Do Women Need to Douche?

Experts claim that it is not required. Why then do so many women continue this illustrious tradition?
Douche, which is French for "to wash" or "to soak," describes the act of washing or rinsing the vagina with water or another fluid. According to Fatima Daoud Yilmaz, MD, an ob-gyn at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, vaginal douches were first made in large quantities in the 1800s, but douching was a common practise even before then.Show more

Can some women benefit from douching in certain circumstances?

Dr. Daoud Yilmaz claims that there isn't any at all. No woman should ever feel the need to douch. There is no medical justification to douche, she claims.
Douching Is Not Only Unnecessary, But Can Also Do More Harm Than Good Douching Leaves the Vagina Vulnerable to Unhealthy Bacteria, Viruses, and Yeast.
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. A tiny amount of mucus is produced by the cervix and the vaginal walls, which is used to expel menstrual blood, old cells, and other waste.
Numerous douching products cause the vagina's pH to change to excessively high levels of acidity, which can make the vagina more susceptible to harmful germs, viruses, and yeast.

Debunking the Most Common Douching Myths

Why then do some females continue to douche? According to experts, it might be because a few douching misconceptions have gained traction. Among these lies are:
1 Douching is a sanitary component of a woman's typical cleansing routine. Once more, no. According to Daoud Yilmaz, the vagina is made to clean itself. Douching will wash away menstrual blood and other debris, but it also alters the pH of the vagina, making it susceptible to infection.
2 A douche is required to remove a vagina's odour. Every vagina secretes discharge and has a mild odour that can change from month to month. That is acceptable and natural.
The vulva and vagina shouldn't smell like vanilla or whatever the aisle selling feminine care products tells you it should.

The CDC advises that an odd vaginal odour could be a sign of a bacterial illness, bladder infection, or sexually transmitted infection (STI). People to seek medical assistance if they suspect something is amiss rather than covering it up with feminine products, douching, or deodorants.

3 Douching can help protect from becoming pregnant or contracting STDs. Douching does not remove semen from the vagina or stop pregnancy. However, the Office for Women's Health (OWH) reports that douching has been connected to infertility and is associated with a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Additionally, douching does not shield against STDs. In fact, according to the OWH, it can raise your chance of contracting a STI, including HIV.
4 A bacterial infection may be treated with douching. Douching, as previously mentioned, can cause vaginal infections to migrate deeper into your pelvis. Douching disturbs the typical vaginal environment, which could make it more challenging for your doctor to locate and treat your illness.
Frequently, underlying medical issues and lifestyle decisions can also cause illnesses like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. In addition to douching, these may also include uncontrolled diabetes, recent antibiotic usage, regular use of knickers, spermicide use, and the wearing of tight synthetic pants, which can foster conditions that bacteria adore.

Cleaning Your Vagina

According to Daoud Yilmaz, women should never attempt to clean their vagina. She advises women to seek medical assistance if they notice anything out of the ordinary, including an odd odour, fresh discharge, pain, abnormal bleeding, or itching.

"I would advise using only lukewarm water to wipe the vulva (the external portion of the female genitalia). When menstruating, working exercise, or having sex, for example, more than just water may be required, she adds.
According to Daoud Yilmaz, in such circumstances, it is okay to apply a mild, undyed, basic soap without any fragrance topically on an as-needed basis. However, those with sensitive skin may find this to be too harsh.