The Dangers of Douching
Before the word "douche" became a term describing someone who was acting obnoxious, it actually described a jet or current of water. Typically, the word douche was associated with medicinal or hygienic purposes. In the 1920s and 1930s, many women turned to douching as a contraceptive, but it had a high failure rate.
Today, douching is not recommended, but the products are still on the market. Read below to understand more about why douching is bad for you.
What Is Douching?
Douching is thought to wash out the vagina. Most commercial douching products are a mixture of vinegar and water, but they may also contain fragrances or antiseptics. The mixture comes in a bag or a bottle, and it is sprayed into the vagina through a tube.
Many women douche because they feel cleaner afterwards. However, the reality is that the vagina is actually a self-cleaning organ. Unless recommended by your OB/GYN doctor, there is no reason to use a douche. That doesn't stop women from using the products, and you should know why it is bad for your body.
Why Shouldn't You Douche?
Your vagina has a natural pH balance of around 3.5 to 4.5. It maintains this environment to produce healthy bacteria that naturally grows within your body. Water, the main ingredient in most douche products, has a pH of seven. When introduced to your system, it upsets the pH balance of your body. This allows harmful bacteria to thrive, which causes infections.
The typical infections that stem from douching are yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. In addition, some bacteria gets pushed farther into your body when you douche, thus causing harm to your fallopian tubes or ovaries. You may also have problems during pregnancy if you douche, and you may increase your risk of cervical cancer.
Myths of Douching
There are a number of myths about douching. One is that you prevent pregnancy if you douche after intercourse. This is completely false. Another myth is that douching prevents HIV or STDs. Again, this is untrue. Your vagina has good bacteria that protects you from infection. By douching, you damage this bacteria, thus increasing your risk of STDs. If you had sex without protection or it broke, your doctor can provide medicine to protect you against an unwanted pregnancy.
Talk to Your Doctor
Women's health does not rely on douching to maintain cleanliness of the vagina. Talk to your OB/GYN physician when you are experiencing foul or strong odors from your vagina, as it is probably a symptom of an infection that needs to be treated medically.
Take care of your body without douching and enjoy the natural cleaning powers of your own body!