A sexual and reproductive health expert, Dr. Yemi Adeyemi says there is no scientific evidence that vaginal steaming helps to reduce menstrual cramps or improve fertility.

 According to Dr. Adeyemi, vaginal steaming is an age-old practice that involves sitting or squatting over a bowl of hot water infused with herbs, noting that many people claim it helps to cleanse the vagina, ease menstrual cramps and improve fertility.

  she said it is believed that steaming will increase blood supply to the vagina to help deal with menstrual cramps, increase fertility, and enhance the health of the vagina.

 “However there is no scientific study to prove these claims. Sometimes, in medicine, we allow women to do vaginal steaming, especially after delivery, to help the healing of the wound in the vagina but we don’t say you should do it without any reason because the issue with it is that there are so many consequences, like burns.

 “There was a reported case of a woman who sustained burns following vaginal steaming in an attempt to reduce vaginal prolapse,” she said.

 Adeyemi added that the vagina is a self-cleansing organ and does not require a steam clean.

 She pointed out that hot steam could also be dangerous to sensitive vaginal tissues.

 “The vagina is a very sensitive place, it cleans itself. So if you buy products that irritate the vagina rather than help it, it can change the Ph of the vagina and predispose the woman to yeast infection.

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 “When it comes to maintaining the vagina, you need to eat the right fruits – there are fruits that can help to keep the vaginal pH good.Wear clean and right underwear and ensure you clean up after sexual intercourse,” she said.

 A pH level measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is, on a scale of zero to 14.

 “The pH of the vagina has to be preserved to prevent infections. pH is how acidic or alkaline something is and the vagina has to be acidic. The pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5.

 According to a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, a 62-year-old woman suffered second-degree burns from vaginal steaming.

 The study, authored by Magali Robert, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, noted that vaginal steaming has gained increased popularity as a method to achieve empowerment by providing vaginal tightening and to “freshen” the vagina.