# Is my vagina no longer like a self-cleaning oven?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 10, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004 "2011-06-10T18:15:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/1 "2011-06-10T18:15:49Z")

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I recently had to have hysterectomy, during which my cervix was removed. So now my va-jay-jay is essentially a dead-end flesh tunnel. My gynie always said that vaginas were like self-cleaning ovens and expelled most everything eventually. Whether that has to do with the connection to the uterus or not, I don’t know. So now I’m wondering whether I still have the self-cleaning function or not. I forgot to ask when I was in for my follow-up visit.

Anyone know out there? Just wondering…

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**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/2 "2011-06-10T18:20:15Z")

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It’s been about a year and a half since my hysterctomy and mine still appears to have the self cleaning function. I do still have a cervix however.

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**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/3 "2011-06-10T18:49:58Z")

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I saw the Dead-End Flesh Tunnels play live at Cabaret Metro in 1986. Great show.

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/4 "2011-06-10T19:39:53Z")

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Just idly speculating, as long as it’s still self-lubricating I can’t see why it wouldn’t work.

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**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/5 "2011-06-10T19:58:06Z")

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> [@Wheelz](#):
>
> I saw the Dead-End Flesh Tunnels play live at Cabaret Metro in 1986. Great show.

Didn’t the Meat Curtains open for them that night?

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**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/6 "2011-06-10T20:16:46Z")

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> [@Southern\_Yankee](#):
>
> Didn’t the Meat Curtains open for them that night?

I think that was the [Meat Puppets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Puppets).

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/7 "2011-06-10T20:21:46Z")

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My understanding is that a self-cleaning oven does so by getting really, really hot inside, so that anything crusted on its walls actually vaporizes.

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/8 "2011-06-10T20:22:57Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> Just idly speculating, as long as it’s still self-lubricating I can’t see why it wouldn’t work.

Is that produced by the cervix or the vaginal walls? (Or … both?)

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/9 "2011-06-10T21:26:09Z")

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It isn’t like an hourglass up in there - the fluid doesn’t drip on down from the uterus.

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**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/10 "2011-06-10T22:00:03Z")

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> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Is that produced by the cervix or the vaginal walls? (Or … both?)

Vaginal walls, as they’re mucous membranes IIRC.

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**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/11 "2011-06-10T22:43:33Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> It isn’t like an hourglass up in there - the fluid doesn’t drip on down from the uterus.

Wait, so I _can’t_ use mine as a time-keeping device?

Maybe that’s why I’m always late for things.

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**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/12 "2011-06-10T22:54:32Z")

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Well if you still have a uterus and your cycle is fairly regular you can use it as a rough timekeeping device. I can often be heard exclaiming, “Has it been 28 days already??!!”

I would think the vagina would be still self cleaning. If you haven’t got a cervix anymore you won’t have cervical mucus, but there are still the fluids secreted by the vaginal walls, along with the natural good bacteria/yeast balance that keep the bad bacteria and yeast overgrowth at bay.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/13 "2011-06-10T23:01:41Z")

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> [@Southern\_Yankee](#):
>
> Didn’t the Meat Curtains open for them that night?

No, it was Lady Huha and the Sugar Walls.

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**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/14 "2011-06-10T23:09:17Z")

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You’re still good.  
No douches are required- maintain the status quo.  
See a dr if you have any issues with lubrication, sexual satisfaction, pain, discharge or itch.

Otherwise- wash regularly with plain water, keep wiping front to back, wear cotton underwear and your feminine anatomy will be happy and self regulating.

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/15 "2011-06-10T23:11:44Z")

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So, when they do that, do they stitch it up or something? What, exactly, does a post-hysterectomy vagina end in? (Are you finally free from that whole “ow you’re hitting my cervix” thing?)

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/16 "2011-06-10T23:17:38Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> So, when they do that, do they stitch it up or something? What, exactly, does a post-hysterectomy vagina end in? …

A question that never occurred to me to ask, and now I HAVE to know the answer! Someone: fight our collective ignorance?

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**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/17 "2011-06-11T01:54:38Z")

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Yep, they just sew it up and apparently attach some ligaments or something (in the abdominal cavity) to prevent bladder prolapse. Or I could be making that up but that was my understanding at the time. I had the new robotic kind and it pretty much was a breeze. I had hardly any pain or soreness afterwards. In an amusing side note, the stiches eventually come out looking like white worms. Gave me quite a turn, it did!

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**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/18 "2011-06-11T05:51:18Z")

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> [@Elysium](#):
>
> Wait, so I _can’t_ use mine as a time-keeping device?
> 
> Maybe that’s why I’m always late for things.

And why you’re always bitchy.

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**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/19 "2011-06-11T06:04:13Z")

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If you don’t have a cervix anymore, does that mean you can handle really monstrous men without what I hear is excruciating pain?

Oh damnit upon review I see **ZSofia** beat me to it. And here I was worried it was a tasteless question.

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**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-vagina-no-longer-like-a-self-cleaning-oven/585004/20 "2011-06-11T06:13:02Z")

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\<long-time hysterectomy survivor…the vagina has muscles, which undulate. not unlike the bowel around the corner. you don’t need a uterus for your body to “sweep up, clean house, & push it out.” I’ve never had a douche and ALWAYS questioned, “Is it in the Bible that I’m supposed to squirt vinegar water up my vay-jay-jay?” the answer is No. in most cases-- if you don’t pick at it, it’ll do ok on it’s own

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