Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMeaningRisksAlternativesSymptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Meaning
Risks
Alternatives
Symptoms
Vaginal douching involves rinsing the vagina with a liquid solution. It dates back 3,000 years and saw a significant surge in popularity in the early 1900s.People with a vagina might douche to feel clean or as part of a tradition. But douching can disrupt thevagina’s natural pH(acid-base) balance, posing health risks.
This article discusses douching methods and ingredients, potential health risks, other ways to maintain vaginal health and hygiene, and what to do if you have symptoms.
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Female Anatomy and Function
Meaning of Vaginal Douche
Vaginal douching is washing or rinsing the inside of your vagina (where you insert a tampon during your period). Douches come in bottles or bags with a nozzle you gently insert before squeezing the solution upward into the vagina.
Douching is different from washing the outer parts of the vulva (external anatomy) during bathing. Simply rinsing the external area with warm water is safe and doesn’t pose harm.
Personal Reasons for Vaginal DouchingPeople report douching for various other personal reasons, including:Eliminating odorsItch reliefAttempting to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)Religious or traditional beliefsSex-related hygieneDrying or tightening of the vaginaWashing away menstrual (period) blood or vaginal discharge
Personal Reasons for Vaginal Douching
People report douching for various other personal reasons, including:Eliminating odorsItch reliefAttempting to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)Religious or traditional beliefsSex-related hygieneDrying or tightening of the vaginaWashing away menstrual (period) blood or vaginal discharge
People report douching for various other personal reasons, including:
Please note that douching does not prevent STIs or pregnancy.If you had unprotected sex or the condom broke, see a healthcare provider immediately. They can provide emergency medications to prevent pregnancy and STIs, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Types of Douche Ingredients
Companies market commercial douche products asfeminine hygiene.But some people use simple, home remedies for vaginal douching. Typically, vaginal douches contain a mixture of:
Anal DouchingAnal douching involves rinsing out the rectum. The rectum is the end of the large intestine right inside the anus (where poop exits the body).
Anal Douching
Anal douching involves rinsing out the rectum. The rectum is the end of the large intestine right inside the anus (where poop exits the body).
Risks of Using a Douche
Healthcare providers typically adviseagainst douching, even after sex or your period.The vagina is self-cleaning and maintains a delicate pH (acid-base) balance to managevaginal flora(good and bad bacteria).
Douching can alter this balance, killing helpful bacteria and letting harmful bacteria or yeast grow. This imbalance can cause infections, infertility, and pregnancy complications such as:
What About Douching With Just Water?Douches containing fragrances and chemicals can also irritate the skin, dry out the vagina, or cause allergic reactions. However, even using plain water for douching can disrupt the pH balance.
What About Douching With Just Water?
Douches containing fragrances and chemicals can also irritate the skin, dry out the vagina, or cause allergic reactions. However, even using plain water for douching can disrupt the pH balance.
Urgent Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It can result from untreated STIs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, or other bacterial infections, like bacterial vaginosis. One study found that 73% of the participants who practice douching had PID, and 41% had bacterial vaginosis.
PID causes inflammation and damage to the reproductive organs and can lead to symptoms such as:
A Word From VerywellWhen it comes to vulvar and vaginal hygiene, less is more. Douching and other products with added fragrance and dyes can disrupt the balance in the vagina and cause more issues and symptoms.—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
When it comes to vulvar and vaginal hygiene, less is more. Douching and other products with added fragrance and dyes can disrupt the balance in the vagina and cause more issues and symptoms.—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
When it comes to vulvar and vaginal hygiene, less is more. Douching and other products with added fragrance and dyes can disrupt the balance in the vagina and cause more issues and symptoms.
—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
What Does Normal Vaginal Discharge Look Like?
Douche Alternatives
The vagina is self-cleaning, and there is no need to clean the inside of the vagina.However, there are hygiene practices outside of douching that can help keep you clean.
Instead of Douching, Wash Like This
Instead of douching, wash thevulva(outer area around the vagina) using your fingers and plain water daily. If you use soap, opt for fragrance-free, mild products. It’s important to wash your hands first to prevent infections. Pat dry with a clean towel. The following are other hygiene practices that can help keep you clean and comfortable.
Staying Clean During Your Period
Douching is also not recommended during the postpartum period (after childbirth). Here are some ways to keep your vulva and anal area clean during this time.
Postpartum Care: A Guide to Taking Care of a Body That Just Delivered
If You Have Any Vaginal Symptoms
If you’re feeling any vaginal discomfort, itching, odor, or abnormal discharge, consult a healthcare provider. They will likely ask you questions, ask you for a urine sample, perform a pelvic exam and vaginal swab, or order blood tests to see if you have an infection.
If an infection is present, early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can help prevent complications and keep your reproductive health safe.
Unique Circumstances and Ongoing ResearchIn some circumstances, healthcare providers might suggest cleaning the vagina with special solutions containingantisepticsduring fertility treatment or childbirth.Antiseptics, like chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, kill harmful germs.
Unique Circumstances and Ongoing Research
In some circumstances, healthcare providers might suggest cleaning the vagina with special solutions containingantisepticsduring fertility treatment or childbirth.Antiseptics, like chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, kill harmful germs.
