Are Vaginal Douches Considered to be an Healthy Option?

Women always search for an option to clean their vaginal area after their regular menstrual cycle or an intercourse with effect to remove the unwanted substances present in the tract which is thought that a normal cleaning procedure won’t help to remove.

Vaginal Douche is a method of rinsing or cleaning the vagina by forcing stream of water or an additional solution into the vaginal cavity to swill out vaginal discharge and additional contents for sensitization or therapeutic purposes.

A douche can be with a simple solution of vinegar in water. Some commercial douche solutions have somewhat more romantic names such as Country Flowers, Fresh Baby Powder, Fresh Mountain Breeze, Spring Rain Freshness, etc.

Reasons for women using douches includes
•    Removal of the unwanted blood and blood clots after menstrual cycle.
•    For the removal of the extra discharge from the vagina.
•    To avoid pregnancy following sexual intercourse.
•    For avoiding contracting sexually transmitted disease after an intercourse.
•    Reduce vaginal odors.
•    For cleanliness purpose.

There is no direct evidence that sexually transmitted diseases can be avoided by using douches after sexual intercourse. Even as a means of birth control, it is not significantly effective as birth reduction rate after using douche came to be about 30%. In case of cleaning of vagina after menstrual cycle, research has revealed that the vaginal area has an extremely efficient natural clean-up mechanism that does not entail the kind of facilitation that douching claims to provide. The vagina cleans itself with the help of the natural mucus secretions. For further assistance using water and gentle soap can help to cleanse the outer areas of the vagina while taking a shower.

Reason for not considering douching as a healthy option:
•    The pH of vagina is usually 3.8 to 4.5, which is slightly acidic. The natural pH balance of the vagina can be disturbed by douching.
•     Douching can cause irritation of the skin as well.
•    It also interferes with the balance of the natural flora of bacteria prevailing in that area, and can eradicate the friendly bacteria, which are necessary to maintain good health in the area. So, in fact douching can actually increase the risk of infections.
•    Douching can pioneer new bacteria and yeast into the vagina which can extend through the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes and cause a vaginal infection.
•    Vaginal douches face a considerably hazard of developing pelvic inflammatory disease.