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Beware, use of alum for vagina tightening can’t restore lost virginity
Senior reproductive health experts have said no amount of alum used to wash the vagina to tighten it will ever restore lost virginity.
The maternal health specialists advised women indulging in such a harmful practice to desist from it, warning that it could introduce infection to the vagina and also expose them to the risk of infertility.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH HealthWise, the gynaecologists affirmed that using alum to wash the vagina won’t regrow a ruptured or broken hymen, stressing that virginity is a thing of the mind.
Alum is an inorganic chemical compound that is generally made up of water molecules, aluminum or other metals, and sulfates.
An Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, Dr. Uche Agu, described the practice as a pure misconception that had no place in medicine.
Agu explained, “Using alum to wash the vagina is a misconception by some women that it gives them a sense of tightness and a sense of virginity. But it is just a misconception and deceit because it doesn’t mean anything.
“It is very dangerous because alum can be corrosive and cause some burning and irritation of the vaginal wall.
“It can cause scarring and might even block or narrow the place terribly and might require some surgical interventions to open up.
“So, it is a very bad practice, it does not help anyone, rather it is dangerous. When you are using that substance on the vagina, by the time it erodes the walls of the vagina, causing burning, then infection can set in. That infection can spread up to the uterus and cause infertility in the future.”
According to him, the infection that might arise from the use of alum in washing the vagina can block the fallopian tubes and cause infertility.
The gynecologist also warned that such a harmful practice could lead to complications in pregnancy if the woman escapes infertility.
“If the woman eventually gets pregnant and the vagina is narrowed, it will be difficult for a baby to pass through a narrow canal.
“So, if the baby eventually passes through there, it causes a lot of injury to that area that can result in complications like vaginal fistula.
“And when the baby may not able to pass there, it leads to surgical delivery and cesarean section because that place is narrowed. That is the complication in childbearing”, Dr. Agu said.
The gynaecologist pointed out that washing the vagina with alum would not recreate a lost hymen.
Continuing, he said, ” Once the hymen is broken, depending on the level of breakage or laceration, the hymen can heal if it is a slight laceration and nobody knows that anything has gone in there.
“There is one called complete laceration. If it is completely transected, that is the whole feature of the hymen is lacerated, it does not heal that it will not be noticed. Again, if it is a partial laceration, it can heal.
“But in a situation where one has lost virginity over some time, the hymen has been torn terribly due to recurrent sexual intercourse leading to further diminishing of the size of the hymen, it does not regrow at all. ”
In a 2022 article published by Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine in ScienceDirect, the authors said several vaginal practices put women at higher risk for reproductive tract infections.
ScienceDirect is a website that provides access to scientific and medical publications.
The researchers noted that worldwide, women perform a variety of vaginal practices to enhance their hygiene and sexual health.
“Some of the products commonly used include intravaginal cleaning (douching or washing with liquids), intravaginal and extra vaginal wiping, and intravaginal insertion of substances that dry or tighten the vagina and boost sexual pleasure.
“However, the standard vaginal pH of 4.5, essential for maintaining a healthy vaginal immune barrier, can be disturbed by such feminine practice.
“Products used may affect the composition of the usual vaginal microbiome through alteration of pH or direct bactericidal effects.
“We should continue to increase awareness to counter the misinformation resulting from marketing campaigns and common misconceptions”, the researchers said.
Also, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Modupe Adedeji, said such practice could introduce infections to the vaginal environment and cause more serious health problems.
Adedeji advised women not to use anything that would tamper with the normal vaginal environment.
“ But some people will go and pick something from the shelf without reading the content and it will start destroying the normal vaginal environment.
“They can introduce the infection to the area thereby compounding the problem. In the end, they are left with an infection”, she said.
Mr. Sam Olumekun has taken over at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Acting Chairman.
Olumekun is INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education.
He performed his first duties today, receiving a high-level delegation of the Labour Party (LP) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja with other National Commissioners in attendance.
The delegation was led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, who visited the Commission to discuss key developments within the Labour Party.
It was gathered that both parties engaged in discussions centered on enhancing collaboration and reinforcing democratic values.
During the visit, Governor Otti formally presented a Certified True Copy of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the party’s leadership.
He noted that the meeting was aimed at fostering clarity, mutual understanding, and institutional alignment regarding the Labour Party’s current structure.
Mr. Olumekun, the Acting INEC Chairman, reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
Recall that a viral WhatsApp message had indicated that Prof. Mahmood was sacked by President Bola Tinubu and replaced with one Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan.
“INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu,” the message, which had no attribution, read. However, both INEC and the Presidency debunked the widespread report.
Yakubu, who is rounding off his second tenure in office, is expected to exit the system towards the end of this year.
The process of appointing an INEC chairman is the President nominating a candidate and forwarding his particulars to the Department of State Services (DSS) for profiling.
After such screening, the President, thereafter, takes the name to the National Council of State for its advisory review.
Based on the outcome, the President sends the name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Crude oil prices have dropped below $57, following a previous rate of $59.78.
This decline coincides with the imposition of tariffs on several countries by US President Donald Trump.
A report from West Texas Intermediate attributes this price slump to consistent 6% reductions observed last week.
JPMorgan Chase & Co has warned that these tariffs could likely push both the US and global economies into a recession this year.
The financial institution explained that the tariffs, set to take effect this week, are expected to have widespread economic repercussions.
Market analysts and the business community have expressed concerns about the negative implications of these measures, predicting a slowdown in economic activities and a subsequent decline in oil demand.
The military government of Niger has continued its efforts to cut ties with France.
In its latest move, it has officially designated Hausa as the country’s new national language.
Previously, French had served as the central and official language of the nation.
This new development was announced in a charter released on March 31 and published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
According to the document, the national language is Hausa,” while “the working languages are English and French.”
Before this announcement, Hausa was already widely spoken in Niger, particularly in regions such as Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua.
Out of the country’s estimated population of 26 million, the vast majority speak and understand Hausa.
In contrast, only around three million people— roughly 13 percent — can speak French.
The new charter also recognises nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “spoken languages of Niger.”
Additionally, the government has withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.
In January, French President Emmanuel Macron criticised African leaders for what he described as a lack of gratitude.
Speaking about developments in the region, Macron said: “We had a relationship based on security — it was twofold. On one hand, it was our commitment to fighting terrorism since 2013. We were right, though I think someone forgot to say thank you. It’s okay, it will come with time.
“Ungratefulness, I know too well, is a disease that cannot be transmitted to men. But I say this for all African heads of state who have lacked courage in the face of public opinion.”
“None of them would be sovereign countries today if the French army hadn’t been deployed in the region. My heart goes out to all our soldiers, some of whom have given their lives and fought for years.”
“We did the right thing. We left because there were coups. We were there at the request of sovereign states who asked France to come.”
“From the moment there were coups and the people stated their objectives no longer involved fighting terrorism — or were unclear— France no longer had a place there.”
It’s worth recalling that in December 2023, Niger Republic officially expelled French troops from the country.
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