5 VaginaTok Developments: Reality or Fiction?

TikTok has blown up with every kind of recommendation influencers over the previous couple of years, with creators giving recommendations on every little thing from train and gardening to relationship and journey. One space of TikTok that has been fairly in style lately is “VaginaTok,” the place creators- some, like actual life OB/GYN @anniedeliversmd are licensed medical practitioners, most are not- supply suggestions, recommendation, and schooling on numerous elements of vaginal well being.

The upside of VaginaTok is that it sparks open dialog about matters like intervals, sexual pleasure, and reproductive anatomy that was once thought of taboo. As colleges within the U.S. typically fall quick in the case of educating youngsters and youngsters about sexual well being, many individuals of all ages flock on-line to find out about intercourse schooling and medical recommendation. Nevertheless, getting your well being data from social media is at all times iffy, as there isn’t any assure or screening for the validity. On the finish of the day, it’s essential to hunt medically correct sources equivalent to a licensed doctor or peer-reviewed examine.

On this article, we’re going to try a few of the high VaginaTok tendencies and see in the event that they maintain medical advantage, or in the event that they’re only a delusion.

Vaginal Splinting

Vaginal splinting refers to a digital evacuation technique of relieving constipation or incomplete evacuation (feeling just like the bowel hasn’t been cleared) the place the lady presses on the vaginal wall along with her fingers to help with evacuating stool out of the rectum. @ambriaalicewalterfield first popularized the development in Feb 2021 (although her account is now personal), and it rapidly swept the web, with numerous commenters sharing how they observe it as properly. 

Vaginal splinting is definitely a reasonably commonplace observe amongst girls, with the College of Michigan’s medical weblog estimating “that as much as 30% of ladies use this method to often assist with bowel actions.” 

For girls with pelvic flooring dysfunction- frequent amongst those that have given birth- could discover it troublesome to have a bowel motion, as straining can weaken the pelvic flooring and exacerbate points like pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Though vaginal splinting is often carried out with fingers, it’s also possible to use a tampon to press towards the again wall of the vagina if you’re uncomfortable with utilizing your fingers.

Verdict: FACT

Vabbing

Our our bodies naturally secrete pheromones that broadcast sexual attraction, and bodily secretions like vaginal discharge include pheromones. So utilizing vaginal secretions as fragrance equals heightening your sexual attractiveness? This pseudoscientific chain of reasoning blew up final yr with #vabbing throughout TikTok and doubtful claims of success attracting companions, equivalent to  @jewlieah’s viral video of vabbing on the gymnasium. 

Nevertheless, the concept has been debunked as an empty development. There isn’t any scientific analysis to again up the declare that utilizing vaginal secretions as fragrance can improve your odds of attracting a mate, and “vabbing” as a observe hasn’t been studied in a managed surroundings. If you happen to do determine to attempt it out, it’s essential to maintain hygiene and well being in thoughts; be sure that your vaginal well being is on level and also you’re not spreading any micro organism or STIs. Wash your palms completely earlier than and after “harvesting” the vaginal fluid, and don’t do it if you understand you’ve got an STI.

Verdict: FICTION

Stopping Your Interval With Ibuprofen

Cardi B first popularized this idea again in 2019 when she revealed in an interview that she drank a “particular cocktail” of ibuprofen and gelatin to cease her interval bleeding so she might have intercourse along with her now-husband Offset. The development re-circulated by TikTok final yr, with hashtags like #periodstopper.

Whereas ibuprofen could assist with delaying or lightening intervals, it isn’t designed to halt one fully and there are not any ensures that it’s going to work. The anti-inflammatory drug might be helpful for lightening heavy flows, however if you happen to’re trying to delay your subsequent interval, take a look at hormonal contraception choices or different varieties of short-term drugs.

Verdict: FICTION

Balancing Hormones With One Bowel Motion Per Day

One considerably misinterpreted delusion that grew to become in style on TikTok was that bowel actions immediately assist to steadiness hormones. Extra particularly, that anyone with a uterus will need to have each day bowel actions to be able to steadiness their hormones. Having common bowel actions IS an indication that your hormones are balanced, and hormones can influence bowel movements- but it surely doesn’t work the opposite approach round. 

Verdict: FICTION

Innie/Outie Vaginas

TikTok can typically be a spot the place folks come collectively and uncover that they’re not alone. @gabygabss’s viral video evaluating labia to stomach buttons- a few of us have outies, and a few of us have innies- celebrates all sizes and shapes of vulva, as a result of that’s how they arrive! There’s nothing shameful or unattractive about having “outie” labia, similar to having an “outie” stomach button! 

Verdict: FACT

Meta: TikTok provides quite a lot of medically correct and inaccurate data relating to vaginal well being and anatomy. What’s true and what’s not?