, updated
Women are being urged to put a chemical used as a pesticide into their vaginas to stay ‘fresh’, in social media posts that have spooked health experts.
Videos from popular US influencer Allison Hoeller lauding the benefits of using the chemical boric acid in this manner have racked up millions of views.
Hoeller, 28, claimed that popping one tablet in their vaginas would also rid it any ‘odour or taste’. Instead, it would ‘smell like water’.
But medics told MailOnline there was no robust evidence behind the claim and warned women there was no need for them to extensively clean the vagina.
Boric acid — typically used as an insecticide — is found also in low doses in certain pharmaceutical products, including those to treat some resistant vaginal infections.