Douching – “flushing” from the vagina of all “excess” with water or solutions of soda, potassium permanganate, iodine, vinegar and so on. There are ready-made pharmaceutical solutions in convenient packages with tips that help to easily inject the solution into the vagina.
There is no benefit to the “health” of the vagina from douching, but the harm can be very serious.
Douching changes the acidity and balance of the vaginal flora. Normally, the vagina is acidic – it protects it from infections and irritation. Also, douching can lead to an overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, cause candidal colpitis or bacterial vaginosis.
If you already have an inflammatory process in your vagina, douching can “push” “bad” bacteria into the uterine cavity, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and abdomen. It will lead to the spread of infection and the onset of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, which can have very serious consequences.
To date, it has been proven that douching causes:
- Bacterial vaginosis.
- Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
- May lead to ectopic and premature birth.
- Douching makes it easier to “penetrate” sexually transmitted infections, including HIV (this is if you have unprotected sex).
- Vaginal irritation or dryness.
Is it possible to douche to get rid of an unpleasant odor from the vagina or eliminate itching, pain, burning, discharge?
No you can not. This can temporarily eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but then it will get even worse. See your doctor to find out the reasons and get treated.
There is no need to take a “vaginal shower”, the vagina is able to “wash” and “cleanse itself” in a natural way and it does not need your help. You should be aware that healthy vaginal discharge can have a “mild” odor that changes throughout the day. Physical activity can impart a stronger, musky aroma, this is normal.
Can douching before or after sex to prevent STIs? Not. It can actually only increase the risk of contracting STIs, including HIV.
Do I need to douche if I’ve had sex without a condom or if it breaks? Not. See the previous answer. Also, it will not help prevent pregnancy. See your doctor, think about emergency contraception, get tested for infections.
How does douching affect pregnancy? Studies have shown that women who douche at least once a month are more likely to have difficulty conceiving than women who do not. Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy and premature birth.