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Difference between revisions of "Vagina steaming"

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{{cquote|The real golden ticket here is the Mugworth V-Steam: You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared<ref group=note>Vaginal steaming ''does'' involve heat, which ''is'' related to {{wpl|infrared}} radiation. That said, vaginal steaming ''does not'' directly create infrared radiation for the purposes of healing. Furthermore, even vaginal steaming ''did'' involve infrared, it certainly wouldn't cleanse the vagina.</ref> and [[#Adds good plants to the vagina|mugwort]] steam cleanses your uterus, et al. It is an [[#Causes arousal|energetic release]] — not just a [[#Cleans the vagina|steam douche]] — that [[#Balances hormones|balances female hormone levels]]. If you’re in LA, you have to do it.|||Gwyneth Paltrow<ref name=LS /><ref name=US /><ref name=Pari /><ref name=RB>[http://www.redbookmag.com/body/pregnancy-fertility/news/a21030/vaginal-steam-treatment/ "Vaginal Steaming Is a "Must" For Gwyneth Paltrow, But Not for Everyone"], Redbook Magazine</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|The real golden ticket here is the Mugworth V-Steam: You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared<ref group=note>Vaginal steaming ''does'' involve heat, which ''is'' related to {{wpl|infrared}} radiation. That said, vaginal steaming ''does not'' directly create infrared radiation for the purposes of healing. Furthermore, even vaginal steaming ''did'' involve infrared, it certainly wouldn't cleanse the vagina.</ref> and [[#Adds good plants to the vagina|mugwort]] steam cleanses your uterus, et al. It is an [[#Causes arousal|energetic release]] — not just a [[#Cleans the vagina|steam douche]] — that [[#Balances hormones|balances female hormone levels]]. If you’re in LA, you have to do it.|||Gwyneth Paltrow<ref name=LS /><ref name=US /><ref name=Pari /><ref name=RB>[http://www.redbookmag.com/body/pregnancy-fertility/news/a21030/vaginal-steam-treatment/ "Vaginal Steaming Is a "Must" For Gwyneth Paltrow, But Not for Everyone"], Redbook Magazine</ref>}}
  
Vaginal steaming finally made a sizeable impact on the public consciousness in January 2015 when Gwyneth Paltrow, a celebrity and fashion guru, got a vaginal steam bath and preached its virtues online.<ref name=LS /><ref name=US>http://m.usmagazine.com/celebrity-beauty/news/gwyneth-paltrow-gets-vagina-steam-at-spa-preaches-its-virtues-on-goop-2015291</ref>
+
Vaginal steaming finally made a sizeable impact on the public consciousness in January 2015 when Gwyneth Paltrow, a celebrity and fashion guru, got a vaginal steam bath and preached its virtues online.<ref name=LS /><ref name=US>http://m.usmagazine.com/celebrity-beauty/news/gwyneth-paltrow-gets-vagina-steam-at-spa-preaches-its-virtues-on-goop-2015291</ref> Gwyneth later vaginal steaming against the torrent of backlash on the internet, arguing that "[[Appeal to ancient wisdom|[it] is a thousands-of-years-old practice in Korean spas]]".<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN4rA9HBngw</ref>
  
Another phase of journalists getting steamed and writing about it began in greater scale.
+
Another phase of journalists getting steamed and writing about it began in greater scale. Vaginal steaming underwent a large jump in popularity, again; it appears more permanent, this time.<ref name=Google /><ref name=LS />
  
Vaginal steaming underwent a large jump in popularity, again; it appears more permanent, this time.<ref name=Google /><ref name=LS />
+
8 months later, Paltrow claimed that her piece on vaginal steaming "actually came from her editorial director, Elise Loehnen".<ref>http://doubtfulnews.com/2015/08/gwyneth-paltrow-not-the-one-behind-the-vagina-steaming-claim/</ref> Right.
 
 
Gwyneth later defended vaginal steaming against the torrent of backlash on the internet, arguing that "[[Appeal to ancient wisdom|[it] is a thousands-of-years-old practice in Korean spas]]".<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN4rA9HBngw</ref>
 
  
 
==Impacts==
 
==Impacts==

Revision as of 03:41, 13 November 2015

Against allopathy
Alternative medicine
link=:category:
Clinically unproven
Woo-meisters
I suppose this whole [...] "vaginal" steam bath is just something that we nasty, allopathic [...] doctors just don’t understand. To us, it's just shooting a bunch of steam up a woman's nether regions. To the woo-meisters, though, it’s not just steam that’s being forced to go places where usually only spouses, lovers, or gynecologists go. Oh, no. It’s super special, extra powerful herbal detox steam, which means that it has super duper magical powers.
David Gorski, MD[1]

Vaginal steaming (also v-steaming, yoni steaming, chai-yok, or bajos) is the practice of directing steam, often infused with herbs, onto and potentially into the vagina, usually for the purposes of "cleansing", increasing fertility, treating uncomfortable menstrual periods, or removing "toxins".

Woo surrounds the practice, making it a vagina myth. Supporters argue that vaginal steaming cures innumerable problems and is a "time-honored" practice. Opponents note the complete lack of scientific support of these health claims and plausibility of several harms of vaginal steaming.

What is it?

Vaginal steaming setup.
At-home vaginal steaming setup.[2]

Vaginal steaming is cheap and simple, which probably explains why spas delight in charging their customers for the procedure.

The procedure is as follows:

  1. A pot is filled with water.
  2. The pot is filled with any desired plants.
  3. The pot is heated until the water boils.
  4. The pot is placed under a seat that allows steam to rise into the vagina, such as a toilet.
  5. The woman removes any clothing covering the vagina.
  6. The woman may cover herself with a blanket to prevent the steam from escaping.
  7. The woman may widen her legs to increase steam intake.
  8. The woman squats on the chair for 20 minutes to 1 hour.[3][4][5][6]

Vaginal steaming supporters warn against steaming while pregnant, immediately after delivery, or if the vagina has an infection.[2][4][7][8]

Supporters also advise that a medical professional should be consulted before steaming.[4][9] (The percentage of customers who bother is unknown, but the percentage of spas who enforce this is almost certainly negligible.)[citation needed]

Why is this a thing?

