Product reviewers have a responsiblity to the public. Think before you publish.

When I first entering the mom blogging world back in 2003, I did it for the community. A lot of moms say the same thing. Community. The ability to talk to other moms about the things that moms need to talk to each other about. Mommy guilt. Potty training. Home schooling. I use to tell people that instead of talking to your neighbor over the fence, you blogged or today, Tweet. In tech speak, moms are expert crowd sources of information about the best diaper and breast pump to use. And that's where we started to find our power as community. Then finally, finally! Corporate America acknowledged our purchasing power and came a knocking. 

No one thought much of taking a product sample of Cheesy Poofs and writing about how awesome your kids thought of it. Heck, some bloggers review things that they can't possible have used! But there's a world of difference AND responsibility to the community when it comes to reviewing vegan soda pop and medical products.

Latest example is Momspective Reviews.

She received a douche and reviewed it. Graphically. And apparently a lot of women out there thought it was just sooo funny! Not me. It's not that I'm not a funny gal. In fact I'm laughing thinking of what Wanda Sykes would do with this post. But douching is something that we just should not be doing ladies.

DO NOT DOUCHE!

First, douching has been sold to women as a way to keep ourselves clean. Yes, "that not so fresh feeling" is a freaking myth. Our lady parts smell for a reason. There are a ton of microbes living in our vaginas. This is a good thing. Microbes are essential to human life. We have microbes in our guts, vaginas, everywhere. Without microbes, life couldn't exist. We aren't even close to understanding what all those microbes do, but we know for sure that they are there for a purpose. But you say that your lady parts are really smelly lately? Well, don't douche. Period.

"[The douche] pops right on in and cleans out whatever it is you think you need to get rid of." 

There isn't anything in there that you need to get rid of...And if there is, say an infection? You are going to make it worse.

"Since I had a hysterectomy a while back, I wanted to see if my reproductive cavern of darkness had any excess uterus left behind it wanted to get rid of but all appeared clear."

If you have any doubt that you have excess uterus, you should really see a medical professional not squirt water up into your vagina. Plus, if you have recently had any surgery to your lady parts (abortion, hysterectomy, removal of fibroids) your medical provider will most likely tell you to NOT DOUCHE. If you have enough time removed from the surgery and you haven't died from infection, you're in the clear.

"Hookers would love it."

I'm assuming that Momspective means that since hookers are filled with icky semen, they would want to rinse themselves clean. Oh, so funny. Not.

"[Douch brand name] is the first and only patented and FDA-cleared douching alternative"

Now let's get into this FDA stuff. Please note that this is FDA-cleared. NOT approved. Cleared. This pretty much means that the FDA says, "This won't kill you." It doesn't mean that we should use it or that it's safe to use either.It doesn't even guarantee that the douche will make your smelly lady parts fresh and clean as a spring day. And even if the FDA did approve this device, the FDA's seal of approval isn't as strong as most of us think it is. In the April 2008 Reader's Digest, Alexis Jetter outlined a litany of issues that the FDA is dealing with including a flat-lined budget despite a huge increase in work load, especially post-9/11.

"It’s a bidet you shove up your parts.  Go for it."

 DO NOT GO FOR IT!

So why am I calling out mom bloggers? Because I believe we are a community built on trust. We want to exchange information, thus we have a responsibility to each other to do the best we can to pass on good information.

Before I post something here, I try my best to research it. This is one reason why I'm a slow blogger. I'm not going to break a news story or be the first to rip off an opinion piece. I like to fill my posts with facts and citations.

I get pitches for diet supplements, medical devices, medical groups and medical advice websites. I don't do them, even if the issues if near and dear to me, because I am not going to use my reputation with all of you to sell you something that doesn't work or might hurt you.Especially if someone is making money off of you.

This is why I plead with all reviewers, especially mom bloggers, to do your homework before you review a product, especially one that impacts our health or inserted into our bodies. Do not rely just on the information the manufacturer gives you. That's why the goddess gave us the web search!

All that said. Medical research is still firming up this question of douching. One study I stumbled upon claims that douching MAY protect African-American women from pre-term birth. But I highly suggest that you talk to your doctor or midwife before doing it!

By far the articles I've read, the people I've spoken to (I've worked closely with women's health researchers and providers for over a decade) all recommend to NOT DOUCHE.

Let's be careful out there. And let's watch out for each other.