Vagisil is an American brand of over-the-counter cream used to treat external vaginal itching and irritation. It is produced by Combe Incorporated, a company based in White Plains, New York and was introduced in 1974. The active ingredients are

Benzocaine Benzocaine, sold under the brand name Orajel amongst others, is an ester local anesthetic commonly used as a topical pain reliever or in cough drops. It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter anesthetic ointments such as products f ...

(5%), a local anesthetic which reduces the itching, and Resorcinol (2%), an antiseptic which treats the skin irritation.

Products

In February, 2021, Vagisil launched new products labelled ''OMV!'' which are scented wipes, cleansers and anti itch creams for vaginas and

vulvas The vulva (plural: vulvas or vulvae; derived from Latin for wrapper or covering) consists of the external female sex organs. The vulva includes the mons pubis (or mons veneris), labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vestibular bulbs, vulval ...

. The marketing is directed at teenagers, which has been criticized on social media by doctors. OB/GYNs

Jen Gunter Dr. Jennifer Gunter is a Canadian-American gynecologist, a ''New York Times'' columnist covering women's health, an author, and a specialist in chronic pain medicine and vulvovaginal disorders. Early life and education Gunter was born in Winnip ...

, Chavone Momon-Nelson and Jocelyn Fitzgerald all expressed worry that the advertising campaign will make teens ashamed of their vaginas and that the treatment will cause issues such as irritation and allergic reaction. They worry that the teens may not seek medical advice for real issues, such as yeast infections that should not be treated with Vagisil. Gunter and Momon-Nelson agree that the vagina should be left alone and does not need special cleaners or refreshing. Vagisil responded to this criticism explaining that their products have an appropriate pH level for external use in the vulvar area and have been tested by independent

dermatologists Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical ...

and

gynecologists Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area ...

. A spokesperson for Vagisil stated that their products are not for everyone and that they created ''OMV!'' in response to active young woman who have expressed "...worry about period hygiene and odours". Gunter counters stating menstruation is natural and vaginas are not supposed to smell like the ''OMV!'' scents roses or vanilla-clementine.

In popular culture

Vagisil has been the subject of various comedy routines. In the ''

South Park ''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boys Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand th ...

'' episode "

Poor and Stupid "Poor and Stupid" is the eighth episode and mid-season premiere of the South Park (season 14), fourteenth season of the American animated television series ''South Park'', and the 203rd overall episode of the series. It aired on Comedy Central in ...

Cartman Eric Theodore Cartman, commonly referred to by his surname Cartman, is a fictional character in the adult animated sitcom ''South Park'', created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. He is voiced by Parker, and is one of the series' four main charact ...

sees a commercial for Vagisil which lists short-term memory loss as a possible side effect. He then goes to a pharmacy with Butters Stotch to consume large quantities of the cream in an attempt to become "dumb enough" to perform well in NASCAR races. Vagisil appears as an alleged sponsor of "Ladies' Bowling" in a series of sketches on the TV show '' Saturday Night Live''. One of the sports commenters in the sketches repeatedly advertises the product with highly inappropriate marketing slogans. In the TV show '' The Big Bang Theory,'' a Vagisil coupon that came in the mail to Sheldon Cooper appears at the end of the second episode of the seventh season, which he presents as a gift to Penny with a comment: "Think of me when you apply it". In the movie '' Major League,'' aging Starting Pitcher Eddie Harris illegally uses Vagisil to increase the drop on his "

Curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...

References

External links

Official website
{{Product-stub Feminine hygiene Combe Incorporated brands