Besides making themselves feel fresher,
women say they douche to get rid of
unpleasant odors, wash away menstrual
blood after their period, avoid getting
sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent a
pregnancyafter intercourse.
Yet, health experts say douching is not
effective for any of these purposes. They also
warn that it can actually increase the risk of
infections, pregnancy complications, and
other health problems.
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. Douches that are sold in drug stores
and supermarkets contain antiseptics and
fragrances. A douche comes in a bottle or
bag and is sprayed through a tube upward
into the vagina.
What are the advantages of douching?
Some women say douching makes them feel
cleaner. There is, though, very little scientific
evidence of benefit from douching. The rare
positive research that does exist often has a
downside. One study found that douching
during the six months before pregnancy
reduced the risk of pre-term delivery.
However, in that same study, douching
during pregnancy was linked to an increased
risk of pre-term birth.
What are the disadvantages of douching?
Overall, the risks of douching far outweigh
the benefits. Here are just a few of the
problems linked to douching:
Vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis):
Douching upsets the natural balance of
bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora).
These changes make the environment more
favorable for the growth of bacteria that
cause infection. Studies have found that
women who stopped douching were less
likely to have bacterial vaginosis. Having
bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of
preterm labor and endometriosis.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): PID is an
infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/
or ovaries. Research has found that women
who douche may have a 73% higher risk of
getting PID.
Pregnancy complications: Women who
douche more than once a week have more
difficulty getting pregnant than those who
don't douche. Douching may also increase
the risk of ectopic pregnancy by as much as
76%. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo
implants outside the uterus. The more a
woman douches, the greater the risk of
having an ectopic pregnancy.
Cervical cancer: Douching at least once a
week has been linked to a possible
increased chance of developing cervical
cancer.
So in a nut shell, washing with water alone is
more than enough
women say they douche to get rid of
unpleasant odors, wash away menstrual
blood after their period, avoid getting
sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent a
pregnancyafter intercourse.
Yet, health experts say douching is not
effective for any of these purposes. They also
warn that it can actually increase the risk of
infections, pregnancy complications, and
other health problems.
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. Douches that are sold in drug stores
and supermarkets contain antiseptics and
fragrances. A douche comes in a bottle or
bag and is sprayed through a tube upward
into the vagina.
What are the advantages of douching?
Some women say douching makes them feel
cleaner. There is, though, very little scientific
evidence of benefit from douching. The rare
positive research that does exist often has a
downside. One study found that douching
during the six months before pregnancy
reduced the risk of pre-term delivery.
However, in that same study, douching
during pregnancy was linked to an increased
risk of pre-term birth.
What are the disadvantages of douching?
Overall, the risks of douching far outweigh
the benefits. Here are just a few of the
problems linked to douching:
Vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis):
Douching upsets the natural balance of
bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora).
These changes make the environment more
favorable for the growth of bacteria that
cause infection. Studies have found that
women who stopped douching were less
likely to have bacterial vaginosis. Having
bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of
preterm labor and endometriosis.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): PID is an
infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/
or ovaries. Research has found that women
who douche may have a 73% higher risk of
getting PID.
Pregnancy complications: Women who
douche more than once a week have more
difficulty getting pregnant than those who
don't douche. Douching may also increase
the risk of ectopic pregnancy by as much as
76%. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo
implants outside the uterus. The more a
woman douches, the greater the risk of
having an ectopic pregnancy.
Cervical cancer: Douching at least once a
week has been linked to a possible
increased chance of developing cervical
cancer.
So in a nut shell, washing with water alone is
more than enough
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