Vaginal douching is the process of washing the vagina with water or other mixtures like vinegar, iodine, baking soda, or other minerals. A douche is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons. Some douches are also sold as branded products for your vagina.
While douching has been greatly embraced by women in recent times, doctors strongly advise against it, as it disrupts the vagina’s natural bacterial balance and increases risks of infections.
Here are the pros and cons of vaginal douching you should consider:
Pro’s
These are the reasons why women douche their vagina:
1. It helps clean your vagina
Research has it that vaginal douching makes your vagina cleaner and more hygienic.
It also helps to prevent some unfavourable odours that may come from your vagina.
2. It is a replacement for your lightening soaps
Instead of harming your vagina with some artificial lightening bathing soaps, douching is another great option for you to have a clean vagina.
Con’s
Health experts say that it is best to avoid douching because when you have some vaginal odour, it is normal.
However, if the odour is really strong, it could be an infection. The vagina contains some natural acids that naturally control bacteria, and it is enough to basically wash the vagina with warm water and mild soap.
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1. It increases the chances of vaginal infections
Douching may affect the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina. Knowing already that your vagina’s acidity helps control the bacteria, you should avoid douching.
When you douche, the state of the vagina changes, and it becomes more prone to infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pregnancy complications, and STIs
2. It is harmful to pregnant women
Douching could make pregnant women have ectopic pregnancies (when the foetus is outside the uterus).
There are greater chances, according to research, for women who douche to have complicated pregnancies than for women who don’t.
3. It increases risks of cervical cancer
Douching allows cancer cells to develop in the cervix. It is better to avoid douching, as it can increase your chances of having cervical cancer.
4. It is harmful to the pelvis
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a disease of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvis in general.
It is not advisable to douche, as it may greatly affect your pelvis negatively.
