Experts are reportedly concerned about a new health trend that has some women putting wasp nests in their vaginas.
According to gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter, women have been told to grind the nests – known formally as oak galls – and put them in their vaginas with the promise that they will “restore the elasticity.”
The instructions from one seller, according to Dr. Gunter, inform women that the nests, when ground into a paste, can also be used as a “feminine wash” or to heal cuts in the vagina.
Yup, this is an actual thing. (Image via Dr. Gunter)
“This product follows the same dangerous pathway of other ‘traditional’ vaginal practices, meaning tightening and drying the vagina which is both medically and sexually (for women anyway) undesirable,” writes Dr. Gunter.
“Drying the vaginal mucosa increases the risk of abrasions during sex (not good) and destroys the protective mucous layer (not good).”
She continues, “it could also wreak havoc with the good bacteria. In addition to causing pain during sex it can increase the risk of HIV transmission.”
On that last note, Dr. Gunter provides a link to a study by researchers from the University of Bern, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the United States National Institutes of Health which suggests that vaginal “rejuvenation” methods like the wasp nest monstrosity can actually raise a woman’s risk of getting HIV.
Popular Science agrees, describing this whole “oak gall” thing as “the latest spaghetti monstrosity.”
“What is clear,” the outlet states, “is that oak galls probably don’t tighten your vagina and even if they do, they have enough potential side effects that you should avoid them anyway.”
The outlet further states that, “inserting ground up bits of oak gall will, at best, do nothing. At worst, it will give you a raging infection.”
Despite the warnings, oak gall vaginal-tightening products are still readily available on Amazon.
“Be like a virgin again it really works, drive him wild and love u more,” reads the actual product title for one item on Amazon.
Dude.
Another product’s description reads “Oak Gall is a strong binder and may help to tighten the vagina.”
It also instructs women to boil the oak gall then use it as a “vaginal rinse.”
Dude.
One can even buy oak gall in readymade in cream form.
“It is a concoction in its precise proportion that provides the most effective rejuvanating [sic], restorative, firm and lasting results,” reads the description for this particular product.
This, of course, is not the first time women have been told to put odd things in their vagina.
Gwyneth Paltrow actually sells jade eggs on her website for $66 apiece with the promise that they boost orgasms and “increase vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance, and feminine energy in general.”
All one has to do is – surprise – put the egg inside their vagina (or “sacred place,” as Paltrow’s site puts it).
Dr. Jen Gunter weighed in on that too, calling it “the biggest load of garbage” since Paltrow’s “vaginal steaming” debacle.
As for the wasp nonsense, many have taken to the web to laugh over it all.
Sources:
Dr. Jen Gunter
Dr. Jen Gunter (2)
Goop
Popular Science
NIH.gov