Feminine hygiene products like vaginal washes, wipes and sprays that aim to help with odours and keep you feeling fresh, have been called into question after a top gynaecologist has claimed they simply prey on women's insecurities.

Talking to The Daily Mail, consultant and senior lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's hospital in London, Austin Ugwumadu, said, 'The advertising and packaging of feminine hygiene products play on the impression that women need to be squeaky-clean - otherwise they'll be more at risk of infection.'

'In fact, the opposite is true. The vagina is a perfectly-balanced ecosystem, and the bacteria there play a crucial role in gynaecological health.'

Austin was keen to separate these kinds of products from medical ones however, noting that treatments for conditions such as thrush and bacterial vaginosis still have their place.

'In my view, these new feminine hygiene products just worsen women's anxiety about their bodies, and are probably a waste of money,' he added.

'Over millions of years, this part of the body has adapted its own highly-effective cleaning process. As long as you're showering every day and wearing clean, preferably non-synthetic underwear, this should be enough.'