Before it was cool

Vaginal steaming was not popular or widely known about in the West until the late 2000s. However, it had a following in the alt-med community, especially among the traditional Korean and traditional Mesoamerican alt-med communities.

Several traditional Korean spas began offering "chai-yok" or vaginal steam baths. These spas made sure to play up vaginal steaming as an ancient, time-honored practice, and customers began to trickle in. Nontraditional spas began offering vaginal steam baths, because boiling water and letting customers pay to sit over it is lucrative, and because more people began to believe that vaginal steaming was truly beneficial.

Niki Han Schwarz

Vaginal steaming first hit the limelight in December 2010, when Niki Han Schwarz (a vaginal steaming spa owner) persuaded journalists to write about vaginal steaming and specifically Schwarz's claim that vaginal steaming had helped get her pregnant.[10][11]

This started a short-lived period where journalists ventured forth, got vaginally steamed, and wrote about the experience, briefly increasing vaginal steaming's broader popularity.[12] This soon subsided, however.

In the background, from 2010 to 2013, vaginal steaming continued to establish a growing niche in spas, especially alternative-medicine spas.[12][13]

Tia & Tamera Mowry

In 2013, twin actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry underwent vaginal steaming and described it online,[13][14] claiming it eases menstrual cramps, yeast infections and even treat infertility.[15] This again sparked a burst of popularity.

This time, vaginal steaming was more widespread, allowing more people to actually do it. As more people learned about vaginal steaming, more people did it; because more people did it, more people wrote about it; and because more people wrote about it, more people learned about it. Vaginal steaming thus perpetuated its own popularity for several years. As a result, vaginal steaming's broader popularity continued to exist (at low levels) until 2015.[12]

Gwyneth Paltrow

The real golden ticket here is the Mugworth V-Steam: You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared[note 1] and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al. It is an energetic release — not just a steam douche — that balances female hormone levels. If you’re in LA, you have to do it.
—Gwyneth Paltrow[13][16][17][18]

Vaginal steaming finally made a sizeable impact on the public consciousness in January 2015 when Gwyneth Paltrow, a celebrity and fashion guru, got a vaginal steam bath and preached its virtues online.[13][16] Gwyneth later vaginal steaming against the torrent of backlash on the internet, arguing that "[it] is a thousands-of-years-old practice in Korean spas".[19]

Another phase of journalists getting steamed and writing about it began in greater scale. Vaginal steaming underwent a large jump in popularity, again; it appears more permanent, this time.[12][13]

8 months later, Paltrow claimed that her piece on vaginal steaming "actually came from her editorial director, Elise Loehnen".[20] Right.

Impacts

An easy guide to the impacts of vaginal steaming:

  • Beneficial:
  • Adds good plants to the vagina: No. No significant amount of plant matter gets into the vagina. Most of the plants have no proven positive health effects, and possible negative ones.
  • Cleanses: A little yes, mostly no.
  • Cleans the vagina: No. The vagina self-cleans. Douching doesn't work and is harmful.
  • Cleans the uterus: No. Almost no steam will enter the uterus.
  • Reduces odor: Yes. Odor can be drowned out with the smell of something else. However, odor is not harmful, is natural, and can help diagnosis.
  • Removes toxins: Maybe. "Toxins" is too vague to be useful.
  • Aids relaxation: Sure. Sitting somewhere warm and not doing anything for an hour is probably pretty nice.
  • Causes arousal: Yes. This probably explains everything reported on the "beneficial" side.
  • Harmful:
  • Causes infections: Possible, esp. if done wrong. Shooting water into the vagina upsets its natural pH balance, hurts good bacteria, and make infection more likely.
  • Causes steam burns: Possible, esp. if done wrong. Steam's as hot as boiling water and even more likely to cause burns.
  • Causes vaginal irritation: Possible, esp. if done wrong. Shooting water into any organ hurts it, and allergic reactions to the plants used aren't impossible.
  • Causes complications during pregnancy: Likely, esp. if done wrong. Putting boiling water next to the womb of a developing baby is probably not a great idea.
  • Causes contraction of the purse: Yes, even if done right.

Claimed benefits

There is absolutely no way this has any significant health benefit. The illusion that any hot air infused with some herbal spice would penetrate the vaginal barriers of your body and improve fertility, regulate hormones does not hold any water with me.
—Dr. Manny Alvarez[21]

Before discussing any specific claims, it's useful to remember a couple of general ideas:

First, it should be noted that no medical studies have been done on the efficacy of vaginal steaming, which makes all evidence for these claims anecdotal at best. Further, almost all of reports of the effects of vaginal steaming are produced by practitioners of it, which leads to an obvious conflict of interests and may lead to false, exaggerated, and/or selective reporting.

Second, it should be noted that many of the healing effects claimed to be the result of vaginal steaming are within the bounds of a regression to the mean, where the ailment was likely to go away even without vaginal steaming. Whether a regression to the mean occurred is impossible to tell without comparison to a placebo in a controlled trial, of which none have occurred.

Adds good plants to the vagina

Most vaginal steaming claims are based on the transfer of good plants into the vagina via steam.

Mechanics

When practitioners add plants to boiling water and let it steam, it is improbable that any significant amount of the plant rises with the steam, much less enters the vagina, the bloodstream, or the skin. If the plant is truly effective, why not increase the concentration and use it topically (smear it on) or insert it directly? To quote Dr. Siri Khalsa:[22]

Regarding Vaginal Steaming’s proposed health benefits, the vagina has extensive blood flow and mucous membranes, so it absorbs medications easily, but there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of absorbing herbs vaginally.