Summary
Vaginal douching involves rinsing the inside of the vagina with a liquid solution like water, vinegar, or commercial douching products. Some people believe this practice improves hygiene or freshness, but douching is generally not necessary or safe.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wireko S, Ofosu M, Agyemang F, Dankluvi HE, Cobbina AE.Vaginal douching and health risks among young women.Health Science Reports. 2024;7(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.1882U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Douching. December 29, 2022.Rael CT, Das D, Bauermeister J, Lentz C, Carballo-Diéguez A, Giguere R, Scott RK, Hendrix CW.Understanding women’s vaginal douching behaviors and practices for consideration in the development of a potential future vaginal microbicide douche for HIV prevention: a systematic review of the literature.AIDS Behav. 2021;25(9):2992-3010. doi:10.1007/s10461-021-03290-0Workowski KA, Bachman LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-180. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Al-kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Alduraidi, H.et al.How prevalent are symptoms and risk factors of pelvic inflammatory disease in a sexually conservative population.Reprod Health.2021;18(109). doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01155-2Merck Manual.Postpartum care. April 2024.Trivedi M, Robinson AM, Islam MR.Effect of vaginal antiseptic prior to caesarean section on the rate of post-caesarean complications: a blinded randomised controlled trial.Trials. 2022;23(1):231. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05857-7.Meng Y, Wen GH, Luo H, et al.Which vaginal douching agent is the best choice before oocyte retrieval? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in Reproductive Health.2022;4. doi:10.3389/frph.2022.1032062
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wireko S, Ofosu M, Agyemang F, Dankluvi HE, Cobbina AE.Vaginal douching and health risks among young women.Health Science Reports. 2024;7(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.1882U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Douching. December 29, 2022.Rael CT, Das D, Bauermeister J, Lentz C, Carballo-Diéguez A, Giguere R, Scott RK, Hendrix CW.Understanding women’s vaginal douching behaviors and practices for consideration in the development of a potential future vaginal microbicide douche for HIV prevention: a systematic review of the literature.AIDS Behav. 2021;25(9):2992-3010. doi:10.1007/s10461-021-03290-0Workowski KA, Bachman LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-180. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Al-kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Alduraidi, H.et al.How prevalent are symptoms and risk factors of pelvic inflammatory disease in a sexually conservative population.Reprod Health.2021;18(109). doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01155-2Merck Manual.Postpartum care. April 2024.Trivedi M, Robinson AM, Islam MR.Effect of vaginal antiseptic prior to caesarean section on the rate of post-caesarean complications: a blinded randomised controlled trial.Trials. 2022;23(1):231. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05857-7.Meng Y, Wen GH, Luo H, et al.Which vaginal douching agent is the best choice before oocyte retrieval? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in Reproductive Health.2022;4. doi:10.3389/frph.2022.1032062
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wireko S, Ofosu M, Agyemang F, Dankluvi HE, Cobbina AE.Vaginal douching and health risks among young women.Health Science Reports. 2024;7(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.1882U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Douching. December 29, 2022.Rael CT, Das D, Bauermeister J, Lentz C, Carballo-Diéguez A, Giguere R, Scott RK, Hendrix CW.Understanding women’s vaginal douching behaviors and practices for consideration in the development of a potential future vaginal microbicide douche for HIV prevention: a systematic review of the literature.AIDS Behav. 2021;25(9):2992-3010. doi:10.1007/s10461-021-03290-0Workowski KA, Bachman LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-180. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Al-kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Alduraidi, H.et al.How prevalent are symptoms and risk factors of pelvic inflammatory disease in a sexually conservative population.Reprod Health.2021;18(109). doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01155-2Merck Manual.Postpartum care. April 2024.Trivedi M, Robinson AM, Islam MR.Effect of vaginal antiseptic prior to caesarean section on the rate of post-caesarean complications: a blinded randomised controlled trial.Trials. 2022;23(1):231. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05857-7.Meng Y, Wen GH, Luo H, et al.Which vaginal douching agent is the best choice before oocyte retrieval? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in Reproductive Health.2022;4. doi:10.3389/frph.2022.1032062
Wireko S, Ofosu M, Agyemang F, Dankluvi HE, Cobbina AE.Vaginal douching and health risks among young women.Health Science Reports. 2024;7(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.1882
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Douching. December 29, 2022.
Rael CT, Das D, Bauermeister J, Lentz C, Carballo-Diéguez A, Giguere R, Scott RK, Hendrix CW.Understanding women’s vaginal douching behaviors and practices for consideration in the development of a potential future vaginal microbicide douche for HIV prevention: a systematic review of the literature.AIDS Behav. 2021;25(9):2992-3010. doi:10.1007/s10461-021-03290-0
Workowski KA, Bachman LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-180. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Al-kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Alduraidi, H.et al.How prevalent are symptoms and risk factors of pelvic inflammatory disease in a sexually conservative population.Reprod Health.2021;18(109). doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01155-2
Merck Manual.Postpartum care. April 2024.
Trivedi M, Robinson AM, Islam MR.Effect of vaginal antiseptic prior to caesarean section on the rate of post-caesarean complications: a blinded randomised controlled trial.Trials. 2022;23(1):231. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05857-7.
Meng Y, Wen GH, Luo H, et al.Which vaginal douching agent is the best choice before oocyte retrieval? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in Reproductive Health.2022;4. doi:10.3389/frph.2022.1032062
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