Is it really necessary to advertise Vaginal Hygiene products?

I see a number of products for sale on television that to me at least, really don’t require advertising. Things like toilet paper, viagra, things to make her cooter ‘fresh’ etc.

I think tere completely unneccesary… I mean c’mon, I dont wanna know how much blood the little pads can hold…

Ignoring the product, your question is really, do you need to advertise and the answer is, YES if you want consumers to buy YOUR vaginal cream, toilet paper, etc. instead of the competition’s.

While it is difficult to directly attribute an ‘X’ amount of advertising will lead to a ‘Y’ increase in sales, there is definitely a connection. And I would argue that with many of these products, because you don’t see a lot of advertising for them, the little that you do see is highly effective.

I have never had hemorroids, for example, but I assure you that the first time I DO get them, I will probably buy Preparation H simply because it is the only brand I have personally heard of to treat that. Odds are it probably costs more than the other brands out there too, because they have to recoup some of that advertising cost. That said, however, when it’s a health/ comfort issue like hemorroids (or vaginal infection) you’re probably willing to pay a little more because the fact that it’s a ‘brand you’ve heard of’ give you peace of mind

oh, yes, heaven forbid anyone admit bodily functions exist.

Advertising isn’t just to announce 'gee, there ‘s a product for that particular task’, it’s to convince you to purchase **their ** particular product.

Well I can see your point, but do they really have to be so graphic about all of it, like pouring the blue liquid into the pad, ect…

Could be worse…the liquid could be red…

(Sorry, that was just gross)

Keep in mind that just because you find it offensive or disturbing, there are probably a lot of people out there who will benefit from seeing the commercial. For some products, without a commercial, some people who need it might not even know the product exists.

Try to ignore what the product’s purpose is, and realize that the reason there is an ad for it is because there is competition between different brands of the product.

Is it really necessary to advertise Vaginal Hygiene products?

I think a more important question might be- is it really necessary to tax vaginal hygiene products as “luxury items”?

Yes, it is really necessary to advertise Vaginal Hygiene Products.

It is a culturally necessary precursor to actually displaying vaginas on commercial television. We are being psychologically prepared for hard core pornograhy over the free airwaves, and that proper vaginal hygeine is a desirable trait.:stuck_out_tongue:

Hope I live to see it!:smiley:

Hm, I just find it… patronizing.

I could make some seriously funny SNL like commercials. Why are they so coy and vague about the whole thing? “Honey, that’s some stench coming from your gash!” might be a bit over the edge, but give it some time.

American advertising has always preyed upon peoples fears of social embarrassment. Frankly, I just don’t think it’s all that necessary, not to mention outside the bounds of decency. While not particularly familiar with vaginal maintenance, I seem to recall that plain Vinegar is an effective douche. But, fancy packaging and perfumes are probably required, along with massive price gouging.

Oh Well.

That reminds me! Have any of you ever seen the advertizment on Saturday Night Live for “oops I crapped my pants!” the adult diapers…I fear that is what what these commercials will eventually become…they get more graphic all the time…

“Let’s pretend that this pitcher of iced tea is a gallon of your feces!”

I don’t think white vinegar would improve the smell. Maybe balsamic? (Urgh!)

Seriously, though, it’s just capitalism at work. By having commercials on TV, companies are convincing women not to be embarassed when buying said products, not to mention introducing brands. If anything, it’s more necessary for vaginal hygiene products to be on TV than for others.

No, it’s not the most pleasant thing to think about, but diapers (for adults and children) and the aforementioned hemorroid cream have been on TV quite a while; aren’t they, objectively, just as bad? I personally dislike the commercials about genital herpes medication a lot more than ones about keeping your cooter fresh.

Douching isn’t really necessary, but one other reason you continue to see douche advertisements because their manufacturers want women to think they need the product. This isn’t unique to douche, of course; many other, if not all, product commercials work to convince people that they need that (particular brand of) product.

With hygiene products, though, I think it’s especially bad that they’re preying on people’s sense of self-consciousness and insecurities to sell their product: Avoid unsightly nails! Avoid horrible-looking skin! Avoid reeking from various nooks and crannies! You might not even really have the problem in question (thus have no need for the product that cures it) but ads work to make you think they do and have their way with the people who already think that.

I doubt matters much to ad agencies whether folks really need the products. That’s not their goal. The goal is to get people to buy. And people will always be self-consious and insecure, and so will always be suckers for products which advertise using that kind of hook. Between the two, there’s little room for necessity and decency.

That “blue liquid” gimmick used to advertise sanitary towels REALLY offends me. Firstly because it is so false, the liquid is nowhere near the consistency of menstrual blood.

Secondly because the gimmick is copied from nappy/diaper adverts, putting menstruation into the same category as incontinence. I mean WTF?!!

Most “sanpro” ads I saw in Australia were so offensively sexist, inappropriate, or misinformative that I actually made a point of never buying any of the products. Eg “woman’s vagina = dogflap” imagery, “identical twins - different vaginas!” gimmick, “slim tampon = slim body” analogy, “discreet pad = female life model so stupid she not only forgets she’s wearing it but strips down to her underwear in front of the wrong art class” ha-fking-ha I don’t think so.

However when the message is honest and relevant - such as 100% cotton products - then great, show me the ad and I’ll probably try it out.

Strangely… yes. Aside from the obvious need to make your product competitive against others and to inform adolescents whose mommies has thus far failed to educate their kids that they’re not about to die, I’ve found that were it not for the commercials, I might not have near the appreciation for what a woman goes through during her monthlies.

If the shoes were switched, wouldn’t you want the opposite sex to appreciate the fact that you’re about to bleed out your freaking womb for awhile so that someday their seed can spawn and you then get to lug their watermelon for 9 months?

I’ve got the utmost respect for what women go through and frankly just appreciate the hell out of it. Ain’t no way in hell I’m tough enough to have been a woman.