boric acid: a white acid that is used as a weak antiseptic and fire retardant (noun)
For better or worse, people get medical content from social media. Let’s just say it isn’t always, um, accurate.
First off, we always recommend talking to your medical professional prior to taking or inserting any substance, even natural ones. (Especially natural ones.)
The latest craze is putting boric acid in your *clears throat* kitty.
Some TikTokkers are praising boric acid as the next best thing for your vagina. They claim boric acid is great for:
- yeast infections
- smell and odour
- itchiness
- bacterial vaginosis
- balancing pH levels
- general freshness
- tranquility for your spirit
Okay, the last three are stretching it. But the hype to these products is huge, whether you’re cruising around your favourite online retailer or swiping through influencer videos.
And society has tried to make vaginas seem dirty and smelly for years (hence why Lysol once marketed itself as a douche for feminine hygiene). Our culture has preached that vaginas = bad/smelly/evil.
So is boric acid legit?
Like many answers, it’s both yes and no. It’s not a total hoax like drinking your own urine, but you need to be realistic about what it can and can’t do.
See a health care provider like a doctor or nurse practitioner if something (anything) goes astray with your so-called kitty. Many people misdiagnose themselves if it’s their first rodeo with a vaginal infection. So if you notice any strange symptoms with your vagina or discharge, head to a medical professional for a proper diagnosis. Do this before you purchase any over-the-counter remedies for yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Boric acid is not a cure all for your vagina. There are a few things it can do under the right circumstances, but a lot of the so-called benefits haven’t been proven. And it may actually harm your vagina. (FYI it’s poisonous if you take it by mouth, so don’t.)
One of my favourite health debunkers is Dr. Jen Gunter, a vocal gynecologist who busts bad myths like no one’s business. In The Vagina Bible, Dr. Gunter says that while boric acid can help some resistent forms of yeast infections, and some cases of recurrent bacterial vaginosis, it should be considered a last resort because it is toxic to cells. (Which is how it works.)
In other words, check with your doctor or nurse practitioner if you can’t shake a vaginal infection and need to resort to something different.
The dosing for current yeast infections, according to the Canadian Public Health Agency:
Boric acid 300–600 mg gelatin capsule intravaginally once a day for 14 days. Less mucosal irritation experienced when 300 mg used. Efficacy approximately 80%. Contraindicated in pregnancy.
It also recommends a maitenance therapy of:
300 mg capsule intravaginally for 5 days each month beginning the first day of the menstrual cycle. Recurrence occurred in 30% while receiving therapy.
Please note that pregnancy and boric acid do not go together. (There are other treatments available.) If you’re pregnant, check with a health care provider before taking any remedy, since some are helpful and some are not. But please do get treated. Bacterial vaginosis, for example, can cause premature labour.
It’s also not recommended to insert the following into your vagina: tea tree oil, garlic, or yogurt (whether you’re pregnant or not).
British Guidelines are also similar.
The reality is that vaginas and vulvas smell like vaginas and vulvas. They aren’t support to smell like peaches, a summer’s eve, or a tropical beach. They aren’t supposed to be fresh like a loaf of bread. (Otherwise, they’d have an expiry date.)
They have their own odour and no one should be shamed for their natural smell. If it changes, or you get other strange symptoms, talk to your health care provider for an accurate diagnosis, and evidence-based cures for your particular situation.
Also, eating pineapple does not change how you taste or smell.
Concerned about feeling clean? A gentle cleanser for your vulva is all you need (e.g. Cetaphil). This will help any odour from the sweat producing glands in the groin, and any urine or fecal matter left behind. But don’t bombard your vulva with strong perfumes or weird ingredients. You may actually irritate your vulva and vagina, and that, ironically, will make you smell worse.
As for wipes, Dr. Gunter only recommends them if you have any incontinence with urine or poop. Otherwise, the irritation may not be worth it.
Vaginas are supposed to smell like vaginas, and you don’t need to put boric acid in them to maintain vaginal health. If anything goes astray, see a pro, get the right advice, and proceed carefully.
Finally, if you have ANY kind of vaginal irritation including a yeast infection or a bad reaction to something like boric acid, please know you are at an increased risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection. Again, proceed carefully and protect yourself.
But please be skeptical of medical advice on social media, and follow sources with a medical background. (We enjoy TikTokkers @nicolealiciamd @dr.staci.t and @drjenniferlincoln)
References:
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV national guideline for the management of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Gunter, Jen. The Vagina Bible. Random House Canada, 2019.
Gunter, Jen. “What the vaginal boric acid profiteers don’t want you to know.” 26 April 2021
Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections.