Is Douching Safe?

Douching is something that many women do on a regular basis. Douche comes from the French word which means to wash or soak. Many women douche for several reasons. Some of those reasons are to clean the vagina, rinse away blood after monthly periods, to get rid of odors from the vagina, to prevent pregnancies, and to try and avoid STD's. In recent studies it has shown that douching can have some risks associated with it.

Many doctors and the ACOG or American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist suggest that women do not douche. All vaginas contain some bacteria and other organisms called vaginal flora. The normal acidity that is formed in the vagina help keeps the amount of bacteria down. Douching can change this delicate balance and may make a woman more pronged to vaginal infections. Douching has also been known to spread existing vaginal infections up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

There are risks when douching and it has been shown by researches that women who douche more regularly have more health problems than those who don't. It's still uncertain if douching causes these problems as douching may simply be more common in groups of women who tend to have these issues. Some health problems linked to douching are: vaginal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and vaginal irritation.

Doctors recommend that women do not douche because the risk of infections is great. It is best to just let your vagina clean itself naturally. The vagina will naturally clean away blood, semen, or vaginal discharge by naturally producing a mucous. It is important to know that even healthy, clean vaginas may have a mild odor. Washing regularly with warm water and a mild soap while taking a bath or shower will keep the outside of the vagina clean and healthy. Women should avoid scented products like tampons, pads, powders, and sprays as these products may increase a woman's chance of getting a vaginal infection.

Never douche to get rid of odor because this will only "cover up" the problem for a short time. It will not make it go away. If you have a bad odor, even after you clean yourself in the shower or bath, then you need to contact your doctor. It could be a sign of some type of bacterial infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) or something serious such as an STD.

If you are unsure of what to do when it comes to douching and want to know more about the risks, then talk to your gynecologist and don't be shy about it. They will be able to explain to you if you should douche and how often, if at all.