Common plants

In addition, most of the plants used don't do what they're claimed to (see the main articles for more):

  • Basil is claimed to: be antibacterial and spiritually cleansing.[2] In vitro (test tube) studies have shown basil's antibacterial properties; however, no clinical studies have been conducted, so we don't know how well it works for humans or whether 'vaginal steaming' is an effective method for applying it. No reputable journals have published on basil's spiritually cleansing properties yet, so we'll just have to wait for confirmation on that one.
  • Chamomile is claimed to: be soothing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic.[2] In vitro (test tube) studies have shown that chamomile is antibacterial and antiviral; however, in vitro studies cannot necessarily be applied to humans. None of the other claims appear to have scientific merit.
  • Horsetail is claimed to: flush bacteria out of the bladder.[2] There's no evidence that horsetail is antibiotic. There is evidence that horsetail, especially when improperly used, contains potentially toxic chemicals.
  • Red clover is claimed to: promote healing of the skin.[2] There is no evidence that red clover heals the skin, and there is evidence red clover causes rashes.
  • Rosemary is claimed to: be antiseptic and stimulate circulation.[2] Little research on rosemary in humans exists, and none substantiates either of these claims. However, rosemary has been used traditionally as an abortifacent; if we accept the verdicts of traditional medicine, then vaginally steaming when pregnant with rosemary is probably an even worse idea.
  • Oregano is claimed to: be antiseptic and a "uterine stimulant".[2] Oregano has certainly not been proven to be antiseptic, though it has antiparasitic potential in the intestines. Oregano also may cause miscarriages, which further advises against steaming while pregnant. We're not sure what "uterine stimulation" means, exactly, so it's difficult to assess it.
  • Sage is claimed to: "move blood and chi through physical and emotional obstructions".[2] Sage can affect blood pressure; it usually reduces blood pressure in persons with low blood pressure and increases it in persons with high blood pressure, which is kinda not-good. We can't say anything about the chi, though.
  • Wormwood is claimed to: have antimicrobial/bacterial/viral properties, induce uterine contractions, and treat bladder infections, fevers, open sores, constipation, diarrhea, and parasitic infections.[10] Wormwood can cause vomiting and a variety of mental discomforts, and is neurotoxic in large doses.
  • Rose petals are claimed to: be really soft.[2][8] How this helps vaginal steaming, we're not sure.

Cleanses

Vaginal Steaming: Just a Bunch of Hot Air?
Fox News (Yeah, even Fox doesn't buy this.)[21]

Vaginal steaming is promoted as a way of "cleaning up" down there. It isn't effective or entirely safe.

Cleans the vagina

Almost all supporters of vaginal steaming mention (directly or indirectly) that vaginal steaming "cleans" the vagina.[10] Because who doesn't want to be "clean"?

Depending on how the woman sits, vaginal steaming can either force steam onto the skin of the pelvic region or into the vagina.

If vaginal steaming gets water into the vagina, then it is effectively a less-intense form of douching -- since in both instances, water is forced into the vagina.[23][24] Many women believe that douching effectively cleans the vagina, even though little scientific evidence supports this belief;[23][24] similarly, it's entirely possible that many women incorrectly believe that vaginal steaming has the same benefits. In fact, the acidic environment of the vagina effectively self-cleans, making douching and vaginal steaming unecessary.[13][23][24]

These and other conditions make vaginal steaming drastically increase the risk of vaginal infection.

If, on the other hand, vaginal steam is ineffective in getting steam into the vagina, then there is no benefit (other than a wet ass and some wasted time, of course).

Cleans the uterus

The formulation of a vaginal steam bath consists of aromatic, cleansing herbs that will penetrate into the uterine wall. The therapeutic effects of thermotherapy and aromatherapy contribute to the effectiveness of this treatment. Overall the bath aids as a uterine lavage or internal cleanse of the membranes that often accumulate incompletely flushed debris/fluids from cycle to cycle.
—Marc Sklar[9]

Any claims of cleaning the uterus are even more specious than normal for vaginal steaming. Steam has very little access to the vagina, let alone the uterus.[18] To quote Dr. Ghodsi:[17]

Anything put into your vagina does not have direct access into your uterus. Your cervix, which is the bottom of the uterus, sits in the top of your vagina and it does have a a tiny hole in which menstrual blood comes out, sperm goes in, and that also dilates during labor to allow a baby to come out. But it is too small for something released into your vagina to get up into your uterus unless there is an apparatus going into your uterus helping its entry or it has natural propellers like sperm.

And to quote Dr. Gunter:[25]

Steam isn’t going to get into your uterus from your vagina unless you are using an attachment with some kind of pressure and MOST DEFINITELY NEVER EVER DO THAT.

Alternatively, supporters claim that herbs enter the bloodstream and flow to the uterus:[26]

When the herbs are placed in the hot water, their medicinal properties, including volatile oils, are released and carried to the surface of your skin, and to the inside of the vagina, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream and into to the uterus.

Since blood flows from the heart to the vagina to the heart, not the uterus, we're not quite sure what mechanism is in play here.

Reduces odor

Many supporters of vaginal steaming argue that vaginal steaming reduces vaginal odor.[27][28]

Douching can mask vaginal odor, but doesn't truly remove it.[24] Similarly, vaginal steaming probably can hide the odor of the vagina, without removing its source.

A low level of vaginal odor is natural, and there's no (medically necessary) need to mask it. Strong odor may be the result of infection; if so, it is best to see a doctor before douching or vaginally steaming, because hiding the odor makes it harder for the doctor to diagnose the issue.[24]

Removes "toxins"

Some supporters go beyond claims of "cleansing" and claim that vaginal steaming removes "toxins" from the vagina.[14][5] [29]Because the "toxins" that are apparently removed aren't specified, it's more likely that the term is a catch-all for "gross stuff in my genitals" rather than anything meaningful.

Helps irregular periods

Vaginal steaming is claimed to cure irregular menstrual periods[2][4][9][5][8][30] (those which have significantly more or less blood flow, happen significantly more or less often, are accompanied by pain or mental discomfort, or last for a long time).

There are many and varied causes for irregular periods, including stress, exercise, changes in weight, changes in diet, illness, changes in routine, birth control pills, uterine fibroids, uterine endometriosis, cancer, uterine prolapseWikipedia and many more.[31][32] This leads to two problems:

  1. False positives may be common. If somebody starts exercising (and thus solves their irregular period) and vaginally steams, she may incorrectly think the vaginal steaming solved the problem.[note 2]
  2. If vaginal steaming is to prevent all irregular periods, then it must resolve or counteract all of these problems, which is simply ridiculous.

