Yoni Pearls: Ingredients, Fertility, and Safety Risks - Greatist

Yoni pearls are a woo-woo wellness craze and for no good reason.

Brands claim these vaginal suppositories can detox your vajayjay and increase your chances of getting pregnant. But is any of it legit? Spoiler alert: NO!

So, WTF are yoni pearls?

Yoni pearls are basically tea bags for your coochie. They're a bunch of herbs wrapped in cloth that you insert inside your vag. You might also know them as:

• vaginal pearls
• herbal tampons
• vaginal detox pearls

Yoni pearls are marketed as uterus or vaginal detoxifiers. But IRL they don't have any proven benefits and are not recommended by the FDA.

Similar to how unnecessary douching is, your vagina doesn't need to be cleaned out or detoxed. It handles itself all on its own. That said, you should not put yoni pearls in your body.

Here are the deets on yoni pearls and why you should 👏 not 👏 use 👏 them 👏.

Yoni pearl ingredients vary from brand-to-brand. Common herbs used are:

• osthol
• rhizoma
• borneol
• rhubarb
• safflower
• motherwort
• peach kernel
• angelica root

BTW, some brands claim to be organic but actually contain toxic chemicals.

Yoni pearls are often marketed as a way to rid your vajayjay of:

• mucus
• "toxins"
• bacteria
• dead cells
• bad energy
• old blood clots

Some brands also claim they can help treat:

But guess what!? There's literally no science to back up any of these claims, according to Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University.

"If you look up 'yoni pearls' in the index of medical publications, PubMed, there is nothing listed," Minkin says. "So, we have basically zero medical information."

Plus, the FDA cracked down on yoni pearl manufacturers for misleading medical claims. Including that products can treat or prevent conditions like endometriosis and PID, which is potentially dangerous advice if you don't seek necessary medical care.

Again, we don't have any studies to prove yoni pearls do anything. But it's safe to say they're risky AF.

A healthy vagina has a pH between 3.8 and 4.5. Its on the acidic side to ward off bad bacteria. This helps keep all the natural bacteria living in your vag in harmony.

Putting anything in your vagine (yoni pearls included) that contain chemicals, fragrance, or herbs can totally mess these levels up.

This may lead to:

Toxic shock syndrome is a real prob too

Leaving a yoni pearl in for too long can increase your risk of toxic shock syndrome, a serious and sometimes life threatening bacterial infection.

Some brands suggest you keep the yoni pearl inside your vag for up to 72 hours. This is HORRIBLE, dangerous advice.

The FDA says, you should change a tampon or menstrual cup every 4 to 8 hours. But since yoni pearls can contain things that are not designed to be in a vagina, even 10 minutes might be too long.

Some folks think yoni pearls can up your chances of putting a bun in the oven. You've probably guessed it, but these folks are wrong.

In fact, yoni pearls can actually lower your chance of conception.

Yoni pearls might lead to vaginal infections or PID. This can increase your risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain.

Can yoni pearls cause a miscarriage?

Yoni pearls aren't safe. Period. But they might be particularly risky if you have a baby on board.

Most miscarriages are caused by a genetic complication. But a 2002 research review suggested that douching can increase your risk of early childbirth and miscarriage.

"Douching on a regular basis actually tends to wipe out the 'good guy' bacterial flora. We want those bacteria there — we like our Lactobacillus!," Minkin says.

PSA: Research links some plants and herbs (e.g. parsley and pennyroyal oil) to miscarriage. Talk with your doc about which ones to avoid if your eggo is preggo.

Yoni means vagina in Sanskrit. The literal translation is "sacred space." So, why would anyone want to screw with their sacred space? Well, it prob boils down to genital shame.

Misogyny, marketing, and the media can give vajayjays a bad rap as an area that's "dirty" or needs cleansing. But your 👏 vagina 👏 is 👏 magnifique 👏! It's not supposed to taste like watermelon sugar. Your vagina is supposed to taste and smell like *drum roll* a vagina! Leave your bits be.

Here's what you should do in lieu of yoni pearls for specific vagina situations.

For vaginal infections

Lots of peeps experience unusual discharge, chronic yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis. Your best bet is to make an appointment with your OB-GYN. They can tell you what's actually going on down under and prescribe a medication or treatment to clear things up.

For cleaning your vagina

Vaginas are self-cleaning ovens. Mild soap and water should do the trick to clean the vulva (the outer part), but you don't need to venture inside the vagina.

You can also opt for breathable panties and steer clear of tight-fitting bottoms to keep you vag happy.

Pro tip: Avoid harsh soaps and fragrances that can mess with your natural vag microbiome or pH levels.

For cleansing your uterus for fertility

Again, your uterus can take care of itself.

"There is no need to 'clean' the uterus or the vagina for fertility," Minkin says. "The uterus cleans itself out monthly."

Talk with your doc if you're having a tough time getting pregnant. They can help you come up with a fertility plan.

For detoxing your vagina

The vagina has no real toxins, according to Minkin. Your body has it's own systems to remove toxins and does just fine with that. So, don't let some "wellness" brand or influencer tell you otherwise.

For vaginal odor

Your vagina might have a salty or metallic scent or taste. This is totally normal. Again, your vagina isn't meant to taste like apple pie. So, avoid harsh scents and products that can do a lot more harm than good.

But what if my vagina actually smells bad?

If you start to rep an eau du seafood scent, it might be a symptom of an infection. Yoni pearls will NOT help this issue. In fact, they can def make matters worse.

Always talk with your doc if you have a strong, abnormal vaginal odor or discharge. They can help you figure out the source of the prob and prescribe a treatment to clear things up. Again its not gonna smell like roses, but it should help you get back to your usual scent.

Yoni pearls are cloth-wrapped bundles of herbs that are marketed for vaginal health. But there is absolutely NO research to back up any of the potential perks. In reality, yoni pearls can lead to potentially dangerous infections.

Talk with your gyno if you have any concerns about your reproductive health. And remember, your vagina is *chefs kiss* perfect exactly as it is.