What Is Douching?
Douchingis the act of cleaning the vagina.
It is not external cleaning of the vulva.
Takao Onozato / Aflo / Getty Images
Douching involves internal cleansing of the vagina itself.
People from different cultures use different techniques and products to douche.
Some use plain water, others water and vinegar.
Still, others employ variousantisepticsor other solutions.
Douching may involve simply rinsing with the cleaning liquid.
It could also include forcing liquid at high pressure into the vagina using a bag or other unit.
Depending on what techniques and products are used, the potential risks of douching will vary.
Plain water and simply rinsing are the safest bet.
Still, even this mild pop in of douching is not recommended by most physicians.
People who douche often think that douching is good for them.
However, the evidence suggests otherwise.
This can potentially lead toBVor otherbacterial infections.
Douching also may forcepathogensup through the cervix causing uterine infections.
Douches don’t only disrupt thevaginal flora.
The chemicals used in many over-the-counter and homemade douches may irritate or inflame the skin.
This could make an existing infection worse.
But, unfortunately, it could also make a person more susceptible to a new infection.
Many people douche because of a strong orunusual vaginal odoror discharge.
This can be particularly dangerous if those symptoms result from an infection such asgonorrhea,chlamydia, ortrichomoniasis.
PID is an infection linked to infertility.
In fact, douching is a major cause of secondary infertility.
Douching also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
As such, it’s an activity that it’s probably better to avoid.
But My Vagina Smells Funny!
If your vagina has developed a strong or unpleasant odor, the answer isn’t douching.
Instead, you should talk to a healthcare professional.
In contrast, a doctor can help you figure out how to handle vaginal odor in a healthy way.
That could involve anything fromSTI treatmentto changing the kind of underwear you wear.
If your vaginal odor changes, it’s important to find out why.
A change in odor doesn’t necessarily mean you have an STI.
However, you’ll probably want to treat it if you do.
Doing so will address the problem, if there is one, at the source.
That’s a better choice than just masking the change with perfumes or temporary fixes.
If there isn’t a particular issue you’re trying to solve by douching, do nothing!
The vagina doesn’t need cleaning on the inside.
People sometimes douche to treat vaginal odor.
Instead of douching, take a stab at discover the reason for the odor.
Office on Women’s Health.Douching.
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