But they also noted that most of the existing research surrounding antiseptic douching is flawed. But this could change if more high-quality studies are done. Douching, especially antiseptic douching, can throw the vaginal microbiome into chaos.
Antiseptics are like broad-spectrum antibiotics since they kill both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria in your vagina serves a purpose, including helping to protect you from sexually transmitted infections STIs and yeast infections.
Douching can also throw off the natural acidity that protects your vagina against infection. Using a reusable douche can introduce mold and other fungus into the vagina. If you already have BV, douching of any kind can cause the infection to spread. You may inadvertently flush bacteria up into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease , which can cause chronic pain and infertility.
Additionally, peroxide douching can lead to irritation of the vagina and vulva. In one study on hydrogen peroxide douching, more than 30 percent of participants reported vaginal irritation. It also increases your risk for pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight. Treatment for BV involves a course of antibiotics. Douching with hydrogen peroxide can cause vaginal irritation, and douching in general while you have BV can spread the infection further up your urinary tract.
Reaffirmed Frequently asked questions. Gynecologic problems FAQ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, Sobel JD. Bacterial vaginosis: Treatment. Accessed May 24, Bacterial vaginosis. Flagyl prescribing information. Douching can cause side effects like burning and irritation, as well as several complications.
Find out safe ways to get rid of vaginal odor. To perform a vaginal douche, a mixture of water and other ingredients is placed in a bottle or bag. The mixture is then sprayed or squirted upward into the vagina.
The fluids then wash out of the vagina. Your vagina is designed to naturally maintain a healthy pH balance. If you remove or greatly reduce the number of healthy bacteria in your vagina, problematic bacteria may flourish. That can lead to infections, irritations, and more serious complications.
You could end up dealing with complications that can be quite severe. These include:. Women who douche regularly are more likely to experience early childbirth, miscarriage, and other pregnancy complications. Using a douche can also lead to an ectopic pregnancy, and women who use douches may have a difficult time getting pregnant. A healthy balance of bacteria prevents vaginal yeast from overgrowing. Eliminating the natural balance may let yeast flourish. This can lead to a yeast infection. Some women use douches hoping that washing the vagina will eliminate a vaginal infection.
Douching may make an infection worse. Douching while you have a vaginal infection may also spread the infection to other parts of your reproductive system. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women not douche, citing research indicating that women who do are at increased risk of PID pelvic inflammatory disease.
According to the U. In the United States, almost one in five women 15 to 44 years old douche. Doctors recommend that you do not douche.
Douching can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant. Douching is also linked to vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections STIs. The National Institutes of Health similarly discourages the use of vaginal douching, warning women that:. Douching has been associated with many adverse outcomes including pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, low birth weight, preterm birth, human immunodeficiency virus transmission, sexually transmitted diseases, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, and infertility.
Despite these and many other recommendations to abstain from douching, it's estimated that 20 to 40 percent of women aged 15 to 44 douche. Nearly half of these women douche every week. Continue reading this article to find out why.
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