chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues — would be too harsh on vaginal tissue, increasing the risk of irritation and even STIs.
She said: ‘Your vagina doesn’t smell like a bunch of roses, because it’s not a bunch of roses.
‘As boric acid is an astringent it dries out the tissue and that damages potentially the cells.
‘This can lead to irritations that might even increase your risk of getting some STIs.
‘The vagina is jam packed with vaginal microbiome that is good, healthy bacteria that we want to leave well alone.
‘Boric acid doesn’t differentiate between killing good bacteria and an overgrowth of yeast, so it kills everything.’
She added: ‘There is no external agent that can acidify your vagina, because it’s the bacteria of the vagina that regulates the vaginal pH.
‘There are times when you do use boric acid, such as if you have a resistant thrush infection and it’s resistant to all the drugs that we ordinarily use.
‘If you notice your vagina does smell different to your normal and you think that it smells abhorrent and odious, then that’s a sign that something might be going on and that you need to get checked out.
In a separate TikTok video, seen over one million times, she also said: ‘All you do is take one tablet and the next day there will be absolutely no smell
Boric acid — typically used as an effective insecticide — is found in low doses in certain pharmaceutical products including those to treat vaginal infections
‘Boric acid might change the smell, because you’re going kill all the bacteria. But would it smell of water? I doubt it.’
Professor Penny Ward, an expert in pharmaceutical medicines at Kings College London, also told MailOnline it was ‘inappropriate’ to use boric acid as a ‘vaginal refresher’.
She added: ‘They are a recognised treatment for some recurrent vaginal infections, however they should be prescribed and not purchased from an online pharmacy without advice.
‘Women with vaginal discharge and a “fishy” smell may be affected by a vaginal condition known as bacterial vaginosis which is usually treated with either vaginal or oral antibiotics.
‘However in some antibiotic resistant infections intravaginal (IV) boric acid is used.
‘Some brands package the boric acid powder in large capsules which look very similar to medicines which are taken by mouth so users must be very careful to keep them away from others.’
Healthy vaginal discharge is made up of fluid from the vaginal walls, mucus from the cervix as well as the lactobacilli.
Because the vaginal environment is hormonally influenced, variation in the amount of discharge throughout the month is to be expected and completely normal, the NHS advises.
As well as providing a protective environment, vaginal discharge provides natural lubrication with between one and 4mls of fluid produced every 24 hours.
Last year gynecologists slammed Kourtney Kardashian ‘s new vaginal wellness gummies, warning there was ‘no merit’ to the claim that the tablets can ‘target’ vaginal wellness. Pictured with husband Travis Barker
They also criticised claims that the reality TV star’s gummies could help promote improved ‘freshness, odour and taste’
Healthy vaginal discharge has a characteristic smell – and in some women this can become stronger because of the large number of sweat glands in the hair-bearing pubic area.
It is not the first time, influencers and reality TV stars have come under fire for promoting ‘ineffective’ vaginal wellness supplements.
Last year, gynecologists slammed Kourtney Kardashian’s new vaginal wellness gummies, warning there was ‘no merit’ to the claim the tablets can ‘target’ vaginal wellness.
They also criticised claims the gummies could help promote improved ‘freshness, odour and taste’.
Medics have previously urged women to avoid anything that claims to rejuvenate or medically treat their vaginas.
This includes putting garlic in their vagina to avoid yeast infection and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Jade Eggs which claimed to boost ‘feminine energy’.
Writing on her lifestyle blog goop, the Hollywood actress turned lifestyle guru claimed the $66 (£50.50) rock also aids orgasms, vaginal muscle tone and hormonal balance.
But experts warned the whole idea was ‘nonsense’ — and could even increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis or deadly toxic shock syndrome.
