Dear Psycho,

No. It is not necessary to clean inside the vagina. A woman's vagina is self-cleaning — it gets rid of mucus, ejaculate, menstrual fluid, and old cells that are no longer needed.

Besides having menstrual periods, women may have other vaginal discharges — whitish-yellow secretions that are normal and healthy. It's also normal to have a natural genital odor.

Some women douche — they spray a special solution (usually a water/vinegar mixture) into the vagina to clean it. But douching isn't necessary, and it can even be harmful, especially if scented products are used. Douching can upset the balance of vaginal bacteria, which can cause vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.