Maternal health experts have warned women against using alum for vaginal tightening, cautioning that it can cause infection and infertility. In exclusive interviews with HealthWise, they emphasized that washing the vagina with alum cannot restore a lost hymen or “virginity.” Alum is an inorganic chemical compound typically composed of water molecules, aluminum or other metals, and sulfates.
Dr. Uche Agu, an Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician‑Gynecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu State, explained that the belief that alum will make the vagina tighter and give a sense of virginity is a misconception. “Virginity is a matter of the mind, not something that can be recreated by a chemical wash,” he said. He warned that alum is corrosive and can burn and irritate the vaginal wall, leading to scarring that may narrow the canal and require surgical intervention.
The gynecologist noted that the erosion and burning caused by alum can allow infections to develop, which may ascend to the uterus and block the fallopian tubes, resulting in infertility. Even if a woman becomes pregnant despite infertility, a narrowed vaginal canal could create serious complications during delivery, making it difficult for the baby to pass through.
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