Vagina Douching Does More Harm Than Good And Here Is All You Should Know

Many ladies love to smell good especially in the private area. To achieve this they use a number of feminine washes to keep the vagina clean. One of these is done by douching.

What Is Douching?

The word ”douche” is French for ”wash” or ”soak.” It is a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar and other fluids like iodine and baking soda.

There are also packaged douches available in the market and pharmacies.

Are there any benefits of Vaginal Douching?

Some women say douching cleans their vagina. Others say it helps to rid off unpleasant odors from discharge and menstrual blood. But there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

Gynecologists have however insisted that douching is not safe and it does more harm than good.

Dangers of Vaginal douching

1. Vaginal infections

Douching upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. These changes make the environment more favorable for the growth of bacteria that cause infection.

If you already have an infection, douching can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

A balance of good and bad bacteria helps maintain the acidic environment of a healthy vagina. Any disruption to that balance can lead to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.

Other infections associated with douching include vaginal irritation, sexually transmitted diseases, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

2. Pregnancy complications

Women who douche more than once a week have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who don’t douche. It also increases the risks of having an ectopic pregnancy as it increases the chances of a damaged fallopian tube..

READ: 15 Facts About The Vagina Every Woman Should Know

3. Cervical cancer

Douching at least once a week has been linked to a possible increased chance of developing cervical cancer.

What you should do for a clean vagina

Your vagina is self-cleaning and does not require any chemical washing. It is enough to wash your vagina with lukewarm water.

Avoid scented pads, tampons, and sprays as they also lead to infections.

If you still notice a strong smell after this, then consult your gynecologist.