A concerning trend has emerged in Ghana, where some women are resorting to using white toothpaste as both an aphrodisiac and a vaginal tightening agent, despite medical experts' warnings about the associated risks.

This practice has become popular among vendors of aphrodisiacs and waist beads in the Accra Central Market.

They promote the application of white toothpaste to the vagina, advising people to wash it off shortly before sexual activity to purportedly enhance the sexual experience.

Waist bead vendor Obaa Aku confidently explained that white toothpaste was a better option than lemons as a cleanser for the armpit, beneath the breast, ears, thighs and the anal region.

She believed that many women do not wash the anal area properly, and applying toothpaste and washing it after five minutes would help them feel clean.

Another vendor, Sister Ataa, said she was 52 years old but still enjoyed having sex. So, she was always on the lookout for new ways to spice up her sex life and found the toothpaste sensation pleasurable.

In response to this trend, Dr. Promise E. Sefogah, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at the Shape Healthcare Specialist Medical Centre in Accra, expressed concern about the use of white toothpaste as an aphrodisiac and vaginal tightener.

He warned that such practices could increase the risk of infertility and cause vaginal infections by disrupting the natural balance of the vaginal area.

Dr. Sefogah confirmed that while the sensation from toothpaste is not new to Ghanaian women, it has been an age-old practice observed in other parts of the world as well.

"This practice has been an old practice even in other parts of the world, despite the dangers associated with the practice. Some recent research stated that about 30 per cent of women were using toothpaste to douche and so this is not only new in Accra," he added.

He noted that many women not only use toothpaste but also perfume, antiseptics or yoghurt, disturbing the acidic nature of their private parts.

Dr Sefogah emphasised the potential risks and adverse effects of using toothpaste and other items, citing possible irritation, disturbance in the acidic base balance of the vagina and the development of infections that could lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

He explained that a disturbance in the acidic base balance of the vagina would contribute to an overgrowth of bacteria in that region, leading to infections. “These infections could enter the cervix and then the womb, potentially damaging the tubes and leading to infertility,” he added.

However, some vendors of toothpaste said they were not aware of the practice, stating that all they knew was that toothpaste was used to clean teeth and enrich dental hygiene. Those who knew of it mentioned a particular brand of toothpaste as one of the main products used for douching.