'Feminine cleansers': Are they necessary?

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Women remain an important source of inspiration not only for painters and artists, but also for health and beauty product manufacturers.

In shopping malls, there are various products made specially for women, such as hair care products, beauty products, fashion, jewelry, leather products and skin treatments.

Now, welcome a new kind of product targeting women. This new product, which comes in various forms, namely liquid soap, tissues, wet cloths and a cleansing gel with a "cooling" effect, promotes the special care of women's private parts.

As expected, thanks to the aggressive promotion of private television stations and mass media, many women have been lured into buying these products although they are not sure if they really need it.

A public relations officer of a four-star hotel in West Jakarta said she was lured into buying an antiseptic liquid soap, which can also be used to cleanse the vagina, simply because she was attracted by the ad. Picturing a famous model, the ad tells women that the liquid soap is effective in preventing yeast from growing in their intimate parts.

"Honestly, I don't know whether it is really necessary for me to use this product. All this time I have felt just fine. But on the other hand, it never crossed my mind before that a woman needs to take special care of her private parts," the 29-year-old woman said.

Most women are reluctant to discuss their private parts with others, even their physicians. Besides, with many traditional families, it is not acceptable and even taboo to discuss sex or talk about the genitals.

"I don't want to discuss it with my physician. What if he insists on taking a look? It would be so embarrassing," the unmarried woman laughed.

She also has no regrets in spending more money to buy the products. "I'm not sure of its effectiveness ... but I do feel fresh after using it," Diana said.

Each product, local and imported, is called differently. Some refer to their function as a "feminine cleanser" or "feminine touch", while others simply are an "antiseptic" or "women's wash".

Although the products are relatively new, they can easily be found on supermarket's shelves at prices ranging from as low as Rp 3,500 to Rp 50,000.

Noted gynecologist and sex consultant Boyke Dian Nugraha welcomed the products, saying they would enhance one's sex life.

Couples, he said, now tend to experiment in their sex lives and the presence of the products would maintain a conducive mood.

"It's the husbands who benefit from the presence of these products the most," he told the Post.

"As a gynecologist, I would be happy if I examined a healthy one which smells good, fresh."

He acknowledged that in the past, women gave special attention to their most intimate parts by taking a traditional concoction made of betel leaves. The mixture was either drank or used to wash the vagina. Some women also scented their private parts with a special incense in order to smell nice.

"Special treatment of women's organs is necessary since the area is moist and opens the possibility for yeast to grow," Boyke said.

"I get many complaints from my patients at Klinik Pasutri (a clinic for wives and husbands) about this matter. They are either complaining about itchiness or bad odors."

He advised women to be careful when choosing their underwear to prevent sweating and yeast from growing.

"Don't wear tight underwear made of nylon. It looks good all right, but it is not healthy for your genitals," Boyke said.

Besides using a special treatment, he also told women to keep their intimate parts healthy by following good hygiene practices in giving birth and taking part in sex.