What's the Deal with Vaginal Steaming?

There are certainly some interesting treatments out in the menstrual health world, from supplement routines, energy-focused practitioners and even more. The one that I feel takes the cake for most interesting is definitely vaginal steaming.

Yes, you read that right – and probably not for the first time either. In 2015, good ol’ Gwenyth Paltrow recommended steaming as a means to make the uterus “super clean”, under the treatment name “V-steaming” (let’s use anatomical terms, GP). It came along with jade egg products and all sorts of strange ideas around the hygiene of the biological female reproductive system.

I’d like to say we’ve come a long way in terms of claims around vaginal and uterine health but sadly, here we are. It doesn’t mean these things don’t actually work, we just don’t have the high quality research we need to really solidify recommendations for it.

So what IS vaginal steaming, for real? It is what it sounds like – seated on a stool with a cut-out under the pelvic floor, steam often combined with herbs is directed towards the vagina. While you may have heard of it more closely tied to postpartum care, it’s also been touted as a method for treating a variety of period health issues such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS and more.

The use of vaginal steaming has quite a few claims to follow it, some more extreme than others. It’s claimed to reduce lochia (the first bleeding after birth), reduce fundal size (essentially the size of the uterus after delivery), reduce blood pressure and promote tissue healing. On the more extreme end, it’s claimed to boost weight loss in the postpartum period (I take issue with this claim in more ways than one), reduce edema and limb swelling, and prevent appetite loss. Depending on the herbs used, it’s thought to have antiseptic effects to prevent infection and to treat infection that may occur vaginally.

Now, this isn’t to say that these things don’t happen with the use of steaming. However, I find it interesting that some of the claims are things that naturally happen during postpartum – the size of the uterus begins to return to pre-pregnancy size gradually after delivery even without the application of steam. It’s the same with weight changes that may occur after delivery – you’ve pushed a baby with mass and a placenta with mass out, along with all the fluids you’ve carried both in blood and amniotic fluid, new fat stores for breast tissue and more.

Are there pros to steaming? Possibly! Some people may find immense comfort in using vaginal steaming after having a baby – we use Sitz baths and cooling pads similarly to promote comfort and support healing. And others may find it does compliment other treatments they seek out for endometriosis and more.

Are there cons to steaming? Yes – and the limitations are pretty significant.

Most studies using vaginal steaming are small in size, anywhere from 1 single case study to a few hundred. These small numbers make it hard to be representative of the whole population. And these studies are usually voluntary registration, so it’s possible that the participants have been looking for steaming services or have tried them before. Depending on the centre that completed the study, there’s also a risk that they haven’t been approved by an ethics board, have been funded by a hydrotherapy clinic or by places that offer the service – we call this risk of bias (and not being ethics approved can get sticky fast).

The structure of the study may not be well-designed. Many are semi-structured interviews; does this mean the questions aren’t the same between participants? Or does this mean there is more qualitative content collected from participants from a select number of questions? Treatment types may be inconsistent with no standard herb or plant used, or combination of treatments such as aromatherapy with steaming. The outcomes of the study might not match the claim they make, such as comparing antibiotics to steaming when assessing vaginal comfort versus infection risk.

There’s a possible risk that folks may delay other care methods in order to pursue steaming; in cases that are more severe such as cervical cancer, these delays can be life threatening. And not all plant species used in steaming are safe – some plants are toxic to use in any capacity, whereas others may be safe when only one part of the plant is used.

I’m all for people making their own choices when it comes to their bodies and their health (and their involvement in cultural practices!) – here’s how to make steaming safe if you choose to add it to your care routine:

1. Learn about the centre you’re going to – what are their infection control processes? What products do they use, and do they fall under any allergens you have? Will a provider be accessible throughout the treatment if there’s a problem and you need help? Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and for the qualifications of the provider you’ll be working with. A centre that won’t pony up their team’s credentials or safety practices is not a centre you want to be at.

2. Consider reduced steam exposure. Hot water and steams burn – and the vulva is sensitive skin, yo. Using lower temperatures or indirect exposure can be a great way to get the warmth without the wound.

3. Use it as a complement to other treatments. If you regularly work with a care team for other vaginal care, consider steam an addition and not a replacement. Maintain your regular appointments, take your medications appropriately and keep your team informed of any new changes that may impact your care.