What Is Douching?
Douchingis the act of cleaning the vagina. It is not external cleaning of the vulva. Douching involves internal cleansing of the vagina itself. People from different cultures use different techniques and products to douche. Some use plain water, others water and vinegar. Still, others employ variousantisepticsor other solutions. Douching may involve simply rinsing with the cleaning liquid. It could also include forcing liquid at high pressure into the vagina using a bag or other device.
Douching has been associated with an increased risk of several reproductive health conditions, including:
Takao Onozato / Aflo / Getty Images
Why Shouldn’t I Douche? Is Douching Bad?
People who douche often think that douching is good for them. However, the evidence suggests otherwise. Research suggests that douching is bad for your health because it disturbs the normal chemical and microbial balance of the vagina. This can potentially lead toBVor otherbacterial infections. Douching also may forcepathogensup through the cervix causing uterine infections.
Douches don’t only disrupt thevaginal flora. The chemicals used in many over-the-counter and homemade douches may irritate or inflame the skin. This could make an existing infection worse. But, unfortunately, it could also make a person more susceptible to a new infection.
Many people douche because of a strong orunusual vaginal odoror discharge. This can be particularly dangerous if those symptoms result from an infection such asgonorrhea,chlamydia, ortrichomoniasis. When someone has such an infection, douching can force the organisms into the uterus, where they are more likely to causepelvic inflammatory disease(PID). PID is an infection linked to infertility.
In fact, douching is a major cause of secondary infertility. Secondary infertility occurs when a couple who have successfully become pregnant in the past are no longer able to conceive a child. Douching also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy. As such, it’s an activity that it’s probably better to avoid.
But My Vagina Smells Funny!
If your vagina has developed a strong or unpleasant odor, the answer isn’t douching. Instead, you should talk to a healthcare professional. A change in vaginal odor can be a sign of certain STIs or other vaginal health problems.Douching not only isn’t a way to treat STIs, but it can also actually make them worse. In contrast, a doctor can help you figure out how to handle vaginal odor in a healthy way. That could involve anything fromSTI treatmentto changing the kind of underwear you wear.
If your vaginal odor changes, it’s important to find out why. A change in odor doesn’t necessarily mean you have an STI. However, you’ll probably want to treat it if you do. Doing so will address the problem, if there is one, at the source. That’s a better choice than just masking the change with perfumes or temporary fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Douching can disturbvaginal flora, the bacteria that normally live in the vagina, and help keep it healthy. Unfortunately, this can lead to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), which can cause itchiness, vaginal discharge, and odor.Learn MoreWhat Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
Douching can disturbvaginal flora, the bacteria that normally live in the vagina, and help keep it healthy. Unfortunately, this can lead to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), which can cause itchiness, vaginal discharge, and odor.
Learn MoreWhat Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
People sometimes douche to treat vaginal odor. Instead of douching, try to discover the reason for the odor. It could be a sign of a condition that shouldn’t be ignored, so speak to a healthcare professional who can help you find treatment.
2 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.Office on Women’s Health.Douching.Brotman RM.Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective.J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4610-4617. doi:10.1172/JCI57172Additional ReadingAral SO, Mosher WD, Cates W Jr.Vaginal douching among women of reproductive age in the United States.Am J Public Health. 1992;82(2):210-214.Cottrell BH.An updated review of of evidence to discourage douching.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010;35(2):102-107. doi:10.1097/NMC.0b013e3181cae9daKendrick JS, Atrash HK, Strauss LT, Gargiullo PM, Ahn YW.Vaginal Douching as a potential risk factor for tubal ectopic pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol.1985;153(7):727-729.Merchant JS, Oh K, Klerman LV.Douching: a problem for adolescent girls and young women.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(8):834-837.Onderdonk AB, Delaney ML, Hinkson PL, DuBois AM.Quantitative and qualitative effects of douche preparations on vaginal microflora.Obstet Gynecol. 1992;80(3 pt 1):333-338.
2 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.Office on Women’s Health.Douching.Brotman RM.Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective.J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4610-4617. doi:10.1172/JCI57172Additional ReadingAral SO, Mosher WD, Cates W Jr.Vaginal douching among women of reproductive age in the United States.Am J Public Health. 1992;82(2):210-214.Cottrell BH.An updated review of of evidence to discourage douching.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010;35(2):102-107. doi:10.1097/NMC.0b013e3181cae9daKendrick JS, Atrash HK, Strauss LT, Gargiullo PM, Ahn YW.Vaginal Douching as a potential risk factor for tubal ectopic pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol.1985;153(7):727-729.Merchant JS, Oh K, Klerman LV.Douching: a problem for adolescent girls and young women.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(8):834-837.Onderdonk AB, Delaney ML, Hinkson PL, DuBois AM.Quantitative and qualitative effects of douche preparations on vaginal microflora.Obstet Gynecol. 1992;80(3 pt 1):333-338.
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.
Office on Women’s Health.Douching.Brotman RM.Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective.J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4610-4617. doi:10.1172/JCI57172
Office on Women’s Health.Douching.
Brotman RM.Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective.J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4610-4617. doi:10.1172/JCI57172
Aral SO, Mosher WD, Cates W Jr.Vaginal douching among women of reproductive age in the United States.Am J Public Health. 1992;82(2):210-214.Cottrell BH.An updated review of of evidence to discourage douching.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010;35(2):102-107. doi:10.1097/NMC.0b013e3181cae9daKendrick JS, Atrash HK, Strauss LT, Gargiullo PM, Ahn YW.Vaginal Douching as a potential risk factor for tubal ectopic pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol.1985;153(7):727-729.Merchant JS, Oh K, Klerman LV.Douching: a problem for adolescent girls and young women.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(8):834-837.Onderdonk AB, Delaney ML, Hinkson PL, DuBois AM.Quantitative and qualitative effects of douche preparations on vaginal microflora.Obstet Gynecol. 1992;80(3 pt 1):333-338.
Aral SO, Mosher WD, Cates W Jr.Vaginal douching among women of reproductive age in the United States.Am J Public Health. 1992;82(2):210-214.
Cottrell BH.An updated review of of evidence to discourage douching.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010;35(2):102-107. doi:10.1097/NMC.0b013e3181cae9da
Kendrick JS, Atrash HK, Strauss LT, Gargiullo PM, Ahn YW.Vaginal Douching as a potential risk factor for tubal ectopic pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol.1985;153(7):727-729.
Merchant JS, Oh K, Klerman LV.Douching: a problem for adolescent girls and young women.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(8):834-837.
Onderdonk AB, Delaney ML, Hinkson PL, DuBois AM.Quantitative and qualitative effects of douche preparations on vaginal microflora.Obstet Gynecol. 1992;80(3 pt 1):333-338.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