Treats abnormal growths

Vaginal steaming is claimed to treat uterine fibroidsWikipedia (abnormal growths in the uterus),[4][9][5] uterine endometriosisWikipedia (abnormal growths outside of the uterus),[4][9][5] hemorrhoidsWikipedia,[4][5] and/or cancer.

How putting gaseous water in the vagina with a tiny concentration of herbs (sometimes) can fix abnormal internal growths is unknown.

Presumably the steam uses its magical powers to identify the "good" growths from the "bad" growths and then somehow removes said bad growths.

This is especially ridiculous since steam has very little access to the vagina, and even less access to the uterus, where many of these growths occur.

Prevents vaginal infections

Vaginal steaming is purported to reduce the risk of vaginal infections, including yeast infections,[4][10][13][5] and bladder infections.[4]

This is basically the opposite of what probably will happen.

Balances hormones

The vagina is not regulating your hormones. Your brain regulates your hormones. Nuff said.
—Dr. Ghodsi[17]

Putting steam into the vagina almost certainly cannot alter the body's balance of hormones. Even more certainly, if it does alter them, it probably won't balance them, given all the herbs claimed to be going up there.[17][18]

Aids relaxation

Text:
"[T]akes you to deeper alpha and theta brain wave states for deep soul level healing[.][note 3]
[I]nspires clarity and quiet mindfulness[.][note 4]
[E]nhances creativity and problem solving[.][note 5]
[C]onnects you to the source of all creation through your organ of creation[.][note 6]
Kind of when you were a kid and you pulled your shirt over your legs to sit on the vent during cold winter days. Another way to increase your benefit is to self-massage on your abdomen with your hands… or a vibrator. Yes, I know what I said.
—Inquisitr[33]

Vaginal steaming might be relaxing, since you have to stay sitting in a warm place for a long time.

On the other hand, it's probably a better idea to pursue something relaxing spa visit that doesn't risk vaginal burns and infections.

Aids fertility

Vagina Steam baths bring heat to the womb. .... The combination of herbs work to nourish, tone, heal, bring in fresh oxygenated blood, promote cleansing, and make supple the vaginal and uterine tissues.
—Dalene Barton[34]

Some supporters argue that vaginal steaming helps increase female fertility.[4][5][10][13][8]

Niki Han Schwarz did it!

Niki Han Schwarz, the 45-year-old owner of a vaginal steaming spa, was unable to become pregnant while "trying for three years" until she vaginally steamed.[10][14][35]

This evidence is flawed in numerous ways:

  1. This evidence is about as anecdotal as it gets, and can be explained entirely by Schwarz's regression to the mean.
  2. This evidence has a clear conflict of interest, since Schwarz stands to gain if vaginal steaming becomes popular.[36]
  3. This evidence omits major details, like how Schwarz was trying to get pregnant (such as, say, fertility treatments) which could negate any impact of vaginal steaming.[36]
  4. This evidence still doesn't provide any mechanism through which vaginal steaming is supposed to help those sperm on their way.

Increases circulation

It's been argued that vaginal steaming increases heat, that heat increases circulation, and that circulation increases fertility.[4][34]

More heat certainly helps circulation.[13] Increasing circulation in the kidneys helps pregnancy;[37][38] the idea is not totally insane.

However:

  1. No known scientific studies directly support the idea that warming the vagina increases fertility.
  2. Scalding the vagina is probably bad for pregnancy.
  3. If increasing heat is the only goal, then a hot bath should aid fertility just as much as vaginal steaming, at a lower cost and with fewer risks.[11]

Increased bloodflow also increases the flow of oxygen and "immune factors" to the area, which might be beneficial without aiding pregnancy.[10]

Helps men too!

The same "steamed genitals" treatment is also offered to males, also as a fertility aid.[10]

However, warming the testicles actually inhibits sperm production and reduces fertility.[1]

Is traditional and/or exotic medicine

It's a simple, relaxing treatment. You can imagine people doing this in the forest somewhere.
—Lanee Neil[10]

Some argue that vaginal steaming is an "old, respected treatment for women" and that this somehow makes it more likely to work.[5][8] However, the long history of vaginal steaming has no impact on its efficacy.

Some argue that vaginal steaming is a traditional Mayan/Korean/African/Greek/Asian treatment and that this somehow makes it more likely to work.[3][10][5] However, the traditional use of vaginal steaming has no impact on its efficacy.

Vaginal steaming does seem to have a history in Africa and South Korea. Other claimed long histories are very tenuous.[39]

The only reason for these kinds of claims is to try to woo customers. (Unless, of course, they actually believe that long histories and exotic traditions are what really make medicine effective.)

For a taste of the New Age-i-ness surrounding vaginal steaming, we turn to SoulVibrance:[5]

Yoni steaming is about more than uterine health, and it is certainly more than a beauty treatment. The practice brings a reconnection to the female body and to the wisdom of plant medicine. It is an opportunity for women to celebrate and cherish our bodies, and learning to enjoy our wombs as the beautiful, sacred center from which our capacity to change the world radiates. Yoni steaming is also about women taking back ownership of our own health, and utilizing our intuition as well as gifts from the Earth to support and nourish our well-being. Yoni steaming is also about trusting the wisdom of generations of women, elevating their perspectives as not only valid, but integral to our health.

Causes arousal

As Dr. Draion Burch states,[13]

"She's [Gwyneth Paltrow] probably getting turned on. Heat increases blood flow to the vagina, as well as the clitoris."

There's definitely no other way that could ever be achieved, minus the health risks.[citation NOT needed]

And there's definitely no way that: arousal + placebo effect = falsely inflated reports of benefits.

