Douching is used for personal hygiene or aesthetic reasons, for preventing or treating an infection, to cleanse after menstruation or sex, and to prevent pregnancy. Douches can be found prepackaged in stores and contain a mixture of water and vinegar, iodine, or baking soda — or they may even contain a chemical mixture. These mixtures are squirted into the vagina using a tube or nozzle.
Once a recommended medical practice, vaginal douching is now known to upset the natural pH of the vagina. The vagina naturally maintains an acidic environment with a pH level of 3. This acidic environment is favorable to the healthy bacteria that naturally grow in the vagina, and unfavorable to harmful bacteria that might try to move in.
Douching with vaginal wipes, soaps, and perfumes raises the pH level of the vagina. An elevated pH means that the healthy flora of the vagina may struggle to survive, while harmful bacteria begin to thrive.
This elevated pH level caused by vaginal douching can cause immediate health problems for a woman, including:. Douching can also put women at risk for longer-term health problems. In fact, the US Department of Health and Humans Services notes that women who douche are more likely to have a sexually transmitted disease.
Douching can send the harmful bacteria of these infections higher into the reproductive system. Often, women can have chlamydia or gonorrhea without having any symptoms. Women who douche also have an increased likelihood of developing pelvic inflammatory disease PID.
Regular douching may mask or hide underlying problems. It can also lead to serious complications down the road. Vaginal discharge is most often a normal and common occurrence. Some types of discharge, however, could signal something more serious. Learn about…. Learn what it means if your vaginal discharge has increased in volume, changed texture, or has an unexpected color or odor. Learn when to call your…. If you experience discomfort in your genital area or when you urinate, you may have an infection.
Urinary tract infections and yeast infections…. Some research has shown that regular bidet use could increase your exposure to certain pathogens. Learn more. Yeast infections are common. Here are seven of the best over-the-counter products to help manage a yeast infection. The Bartholin glands are a pair of glands, near the opening of the vagina. If a duct from one of the gland gets blocked, fluids can build up…. A cyst may form if….
If you have vaginal atrophy, you may wonder if it can be reversed. With treatment, some women find that their symptoms improve. Although antibiotics can help treat bacterial vaginosis BV , it often comes back. There are several steps you can take to lower your risk of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Mental Health. Medically reviewed by Michael Charles, M. How does it work? Is it safe? Health Tools.
Sexual Health. Reviewed: July 16, Medically Reviewed. But is it good for them? The Drawbacks of Douching The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Myths About Douching So, why do women douche? These myths include: Douching is "hygienic," and part of a woman's normal cleansing process. Again, no. Douching will wash away menstrual blood and other matter, but it also changes the pH, or the acidity, of the vagina, leaving it vulnerable to infection.
I need to douche because my vagina has a bad odor. In fact, douching acts like an air freshener — it only hides odors, but doesn't make them go away. An unusual vaginal odor could be the sign of a bacterial infection, bladder infection, or STD. Only treatment will clear it up, so see your doctor as soon as possible.
Also, keep in mind that your vagina may simply have a mild odor — this doesn't mean that you're "unclean.
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