Your vagina, like a self-cleaning oven, is meant to clean itself. The more you interfere with its process by douching or using strong soaps or soaps with fragrance, the more likely you are to experience irritation.
Simply rinse with warm tap water and a washcloth, if necessary. These are not normal processes of your vagina, but are signs that you have some type of infection. On the contrary, douching doesn't prevent any of these women's health problems — rather, it can cause serious health complications. The National Institutes of Health similarly discourages the use of vaginal douching, warning women that: Douching has been associated with many adverse outcomes including pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, low birth weight, preterm birth, human immunodeficiency virus transmission, sexually transmitted diseases, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, and infertility.
What is Douching? This elevated pH level caused by vaginal douching can cause immediate health problems for a woman, including: Vaginal Dryness : Douching may remove or alter the natural mucous of the vaginal walls. Bacterial Vaginosis : A painful inflammation of the vaginal tissue, bacterial vaginosis occurs when harmful bacteria flourish in the vagina, which is more likely if the natural, healthy bacteria are washed away with douching.
Yeast Infections : Yeast grows better in less acidic environments. How to Care for Yourself Without Douching So what is the best way to clean your vagina besides douching? You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Embarrassing Vaginal Odor? It Could Be Bacterial Vaginosis.
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These products may increase your chances of getting a vaginal infection. Can douching before or after sex prevent STIs? Should I douche if I had sex without using protection or if the condom broke? Should I douche if I was sexually assaulted? Can douching after sex prevent pregnancy? How does douching affect pregnancy?
Douching can make it harder to get pregnant and can cause problems during pregnancy: Trouble getting pregnant. Women who douched at least once a month had a harder time getting pregnant than those women who did not douche. Douching may increase a woman's chance of damaged fallopian tubes and ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg attaches to the inside of the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. If left untreated, ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. It can also make it hard for a woman to get pregnant in the future. Higher risk of early childbirth. Douching raises your risk for premature birth.
One study found that women who douched during pregnancy were more likely to deliver their babies early. Did we answer your question about douching? For more information about douching, call the OWH Helpline at Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chandra, A. Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of U.
Vital Health Statistics; 23 25 , 1— Ott, M. Journal of Sexual Medicine; 6: — Markham, C. Journal of Adolescent Health; 41 5 : — Ness, R. Douching in relation to bacterial vaginosis, lactobacilli, and facultative bacteria in the vagina. Obstet Gynecol; —
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