Vaginal Douching Disadvantages- What Every Woman Needs To Know?

By Yaamini Radhakrishnan on December 8, 2020

What is Vaginal Douching?

Vaginal douching refers to external and internal cleansing of the vagina. Women either use plain water, vinegar, or commercial products to douche. Women perform vaginal douching due to the following reasons.

To eliminate vaginal odor
To avoid sexually transmitted infections
To wash away semen after intercourse
To wash away menstrual blood
To prevent pregnancy

However, health experts state vaginal douching is not effective for the above mentioned reasons. It in turn increases the risks of infections, cause pregnancy complications, and other medical conditions.

Risks of Vaginal Douching

The vagina has a natural environment that protects it from bacterial and fungal infections. One of the major vaginal douching disadvantages includes upsetting the natural environment for the vagina. Some of the main risks are:

#1. Pregnancy Complications:

Women who do vaginal douching more often are at a risk of premature child birth, miscarriage, and other complications. Douching can sometimes reduce the chances of conceiving or getting pregnant.

#2.Infections:

The vagina consists of a healthy balance of bacteria which prevents the entry of harmful bacteria and fungus. Disrupting this natural balance may cause yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

#3. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:

Douching increases the risk of contracting Pelvic Inflammatory diseases which is an infection that develops in the reproductive organs.

#4. Cervicitis:

The inflammation of the cervix is called cervicitis. Vaginal douching can increase the change of developing cervicitis.

Cleaning the Vagina Safely

Vagina doesn’t require any harsh cleaning. A simple and safe way to clean is do a simple water wash during a shower. Soap, fragrances, and chemicals can irritate the vaginal skin. Using warm water, gently splash the vaginal area a few times. Do not use soap inside the vagina and do not scrub the folds harshly. If you use soap on the external region of the vagina, wash thoroughly until all soap is removed. Pat the area dry gently.

Tips to Prevent Vaginal Odor

One of the main reasons for vaginal douching is to prevent vaginal odor. However, there are more safe and effective ways to reduce and eliminate vaginal odor.

Proper Hygiene- Avoiding soaps, and washing the vaginal area regularly but gently will eliminate vaginal odor.
Breathable Fabric- More moisture surrounding the vagina can cause bad odor and lead to infections. Wear breathable undergarments usually made of cotton, to allow proper air circulation.

When To See A Doctor

Vaginal odor is normal and taking some simple measures can eliminate it. A few signs indicate that you must see a doctor:

Pain during intercourse
Persistent vaginal odor
Yellowish green or white vaginal discharge
Burning, swelling, redness, and itching of the vaginal region

When you experience these above symptoms, instead of doing vaginal douching you must consult a doctor.

The vaginal environment is self-cleansing. It naturally eliminates blood, vaginal discharge, and semen through natural discharge. Harsh washes or douching is not necessary. If you are experiencing more odor or discharge, don’t douche to get rid of it. Consult a doctor to get to the bottom of the underlying condition.

References:

Yaamini Radhakrishnan:I am a clinic research professional, graduate in biotechnology and post graduate in biochemistry. Have also pursued freelance writing since the past 5 years I am married and have a daughter. I am a native and reside at Bangalore.

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Vaginal Douching Disadvantages- What Every Woman Needs To Know?

What is Vaginal Douching?