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Tags: Womens Health, Intimate Hygiene, Douche, Hygiene, Women

We often get it all wrong: Vaginal Douching Safe👍 or Risk👎 ?

Douche, a word from French i.e. “wash” or “soak” is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons, or the stream of water itself. Vaginal douching is washing the vagina with water or a mixture of fluids to eliminate odors and “clean” the vagina. Some of the douches found in drugstores contain antiseptics and fragrances but most often vinegar mixed with water, some containing baking soda or iodine are used while douching. These are found in different types: based on purposes i.e. Acidic type-made from acidic substance to increase the acidity of the vagina and Alkaline type-made from alkaline substance to reduce the acidity of the vagina and based on shapes i.e. Bulb type and Pear type. Apple cider vinegar has been found to be frequently used for douching as it is considered as a natural antiseptic and kills off infection-causing germs. It is also supposed to balance pH in the vagina.​

How to Douche your vagina

The best option while douching is to do it under the doctor’s suggestion. Choosing the best product wholly depends upon product availability but priority should be given to products without scents or dyes, ​followed by preparing the douching solution as per the directions and rinsing the vaginal cavity by inserting the tip of the douche into it. Though some myths about douching are widely spread all around the world, these myths implicate douching as a method to get rid of vaginal odor, pain, or itching, as a protection against STIs, a preventive measure for unplanned pregnancy, and ​so on. However, the greatest thing about the human body though, is ​that ​the vagina cleans itself naturally with its own mucous secretions​​and is designed to naturally maintain a healthy pH balance.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women avoid the practice of vaginal douching as it can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the vagina and can alter its normal pH. There also stands a risk of vaginal infection spreading deeper into the vaginal tract and infecting other sensitive internal reproductive organs. ​A study at the ​John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital has reasoned out that douching instead of using protection against STIs and pregnancy propels the sperm into the uterus even quicker linking it to an increased chance of contracting STIs. With this, there also exist several risks like ectopic pregnancy, early childbirth, miscarriage, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), Cervicitis, etc.

Cherish Your Vagina and feel beautiful INSIDE OUT.

With increasing personal hygiene-related studies, the awareness among women related to their reproductive system, products to use, its effects and side effects, and its substitute have taken a tremendous advancement. Several studies have stated that knowing when to douche under the doctor's advice and in the right way may help to keep their body clean and odorless without any harm. The risk of douching has far outweighed its benefits. Some substitutes for douching with more effective results and fewer side effects on the vagina can be used like, using coconut oil and tea tree oil-soaked tampon, intake of garlic capsules, raw yogurt-soaked tampon, etc.

You must be concerned whether to pick its uses or see its side effects, it is generally based on personal preferences and factors related to one’s body. I myself would sometimes prefer douching my vagina but will I be comfortable ? Will I suggest my siblings do so? It's a big NO. Better do it after understanding what your vagina actually feels like, what its condition is, and then choose what's good and healthy for it. There are many other means and methods to keep your vagina clean, prevent order and STIs like practicing proper hygiene, wearing breathable fabrics, using deodorizing products carefully, avoiding unsafe sexual intercourse, using proper contracepts, etc.

Say “NO” to Risk and “YES” to Health

References

Apple Cider Vinegar Vaginal Douche: What Science Really Says (healthyandnaturalworld.com)