Potential harms

Causes infections

As noted above, vaginal steaming is comparable to gaseous douching.[36] Douching may upset the pH balance of the vagina, which upsets the balance of good and bad bacteria in the vagina, which, in turn, increases the risks of infection.[18][13][17][23][24] Women who douche are more likely to have vaginal infection, bacterial vaginosisWikipedia, vaginal irritation, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy complications, and cervical cancer.[13][23][24][36]

Furthermore, because the vaginal mucosa is highly absorptive, whatever gets shot up there is likely to enter the entire body.[23][24][36] This is especially dangerous for vaginal steaming, which may occur in public spas with less-than-sterile seating arrangements.[36] This is also especially true for yeast, which loves the warm, moist environment that steam provides.[36]

As Dr. Gunter puts it:[25]

We don’t know the effect of steam on the lower reproductive tract, but the lactobacilli strains that keep vaginas healthy are very finicky about their environment and raising the temperature with steam and whatever infrared nonsense Paltrow means is likely not beneficial and is potentially harmful. Some strains of lactobacilli are so hard to cultivate outside of this the very specific vaginal environment that growing them in a lab is next to impossible. There is also the possibility that the “steam” from these plants could contain volatile substances that are harmful to lactobacilli or other aspects of the vaginal ecosystem.

Causes steam burns

Vaginal steaming forces steam onto the pelvic region and potentially into the vagina. Steam definitionally, in a normal room, must be 100 C; getting steam on you is like having boiling water spilled on you. Vaginal steaming can cause steam burns.[13][17][18]

Steam, just like boiling water, can cause burns; in fact, steam burns are far worse than burns from boiling water.[40][41] This compounds the fact that the vagina is especially sensitive and not especially resilient.[17] Burning oneself is always lovely; scalding one's genitals is slightly more so.

Many practitioners of vaginal steaming recommend allowing the boiled water to cool first in order to attempt to avoid steam burns and lawsuits.[3] This helps prevent burns. It also happens to change the process from vaginal steaming to placing-one's-vagina-over-hot-water-ing. At that point, vaginal steaming presumably has the same effects as using a warm compress on the region, but with more potential for infection and irritation.

Causes vaginal irritation

Even if vaginal steaming does not cause burns, it certainly has the potential to cause vaginal irritation. This may occur through adverse reactions to the plant(s) used (if any actually rise with the steam) or merely through the act of pushing heated water into the vagina and uterus.[21] While inflamed genitals may not seem so bad, if there is a precancerous condition in the vagina, then vaginal irritation may exacerbate the condition.[21] Chronic inflammation — by itself — is a known cause of several types of cancers.[42]

Spreads STDs

Scientific evidence does exist on vaginal steaming and STDs.

Vaginal steaming is used to "dry" the vagina by limiting vaginal secretions. After "drying" their vagina, women then have "dry sex"; supposedly, a dryer vagina increases the sexual pleasure of the male. However, dry sex can be excruciating for the female and lead to tears on the vagina, which makes it easier to transfer STDs such as HIV/AIDs.[43][44][45]

As Tinde van Andel et. al. state:[44]

In many African cultures, plants and other intravaginal desiccants are used to minimise vaginal secretions. This practice, known as ‘dry sex’, creates a vagina that is dry, tight, and heated, which is supposed to generate an increased sensation for the man during intercourse. Although this is uncomfortable and painful, African women express the need to please their husbands with dry sex in order to keep them from leaving and to minimise the number of girlfriends (Baleta, 1998; Kun, 1998). Previous research has shown that dry sex damages the epithelium of the vagina and can lead to lacerations, inflammations, and the suppression of the vagina’s natural bacteria, all of which increase the likelihood of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV (Brown et al., 1993; Runganga and Kasule, 1995; Kun, 1998; McClelland et al., 2006).
[....]
None of our respondents were aware that a dry, tight vagina is a risk factor for STDs. On the contrary, they were convinced that a regular cleansing of their intimate parts would protect them against such infections and ensured their partner’s fidelity. The Maroon males we spoke to were all positive about genital baths. Their only concern was that some women used not only tightening herbs in the baths but also ‘dangerous’ plants in order to acquire magic power over them.
[....]
Most Surinamese medical practitioners we interviewed knew of the dry-sex practices and were concerned about the possible relationship between these genital baths and the spread of STDs, HIV/AIDS, cervical carcinoma, and ectopic pregnancy in their country.
[....]
Maroons of both sexes, who were interviewed by Terborg (2001), explained that vaginal dryness and tightness during intercourse was not only preferred, but without it sexual pleasure was not possible. When asked if dry sex caused contact bleeding and pain, the majority of respondents answered positively. Suriname is currently experiencing a serious AIDS epidemic, with HIV being prevalent in more than 1% of the adult population (UNAIDS/WHO, 2005). The vast majority of the HIV-positives are found among the Maroons (Terborg, 2001; Terborg et al., 2005).
[....]
As both men and women highly appreciate dry sex, education and awareness programmes should discuss the risks of genital steam baths and encourage safe methods, such as avoiding contact bleeding during intercourse by means of a ‘good warming up’ and promoting the use of condoms (Terborg, 2001).

In addition, any intravaginal practices have a risk of transferring STDs.[43]

Causes complications during pregnancy

Douching in general can cause complications during pregnancy,[13][24][23] and vaginal steaming is comparable to douching.

Most practitioners of vaginal steaming warn against vaginally steaming while pregnant.[2][26]

Causes contraction of the purse

Spas that offer vaginal steaming services tend to have prices that range from about $20[46] to about $100.[33] Considering that this service is the equivalent of (1) boiling water and (2) letting somebody sit over it for a little while, this is a pretty nice way (1) for spas to make money and (2) for customers to lose it.

Scientific evidence on efficacy

When I first read the articles about V-jay steaming, I wasn’t sure if they were discussing a feel-good technique, a novel treatment for the crabs, or a new venue for cooking your dumplings. But after managing to suspend my disbelief, I finally gathered that this is pure kitsch — a fad touted by uninformed celebs. I checked the medical literature as thoroughly as I could and found no credible evidence of any GYN health benefit from steaming one’s junk. Positive health claims appear nothing more than anecdotal.
—Dr. David Shobin[47]
[A]sking for scientific citations at a holistic spa is rather like requesting chopsticks at an ice cream parlor: not only will they not have them, they won’t really understand why you’re asking in the first place.
—Russell Saunders[48]

Unfortunately, no available studies have scientifically tested at the efficacy of vaginal steaming.

