India, Jan. 24 -- Despite growing conversations around women's health, intimate hygiene remains widely misunderstood, leaving many to rely on products that promise care without fully explaining their impact. With January marked as Cervical Health Awareness Month, it's important to question the necessity of intimate washes, since the female genital tract's natural microbes already maintain a healthy pH and prevent harmful growth. While the vagina is internal, the vulva is external, with vulvar pH around 3.5-4.7; vaginal pH varies with age, hormones, and menstruation, affecting infections and harmful microbes. Beneficial bacteria in the genital tract produce substances that inhibit harmful microbes and act as a protective barrier, thus naturally cleaning itself. Healthcare providers increasingly warn that intimate washes can do more harm than good. Lab-made cleansers may disrupt the vagina's natural microbiome, raising risks of bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, dryness, irritation, and unusual discharge. Most experts say plain water is enough to cleanse the external genital area, while intimate washes, if used, should be limited and cautious. Many buy intimate washes seeking a 'fresh' scent, but experts stress that a natural musky odour is normal and protective. Use of these products is often driven by stigma, not necessity. Any notable changes in discharge should prompt a healthcare consultation. What is the best way to maintain intimate hygiene? With inputs from Dr Preety Aggarwal, Medical Director - Obstetrics and Gynecology, Motherhood Hospital, Gurugram, and Dr Vaishali Sharma, Senior Gynecologist and Fertility Specialist, MD, AIIMSHTC...