Yoni craze: Poisons board warns against use of vaginal pearls

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has warned ladies against the use of vaginal pearls to detox their reproductive organs.

In a statement issued on Monday through its official social media pages, the board cautioned the public with regards to the 'Yoni Pearls' brand, noting potential public health risks as their quality has not been approved by relevant authorities.

"The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) wishes to advise the general public against the use of a product known as 'Yoni Pearls', which may also be referred to as vaginal detox pearls, herbal tampons, cleansing pearls, or vaginal pearls," the statement reads in part.

It adds: "The PPB notifies the public that 'Yoni Pearls' is neither registered nor authorized for use in Kenya as required under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244). Therefore, their usage poses potential public health risks as the PPB cannot guarantee their quality, safety or efficacy."

"In light of this, the PPB strongly advices against the distribution, supply, sale or use of the aforementioned product and any other unregistered products with similar claims."

"Please refrain from distribution, sale, or use of these products. Stay safe and report suspicious health products to PPB," the statement, signed off by PPB Chief Executive Officer Fred Siyoi added.

There has been a recent craze for such products locally, with the use reportedly being driven by aggressive influencer marketing and social media sales.

A recent report by a national publication explored the new obsession, noting that the pearls had become a go-to solution for Kenyan women seeking solutions to reproductive health issues such as recurrent yeast and bacterial vaginosis infections, infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Health website Healthline warns women against Yoni Pearls, referring to the products as "basically vagina teabags."

"They're bundles of cloth-wrapped herbs marketed as vaginal or uterus cleansers and detoxifiers. You shouldn't be putting them inside your body for 1 minute, let alone the 24 to 72 hours recommended on yoni pearl packaging," Healthline reports.

On how these products work, the report adds: "One creator of the product says the herbs in these pearls create a pulling effect that draws toxins, bad bacteria, dead cells, old blood clots, mucus and more from your yoni, while at the same time tightening your yoni and deterring vaginal dryness and other ailments."

"Another says that the nuggets detox the uterus, cleanse the vagina, quell vaginal inflammation, promote a healthier reproductive system, and even help with endometriosis, irregular periods, fibroids, PCOS, blocked tubes, and ovarian cysts."

There is absolutely no research that supports the claims of how these pearls work, with Healthline reiterating that it would then be questionable for anyone to insert them into the highly sensitive area.

"Spread through marketing, media, and misogynists, the idea that vaginas are smelly, offensive, and dirty has been going around our culture for a long, long time," Gynaecologist Felice Gersh said on the matter.

The study further notes that combined with lack of education around how the vagina is supposed to look, smell, and function, this shaming leads people to buy products that are downright dangerous.