The closest approaches to such a study are self-reported surveys. Unfortunately, such studies are inherently unreliable. Furthermore, women report both positive and negative effects from vaginal steaming.

As such, it is impossible to say that true empirical scientific evidence on the medical impacts of vaginal steaming exists.

Publicly available

Prevalence and self-reported health consequences of vaginal practices in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: findings from a household survey[49]
This article contains a wealth of self-reported information about vaginal steaming.[note 7] For our purposes, a few statistics stick out: Of those who currently practice vaginal steaming, 9.4% report increased cleanliness, 64.0% report odor reduction, and 2.5% report relief of symptoms. Of those who have ever practiced, 7.3% reported genital irritation and/or pain, 1.5% reported genital itching, 0.2% reported genital bleeding or sores, and 0.9% reported DyspareuniaWikipedia. It should be noted that this study is entirely self-reported, and thus does not avoid any potential (positive or negative) incorrect self-diagnosis.

Study Effect of Satureja bachtiarica Alcoholic Extract on Some Components of Complement System and IgM in Rat Serum[50]
This article, while describing some of the known qualities of Satureja bachtiarica, states:

[M]assaging vertebral column with plant creams containing extract of this plant (satureja bachtiarica) accompanied by foot baths and vaginal steaming is very effective to reduce orgasmic dysfunction in women (Lewis and Elvin-Lemis, 1977).

This would seem to support claims that vaginal steaming, when accompanied with a herbal massage, can increase sexual satisfaction.

For this claim, the article cites "Lewis WH and Elvin-Lewis MPF. 1977. Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health. A Wiley-Interscience Publication. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158. 515 pages." On page 515 alone, the book itself does not support this;[51] however, it's possible that page 516 (not included in the Google Books preview) supports this statement.

As a final warning, one should note that this article's publisher is a bit sketchy.[52]

A multi-country study on gender, sexuality and vaginal practices: Implications for sexual health[43]
The WHO noted that:

  • 67% of women in Chonburi vaginally steam
  • 86% of women in mainland Asia reported vaginally steaming after giving birth
  • 10% of women in Tete vaginally steam, 64% in order to increase male sexual pleasure via vaginal tightening, and 23% in order to dry the vagina

The article also noted, in general, that some recent studies suggest that those who perform intravaginal practices (such as vaginal steaming) and especially those who have "dry sex" (for which people vaginally steam) have higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Dry sex in Suriname[44]
This article mentions that vaginal steam baths, particularly steam baths that contain drying and tightening herbs are used to dry and contract the vagina in order to improve pleasure during sex. However, as the article notes, such a practice can harm the vagina and spread STDs.

The article provided insight into another reason (besides dry sex) that people vaginally steam:

Being clean is essential in the Afro-Surinamese culture and is reflected in its ethnobotany. Menstruating women and mothers in childbed are considered unclean (Price, 1993; Fleury, 1996). Vaginal baths are seen as a way to purify the female body and make it attractive again for the opposite sex (Fleury, 1996).

The articles also, interestingly, stated that vaginal steaming after delivering a baby may be better than no treatment at all:

These baths also caused the uterus to return to its former shape and prevented childbed fever and a sagging waist. If a woman refrained from cleansing her uterus after childbirth, she ran the risk of contracting ‘cold in the belly’. According to our respondents, this dangerous illness, caused by ‘dirty blood’ left in the uterus after delivery, could lead to severe abdominal pains, fever, and ultimately death. This description suggests serious uterine infections and puerperal fever.
[....]
Given the popularity of dry sex, its important role in AfroSurinamese culture, and the limited understanding of infective mechanisms in Maroon society, a general prohibition of genital steam baths in Suriname is no option. Moreover, prohibiting traditional midwife practices could have negative effects on women’s health, especially in remote areas where health centres are poorly staffed and equipped (Terborg, 2001; Ticktin and Dalle, 2005).
[....]
Our results show that genital steam baths are frequently used to facilitate the removal of placental remains after birth, miscarriage or abortion. In the major Maroon settlements, where 58% of the deliveries take place without an officially trained birth attendant (United Nations Population Fund, 2007), knowledge of medicinal plants that contract the uterus and prevent puerperal fever can save lives. Cleaning out the uterus after a miscarriage by means of steam and herbs is preferable to receiving no treatment at all.

That said, the article isn't an empirical study and doesn't jive with the idea that it's hard to get steam into the uterus.

Paywalled

Interventions to improve vaginal health for reducing the risk of HIV acquisition[53]
This article explores HIV-avoiding techniques for females and mentions vaginal steaming. Unfortunately, any interesting relevant information is not in the abstract.

Prevalence, Motivations, and Adverse Effects of Vaginal Practices in Africa and Asia: Findings from a Multicountry Household Survey[54]
This article surveys numerous women across a large area in order to attempt to determine how many and why women perform vaginal practices, as well as if they have any adverse impacts. Vaginal practices in Africa were often explicitly linked to increasing sexual pleasure and maintaining partner commitment, while vaginal practices in Asia were more often linked to maintaining femininity and health. The article also notes that very limited evidence of the biomedical consequences of most vaginal practices exists.

Scientific consensus

Most medical professionals are skeptical of the benefits of vaginal steaming, not least because of their lack of empirical backing.

The following are gathered through statements to the press and personal blogs a comprehensive review of reputable sources:

Opposed

OBGYNs:

