People are putting ice cubes in their vaginas to "keep it tight" in bizarre TikTok trend

8 April 2020, 15:06

woman holds hands over her genital - stock photo, Wendy Williams — People are putting ice cubes in their vaginas to "keep it tight". Picture: Getty Images, Pop

By Jazmin Duribe

I'll never look at a Slushie in the same way again...

We were warned to stop putting ice lollies in our vaginas during the UK heatwave last year, but obviously some of us didn't listen. Apparently, lockdown boredom has really tipped some ladies over the edge because people on TikTok have now resorted to, erm, putting ice cubes in their vaginas. Yep, a quick search on TikTok of "ice cube" or "ice cube challenge" will bring up countless clips of people actually doing this.

According to TikTok science, inserting an ice cube in your vagina has a number of benefits. It can make your vagina tighter, freeze off warts like some sort of at-home cryotherapy treatment and even cure depression and anxiety. It is also said to actually just feel quite nice.

So, what actually does happen when you put an ice cube up there? Well, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, a gynaecologist, is out here dispelling the ice cube challenge myths on the platform.

In a video, she said: "I think ice cubes are great… for drinks and smoothies, that sort of thing. Let's just stop and think before we do crazy stuff."

Dr Lincoln went into further detail about why we definitely should not be taking part in the challenge in an interview with Buzzfeed. She said: "The concern is you think of that kid in A Christmas Story who stuck his tongue to the flagpole. It can stick to the delicate skin of the vagina. It can cause an ice burn, and once the ice cube is actually removed, it can cause injury."

If that weren't off-putting enough, there's more. Because water has a different pH level to the vagina, putting water up there could disrupt the natural pH levels and cause an infection. She added: "Don't do it because you think it's gonna cure your bacterial vaginosis or make your vagina tighter."

And ice cubes in the bedroom? Absolutely fine. Ice or temperature play is often used as part of foreplay, just, um, don't put them inside yourself please. Dr Lincoln continued: "Usually we recommend that externally."