Women's Health
Vaginal Douching: Helpful or Harmful?
In the 1980s, a popular television commercial featured a daughter asking her mom, %e2%80%9cDo you ever get that %e2%80%98not-so-fresh%e2%80%99 feeling?%e2%80%9d The ad was for a brand of douche, a feminine hygiene product that women use to clean the vagina.
An estimated 20%25 to 40%25 of American women between the ages of 15 and 44 say they douche. Besides making themselves feel %e2%80%9cfresher,%e2%80%9d women say they douche to get rid of unpleasant odors, wash away menstrual blood after their period, avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent a pregnancy after intercourse. Yet health experts say douching isn%e2%80%99t effective for any of these purposes. They also warn that it can actually increase the risk of infections, pregnancy complications, and other health problems.
By Hallie Levine Sklar Maybe The Reason You’re Not Reaching Your Goals Is…You. How To Know, And Simple Ways To Stop Sabotaging Yourself Last week, I hit the supermarket and loaded up on all my favorite junk foods: Krispy Kreme donuts, frozen pizza, and Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream. It's not for me—it's for my husband, I rationalized, as I pushed the cart up and down the aisles. Never mind that my husband was going on a business trip the next day, or that I work from...
Read the Are You Your Own Worst Enemy? article > >
What is douching?
The word %e2%80%9cdouche%e2%80%9d is French for %e2%80%9cwash.%e2%80%9d It is a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar. Some douches, though, also contain antiseptics and fragrances. Most women who douche buy a commercial preparation sold in drugstores and supermarkets. A small percentage of women use a homemade mixture of water and vinegar or water alone. Douche comes in a bottle or bag and is sprayed upward into the vagina through a tube.
What are the pros associated with douching?
Some women say douching makes them feel cleaner. There is, though, very little scientific evidence of benefit from douching. The rare positive research that does exist often has a downside. For example, one study found that douching during the six months before pregnancy reduced the risk of preterm delivery. However, in that same study, douching during pregnancy was linked to an increased risk of preterm birth.
What are the cons associated with douching?
Overall, the risks of douching far outweigh the benefits. Here are just a few of the problems linked to douching:
- Vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis). Douching upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora). These changes make the environment more favorable for the growth of bacteria that cause infection. Studies have found that women who stopped douching were less likely to have bacterial vaginosis. Having bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of preterm labor and endometriosis.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. Research has found that women who douche have a 73%25 higher risk of getting PID.
- Pregnancy complications. Women who douche more than once a week have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who don%e2%80%99t douche. Douching also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy by as much as 76%25. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implants outside the uterus. The more a woman douches, the more her risk of ectopic pregnancy rises.
- Cervical cancer . Douching at least once a week has been linked to an increased chance of developing cervical cancer.
Should a woman douche?
According to health experts, including those at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), you should avoid douching. Having some vaginal odor is normal. However, if you notice a very strong odor, call your ob/gyn because it could be a sign of infection. The acidity of the vagina will naturally control bacteria, and simply washing the vagina with warm water and mild soap is enough to keep clean.
WebMD Medical Reference
Related to Women's Health
Top 12 Women's Topics-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