  1. Dr. Manny Alvarez, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center: "There is absolutely no way this [vaginal steaming] has any significant health benefit."[21]
  2. Dr. Pari Ghodsi, Group Practitioner at Northlake Obstetrics & Gynecology, P.A.:[55] "V-Steam, although a catchy name, makes no sense and is an overall bad idea."[17]
  3. Dr. Draion Burch, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine:[56] "There's no scientific evidence that shows it works."[13]
  4. Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, OBGYN at Women's Care of Beverly Hills Medical Group: "Most of these kinds of treatments are not put through intensive clinical trials, so it becomes challenging to evaluate the actual impact they have."[10]
  5. Dr. Camilo Gonima, OBGYN at the Institute for Women's Health:[57] "Other than any possible involvement stress [which he states vaginal steaming may reduce] might have on these issues, I don't see any basis for any significant effects on fertility or menstrual cycles. [...] [I] would emphasize that this should be entirely external, and I'd be cautious about safety to avoid the risk of scalding."[14]
  6. Dr. Vicken Sahakian, OBGYN and medical director of Pacific Fertility Center in Los Angeles:[58] "It sounds like voodoo medicine that sometimes works."[10]
  7. Dr. Jennifer Gunter, widely-certified OBGYN:[59] "Steam is probably not good for your vagina. Herbal steam is no better and quite possibly worse. It is most definitely more expensive."[25]
  8. Dr. Mary Minkin, MD, OBGYN at Obstetrics Gynecology & Menopause Physicians, P.C. and clinical professor at the Yale University School of Medicine:[60] "It's complete bull."[61]
  9. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, OBGYN: "There is zero medical evidence to support the need for or benefits of vaginal steaming. The physiology of the vagina is such that it is constantly cleaning itself and doesn't need extra help. ... Just make sure to avoid thermal burns from hot steam."[62]
  10. Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, OBGYN at Columbia University Medical Center: "It probably feels good because the heat increases blood flow to the whole vaginal area, including the clitoris, which could turn some women on. But if you got too close to the steam, you could end up with second degree burns down there."[63]
  11. Dr. Taraneh Shirazian, OBGYN at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.[63]

MDs:

  1. Dr. Siri Chand Kaur Khalsa, MD, One Medical Group and "Integrative medicine" practicioner:[64] "The premise that the body needs spa treatments to remove toxins has no clear basis in human biology. [....] Regarding Vaginal Steaming’s proposed health benefits, the vagina has extensive blood flow and mucous membranes, so it absorbs medications easily, but there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of absorbing herbs vaginally."[22]
  2. Dr. David Gorski,Wikipedia MD, PhD, FACS, Professor of Surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine and surgical oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute specializing in breast cancer surgery: "I suppose this whole “perineal” or “vaginal” steam bath is just something that we nasty, allopathic “Western” doctors just don’t understand. To us, it’s just shooting a bunch of steam up a woman’s nether regions."[1]

Non-MDs:

  1. Timothy Caulfield, Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, and author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?:[65]: "Paltrow is the perfect symbol of popular culture in our world right now. [....] I think she should be held to a standard and that standard should be science. [...] The claims made for it [vaginal steaming] are wrong and it could even be harmful[.] [....] You shouldn’t monkey with the bacterial flora down there."[66]

In favor

OBGYNs:

  1. Dr. Lissa Rankin, MD, OBGYN, "mind-body medicine physician", founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, author of Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself:[67] "There's no scientific evidence to support or reject the claims made by advocates of vaginal steam baths, so the truth of the matter is that we just don't know whether they offer any health benefit. But I'm not one to knock ancient Eastern health care practices, so who knows? I'm a big fan of checking in with your gut (and your lady bits!) What does your body tell you? [....] [I]f the wisdom of your body speaks to you and says, "YES! This is the answer for me," pay attention."[68]

MDs:

  1. Dr. Lisa S. Lawless, PhD, psychotherapist and CEO of Holistic Wisdom, Inc.:[69][note 8] "Vaginal steaming in Chinese medicine is used to relieve stagnation and coldness in the body, and in Eastern medicine in general it is used to dilate the blood vessels, increase blood circulation, provide oxygenation and relax the pelvic floor muscles. Other ways it improves health depends on the herbs that are used and the healing properties each herb brings to the table."[4]

Non-MDs:

