Douching
What is douching?
Why do women
douche?
Is douching safe?
What effects will douching have on pregnancy?
What is the healthiest and safest way to clean the
vagina?
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What is douching?
Douching is rinsing
or cleaning out the vagina by squirting water or other solutions (such as
vinegar, baking soda, or commercial douching solutions) into the vagina.
The water or solutions are held in a container and squirted through tubing
and a nozzle. Commercial douching solutions are found over-the-counter at
pharmacies and grocery stores.
Why do women douche?
Women used to douche
to: rinse away blood after a menstrual period; clean the vagina after sex
to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and wash away semen to
prevent pregnancy; and to reduce odors. In some cases, a doctor may
instruct a woman to douche with a special solution to fight chronic yeast
infections or bacterial infections. Currently, almost 15% of adolescent
girls and young women in the United States douche. Certain ethnic groups
have much higher rates of douching than others.
Is douching safe?
Douching is no
longer recommended as the healthiest and safest way to routinely clean the
vagina. Because routine douching changes the delicate chemical balance in
the vagina, it can make a woman more susceptible to bacterial infections
and introduce new bacteria into the vagina and cervix. It also can spread
existing vaginal infections to the uterus and fallopian tubes. Research
shows that women who douche on a regular basis actually develop an
increased amount of vaginal irritations and infections, called bacterial
vaginosis (BV), and STDs. These women also develop more cases of pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) – an increased risk of 73%. PID is a chronic
infectious disease affecting the cervix, uterus, ovaries, and the
fallopian tubes. Sexually transmitted bacteria traveling into the uterus
usually cause PID. Both BV and PID may lead to serious problems during
pregnancy, such as infection in the baby, problems with labor, and early
delivery.
Health professionals
agree that there is a need for further research to find out if douching
directly causes BV and PID and why adolescent girls and young women
douche.
What
effects will douching have on pregnancy?
Douching after sex
does not prevent pregnancy. Sperm have the ability to reach the uterus and
travel through the fallopian tubes before a woman can begin douching. Some
research has shown, however, that douching may affect fertility. In women
trying to conceive, those who douched the most frequently (more than once
per week) had the lowest pregnancy rate. Other research has shown a link
between frequent douching and having low birth-weight babies. Studies also
show that douching greatly increases the chance of ectopic pregnancy,
which can be a life-threatening condition. Ectopic pregnancy is when the
fertilized egg attaches inside of the fallopian tube instead of in the
uterus.
What is the
healthiest and safest way to clean the vagina?
Because the chemical
balance of the vagina is very sensitive, let the vagina clean itself. The
vagina takes care of cleaning itself naturally through secretions of
mucous. Warm water and gentle, unscented soap during the bath or shower is
the best way to clean the sensitive outside areas of the vagina. Products
like feminine hygiene soaps, powders and sprays are not necessary.
It is important to
consult your health care provider if you experience any of the following
symptoms: vaginal pain, itching, burning, or a foul odor; pain when
urinating; a vaginal discharge that is different from normal, such as
thick and white, like cottage cheese, or yellowish-green. You may have a
yeast infection, urinary tract infection, or bacterial infection that can
be treated with medication. Do not clean the vagina or douche prior to a
doctor’s exam since it will wash away the vaginal discharge, which
identifies the type of infection.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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