Careful consideration should be taken when it comes to vaginal steaming and the set up. Below are the setup components to consider. 

Vaginal Steam Seat

Ensure that the vaginal steam seat is sturdy and that it is placed far enough above the steam not to cause a burn. We do not advise women to steam by sitting directly on or straddling over a hot pot. This is not safe. and carries high potential for accidents and burns. The vaginal steam seat should be a wooden box, a birthing stool or a sturdy chair.

Herb Pot

Herbal steams should not be placed in plastic bowels. Toxins from the plastic can leak into the water. Glass jars are also common but often break if the water is too hot. The best setup will have the water and herbs in a clay, glass or stainless steel pot. 

Electric Burner

Electric burners are commonly used to create long steam sessions. Long steam sessions are not suitable for everyone and steaming with a burner can aggravate those with herpes, the mirena IUD, short menstrual cycles (27 days or shorter) or infections (BV, yeast, UTI). In such cases a mild (no-burner) steam session is more suitable. 

It is also not necessary to steam with a burner during extremely hot weather. Mild steams are the best during summertime. 

Getting the Right Herbs

Another safety consideration when steaming is making sure to get the right herbs. Most vaginal steam herb blends focus on cleansing and circulatory herbs that are beneficial for clearing out old residue and helping with cramps. All general categories of herbs do not work for everyone. Specifically, women with short menstrual cycles (27 days or less) don’t tolerate cleansing herbs very well and it can cause their cycle to come early or may cause loose stools. Alternatively, if short-cyclers get the right herbs, it may help to extend their cycle to a normal 28 days. This is why it is very important to connect with a certified herbalist and/or knowledgeable practitioner to ensure the right blend and authenticity of the herbs.

Something else to consider...

It's common in yoni steam sessions to provide a cloth covering while steaming which helps to create a full body detox and increase circulation. It is okay, however, to steam without a covering. In hot weather, if prone to infections, herpes, night sweats or hot flashes, the covering is unnecessary and might cause excess heat problems in the body. Instead, it can be replaced with a light sheet or thin robe.

Vaginal Steam Safety

These are the basics of vaginal steam safety. As more facilities are starting to offer vaginal steam services and new DIY at home videos pop up every day, it is important to implement proper screening processes to ensure there aren't contraindications and to make the proper choices for sensitive clients.