  1. Rosita Arvigo, Doctor of NaprapathyWikipedia:[70] "Vaginal or yoni steam baths are an old, respected treatment for women used by Maya midwives and traditional healers in Central and South America. The practice is mentioned in early chronicles of Spanish friars who took time to record the healing practices of the Maya and Aztec. Bajos (ba-hoes) as they are called in Spanish, are a common and effective treatment for many female complaints, especially those of a serious or chronic nature."[3]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. Vaginal steaming does involve heat, which is related to infraredWikipedia radiation. That said, vaginal steaming does not directly create infrared radiation for the purposes of healing. Furthermore, even vaginal steaming did involve infrared, it certainly wouldn't cleanse the vagina.
  2. The only way to prevent such a false positive is to have controlled studies; no such studies have been conducted on vaginal steaming.
  3. Apparently you heal the soul with brain waves. And what's the difference between "deep" and "light" soul level healing?
  4. Because you're fucking sitting still for half an hour. Try it sometime.
  5. Maybe sexual creativity; aside from that, it's just sitting.
  6. What even is the "source of all creation", and do you want to "connect" to it?
  7. All relevant information: The article states that, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 24.8% of respondents had heard of vaginal steaming, 7.6% had practiced vaginal steaming, and 3.5% currently practice. Of those who currently practice, vaginal steaming is performed on average 2 times per month. Of those who currently practice, 54.0% use traditional materials, 8.0% use alum, 8.9% use mixtures of commercial and traditional materials, and 18.7 use unspecified materials. Of those who currently practice, 2.4% steam during personal hygiene, 32.2% steam around menstruation, 28.7% steam before sexual intercourse, 1.4% steam after sexual intercourse, 8.6% steam in times of discomfort, and 5.5% steam with no particular pattern. Of those who currently practice, 2.3% steam for hygiene, 20.0% steam for wellness, 85.4% steam to treat an infection, 66.4% steam to increase sexual pleasure, 0.0% steam to avoid pain during sex, 0.0% steam to restore a sensation of virginity, and 1.7% steam to provide a sense of femininity. Of those who currently practice, 9.4% report increased cleanliness, 64.0% report odor reduction, 54.1% report a drier vagina, 29.3% report a wetter vagina, 28.7% report a tighter vagina, 4.3% report a looser vagina, 3.7% report a hotter vagina, 4.9% report stimulation of the vagina, 2.5% report relief of symptoms. Of those who currently practice, 0.0% report a health problem with their current practice. Of those who have ever practiced, 7.3% reported genital irritation and/or pain, 1.5% reported genital itching, 0.2% reported genital bleeding or sores, and 0.9% reported DyspareuniaWikipedia.
  8. Some psychotherapists are medical doctors; others are not. Since RW isn't certain, we'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/12/21/steamed-vajajay-woo/
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 http://alignmentmonkey.nurturance.net/2012/vaginal-steams
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://www.birth-institute.com/alternative-medicine-and-childbirth/vaginal-steams
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 [1](redirect)
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 http://www.soulvibrance.com/body-care/yoni-steam
  6. http://thedetoxdiva.com/do-it-yourself-v-steam/
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20150415033756/http://moonblushsacred.com/vaginal-steaming-ancient-wisdom-doesnt-lie-guest-post-by-sierra-brashear/
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 http://www.fabfertile.com/blog/could-abdominal-massage-and-vaginal-steaming-be-the-missing-link-with-your-fertility
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 https://www.fertilityauthority.com/blog/marc-sklar/2014/2/05/what-are-vaginal-steam-baths
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/20/health/la-he-v-steam-20101220
  11. 11.0 11.1 http://healthland.time.com/2010/12/27/the-new-old-practice-of-vaginal-steam-baths/
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=vaginal%20steaming%2C%20chai%20yok%2C%20vaginal%20steam%20bath%2C%20vagina%20steaming%2C%20yoni%20steam&cmpt=q
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 http://www.livescience.com/49648-vaginal-steaming-no-benefits.html
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 http://www.medicaldaily.com/should-you-get-v-steam-vaginal-detox-claims-soothe-menstrual-cramps-and-boost-womens-fertility
  15. http://madamenoire.com/547710/alternative-medicine/14/
  16. 16.0 16.1 http://m.usmagazine.com/celebrity-beauty/news/gwyneth-paltrow-gets-vagina-steam-at-spa-preaches-its-virtues-on-goop-2015291
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 http://www.doctorpari.com/2015/02/02/gwynnie-is-no-gyno/
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 "Vaginal Steaming Is a "Must" For Gwyneth Paltrow, But Not for Everyone", Redbook Magazine
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN4rA9HBngw
  20. http://doubtfulnews.com/2015/08/gwyneth-paltrow-not-the-one-behind-the-vagina-steaming-claim/
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/12/22/vaginal-steaming-just-bunch-hot-air/
  22. 22.0 22.1 http://www.fastcompany.com/3041307/body-week/i-went-to-a-spa-for-my-uterus-and-this-is-my-story
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/vaginal-douching-helpful-or-harmful
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 24.8 http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/douching.html
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/gwyneth-paltrow-says-steam-your-vagina-an-obgyn-says-dont/
  26. 26.0 26.1 http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/01/why-vaginal-steaming-could-be-the-best-thing-well-try-this-year/
  27. http://clinicalherbalism.com/vaginal-steam/
  28. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821135407/http://www.mamaandbabylove.com/2013/05/06/yup-i-am-gonna-talk-about-vaginal-steam-baths/
  29. http://besanctuary.com/services/yoni
  30. http://kolyanaturals.com/2015/07/painful-periods-vaginal-steaming-a-lost-practice-that-supports-feminine-cycles/
  31. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menstruation/conditioninfo/Pages/causes.aspx
  32. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Coping_with_Families_and_Careers/hic_Normal_Menstruation/hic-abnormal-menstruation
  33. 33.0 33.1 http://www.inquisitr.com/890389/vaginal-steaming/
  34. 34.0 34.1 http://natural-fertility-info.com/vagina-steam.html
  35. http://blisstree.com/live/vaginal-steam-baths-could-cure-infertility-and-bad-periods/
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 http://www.tbtam.com/2010/12/vaginal-steam-baths-douche-by-any-other-name.html#.VJxP7F4AKA
  37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23596887
  38. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24754183
  39. http://skeptoid.com/blog/2015/01/18/the-mysterious-origins-of-vaginal-steaming/
  40. http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1322
  41. http://c21.phas.ubc.ca/article/steam-burns
  42. Chronic Inflammation and Cancer by Emily Schacter & Sigmund A. Weitzman, Oncology, 2002.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/75182/1/WHO_RHR_HRP_12.25_eng.pdf?ua=1
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tinde_Andel/publication/5766025_Dry_sex_in_Suriname/links/54c55ed80cf2911c7a553e6f.pdf
  45. http://www.soaaids.nl/en/information-for/diversity/topics/sex-stis-and-specific-cultural-practices
  46. http://jezebel.com/5715255/does-your-vagina-need-a-50-steam-bath
  47. https://www.yahoo.com/health/ooh-aah-we-tried-it-vaginal-steaming-110173312208.html
  48. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/29/for-the-love-of-goop-don-t-steam-your-vagina.html
  49. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02687.x/full
  50. http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ijaf.20140403.10.html
  51. http://books.google.com/books?id=ipQmSriMF9sC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
  52. http://scholarlyoa.com/2012/02/05/new-publisher-scientific-academic-publishing/
  53. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009869/abstract
  54. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.2010.2281
  55. https://s3.amazonaws.com/leonardo_site_media/10724-92b1a7ef18cb717520c52949f0135eeb.pdf
  56. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-and-publications/media-center/expert-sources/Pages/draion-burch.aspx
  57. http://www.ifwh.org/en/physicians?view=detail&npi=25&from=all
  58. http://www.pfcla.com/vicken-sahakian/
  59. https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/about-me/
  60. http://obgynmenopause.com/dr_mary_jane_minkin_md.php
  61. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/gwyneth-paltrow-v-steam
  62. http://pagesix.com/2015/01/29/gwyneth-thinks-you-should-get-a-vagina-steam/
  63. 63.0 63.1 http://news.health.com/2015/01/28/5-things-you-definitely-should-not-be-doing-to-your-vagina/
  64. http://www.onemedical.com/phx/physicians/
  65. http://www.hli.ualberta.ca/People/TimothyCaulfield.aspx
  66. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/gwyneth-paltrow-celebrity-health-tips-leaves-scientist-steaming/story-fnb64oi6-1227350001237
  67. http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/115249/info
  68. http://www.blogher.com/steam-your-vagina-obgyn-vaginal-steam-baths
  69. http://lisalawless.com/
  70. http://rositaarvigo.com/