So is douche good or harmful for your vagina?

Douche means to wash in French. And douching is the method of cleaning the vagina with water or a mixture of liquids or gels.

The douches available in the market are usually a pre-packaged mixture of water and vinegar/ iodine/baking soda. There are even scented ones available, which helps camouflage vaginal odour.

How Does It Work?

These mixtures come in a bottle. A douche bag or a squirter (a bigger version of an ink squirter) is used to spray the mixture into the vagina. The tip is inserted into the vagina and the bag or nozzle is squeezed.

The water or the mixture rinses the inside of the vagina of any impurity and bacteria, including the good ones.

Common reasons why women douche include:

• Cleaning the vagina
• Removing the fishy odour
• Preventing pregnancy
• Preventing sexually transmitted diseases
• Rinsing the blood after menstruation

Is It Safe?

No. The vagina cleanses itself with the mucous present in it. You need not wash away blood, semen or vaginal discharge. It is cleansed by the vagina naturally.

A healthy vagina consists of good bacteria that help ward off infection. And the normal acidity level in the vagina helps keep the bacteria under control.

Douching causes an imbalance in this acidity and in turn, makes your vagina more prone to bacterial infection.

Recommended by Doctor

Your gynaecologist may advise you to use a medicated douche if you suffer from a bacterial infection or when either the acidic or alkaline level increases.

This can be found only through tests conducted. But the signs for these include a dry, burning or itching sensation.

In case of an acidic disorder, your doctor may prescribe an alkaline-based douche and vice versa for a alkaline-related disorder.

The alkaline and acidic levels combined are called the PH balance.

Other medicated douches include Potassium permanganate and betadine.

Douche Dangers

The health problems related with douching include:

• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Vaginal irritation
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Some of these disorders can lead to complications in pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancy, early delivery, infection to the baby.

Apart from these, many women have certain misconceptions about douching.