Are you a scooper?

This is the question being posed to women on TikTok right now, after the topic of ‘period scooping’ went viral.

It all started when a woman from the US claimed her gynaecologist had offered to ‘scoop out’ her period, so she wouldn’t have one. 

Horrified gynaecologists quickly jumped onto social media to try and shut this rumour down, claiming it wasn’t a procedure that exists.

But the conversation didn’t end there, as several women began saying they had started ‘scooping’ at home. 

What is scooping?

In one clip, that’s garnered more than four million views in just four days, social media user Danielle Fewings says she ‘scoops’ every morning in the shower on her period.

The act is, essentially, exactly what it sounds like and involves reaching into the vagina and using fingers to ‘scoop’ out blood and clumps of uterine lining that have shed. 

‘When it is that time of the month, I get into the shower, and I scoop as much out as possible because I do not want to deal with it,’ Danielle explains. ‘I do it every morning, and then I barely have any sort of residual action throughout the day.’

Several women responded that they, too, were members of the ‘scooping club’ and did it regularly during their period.

‘I do that every shower! I feel cleaner and refreshed, I’ve done it forever,’ replied @redwoodhtx, while @worldtravelwoman wrote: ‘What do you mean not every woman does this? It’s just part of a period shower… otherwise you’re gonna be dripping everywhere when you get out lol. I don’t think it helps speed anything up, but I wouldn’t feel clean otherwise.’

And @unbek999nt admitted: ‘I’ve been doing this for years.’

But thousands of people confessed they’d never heard of it and were not on board with the idea.

‘This HAS to be a joke! I am 52 and have never even heard of this until this video,’ said @nikik28.

Similarly, @_paigewilliams33 asked: ‘Ma’am, you do whaaaat?!’

And @ginaclifford0 proclaimed: ‘No! Nope! Not at all! No, no, never. I’m a go with the flow girl.’

Others were unsure whether Danielle’s video was merely ‘rage bait’ and wanted a doctor’s verdict on the baffling talking point.

What do doctors think about it?

Dr Nikki Ramskill, a Doctify verified GP, who specialises in women’s health, has warned women against it for several reasons.

She tells Metro: ‘I completely understand why some women would want to do this – periods can feel messy, and the shower is where many of us want to feel “clean” again. But “scooping” menstrual blood out of the vagina with fingers isn’t something I’d recommend, and it’s unlikely to make your period end sooner.’

The expert claims that when it comes to safety, there are some potential risks involved, including irritation, micro-tears, thrush, bacterial vaginosis or an infection if you’re prone to them. 

She explains: ‘The vagina is good at looking after itself, but putting fingers inside (especially if nails are long, there are tiny cuts, or hands aren’t thoroughly washed) can irritate delicate tissue and potentially introduce bacteria. 

‘For most people, it won’t cause a serious problem, but it can increase the risk of things like irritation and thrush.’

She also advises against ‘forcefully digging, scooping or scraping’ inside the vagina as you could harm yourself, and/or cause spotting.

If it’s cleanliness you’re worried about, Dr Ramskill advises just washing the outside of the vulva with warm water and letting your body do what it is meant to do. Just make sure you avoid using fragranced soaps on your vulva, as these can also cause irritation and thrush.

For those who don’t like the ‘gushing’ sensation that is often experienced during a period, the expert has a few other tips. 

‘You can try standing up slowly, doing a gentle pelvic tilt, or allowing blood to drain naturally in the shower without inserting fingers,’ she says. 

‘Using period pants on your heavy days doubled with a menstrual cup, towels, or tampons can also help you feel more protected.’

She adds: ‘If you’re worried about heavy bleeding, clots, strong odour, pelvic pain, fever, or unusual discharge, that’s different, and it’s a good idea to speak to a doctor or nurse. Heavy periods that interfere with daily life can be due to things like fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis, thyroid issues, or bleeding disorders, and there are effective treatments available.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.