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Douches and Douche Syringes

Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina (birth canal) with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle and can be squirted into the vagina through a tube or nozzle. The liquid is usually squirted into the body using an apparatus known as a douche bag.

Often douching is used by women as a method of personal hygiene. A variety of douches are typically available for purchase over the counter for this purpose. Douche may be applied to the vagina to clear away the remnants of a menstrual period. Some women use it as a means to control unwanted odors. After sexual intercourse, a douche may be used in an attempt to clean out semen in hopes of avoiding pregnancy, though this is not thought to be a very effective method of birth control and may in some cases force sperm further into the vagina.

Reasons why women choose to douche?
• Clean the vagina
• Rinse away blood after monthly periods
• Get rid of odor
• Avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Prevent pregnancy

Is douching safe?
In addition to being considered unnecessary, douching may have negative consequences as well. The vagina maintains a natural, healthy chemical and bacterial balance on its own; introducing a douche may upset that balance, leading to irritation and infections such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Infections may also travel up to the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries, leading to more serious issues like pelvic inflammatory disease. Due to its potential damaging effects in the reproductive system, douching may contribute to fertility problems and issues during pregnancy.

Douching can change the delicate balance of vaginal flora (organisms that live in the vagina) and acidity in a healthy vagina. One way to look at it is in a healthy vagina there are both good and bad bacteria. The balance of the good and bad bacteria help maintain an acidic environment. Any changes can cause an over growth of bad bacteria which can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Plus, if you have a vaginal infection, douching can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the uterus, fallopian (fuh-LOH-pee-uhn) tubes, and ovaries.

Douching may reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant during a particular month by approximately thirty percent. Regular vaginal douching changes the delicate chemical balance of the vagina and can make a woman more susceptible to infections. Douching can introduce new bacteria into the vagina which can spread up through the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Researchers have found that women who douche regularly experience more vaginal irritations and infections such as bacterial vaginosis, and an increased number of sexually transmitted diseases.

Furthermore, regular users of vaginal douches face a significantly higher risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) a chronic condition that can lead to infertility, or even death, if left untreated. Bacterial vaginosis and PID can have serious adverse affects on pregnancy including infections in the baby, labor problems, and preterm delivery.

For these reasons, douching is no longer recommended as a safe or healthy way to routinely clean the vagina. The only safe and healthy way to clean the vagina is to let the vagina clean itself. The delicate chemical balance of the vagina is very sensitive and easily disrupted by routine vaginal douching.

What is a vaginal douche?
A vaginal douche is a process of rinsing or cleaning the vagina by forcing water or another solution into the vaginal cavity to flush away vaginal discharge or other contents. Vaginal douches are available over-the-counter and are made in a variety of fragrances by several manufacturers; they are also available by prescription to treat certain conditions or prepare for certain procedures.

Why Do Some Women Use Vaginal Douches?
Women choose to use douches for a variety of reasons. Many of these are related to myths or misinformation about what vaginal douches can do. A woman may use a douche to:

• Rinse away any remaining menstrual blood at the end of the monthly period. This is not necessary since the body will clean itself.

• Avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases following sexual intercourse. However, douching is neither a contraceptive nor a preventatives measure against STDs or other infections. It can, in fact, increase the risk of developing an infection.

• Reduce vaginal odors. Women who have an unusual vaginal odor need to see their clinician for proper diagnosis since extreme odor may be sign of an infection or other serious problem, and using a douche may only complicate the condition.

• Feel "cleaner." The vagina actually cleans itself so vaginal douches are not necessary.

• Follow a doctor-prescribed treatment for chronic yeast infections or chronic bacterial infections. Douching for this purpose should be done only under your doctor's supervision using the special solution provided.

Choose the Best Douche System
When choosing a douche system, it is important that you select one that will not disrupt the natural environment and acidity of the body cavity being rinsed. Any douche system that consists of a solution that contains dyes and perfumes should be avoided. Ideally, you should use only water and a mild soap for cleansing to avoid irritation, bacterial vaginosis, and other health problems that have been linked to regular douching.

Although the term "douche" can be used to refer to the rising of any body cavity, it is usually used to refer specifically to vaginal douching. Medical professionals often advise against women regularly using a douche system because the acidic environment in the vagina has its own cleaning process. If you are experiencing irritation or a strong odor, that could mean something is wrong and you should contact your physician or gynecologist immediately for an exam and testing. Regularly using a douche system can actually increase the chance of infection.

The only time you should use a douche system is when a physician advises it. In those cases when a doctor recommends you douche, you should use a douche system that is free of dyes and perfumes. There are medical douches that are occasionally recommended by gynecologists to relieve bacteria-related irritation and itching. An antiseptic douche system that can successfully kill vaginal bacteria and may be suggested in some cases.

If you do douche, you should choose a system that is disposable or can be completely and thoroughly cleaned. The nozzle through which water flows from the douche system can also transmit bacteria or yeast into the vagina, causing an infection. Douching may also push any bacteria in the vagina up into the uterus or fallopian tubes, causing a more serious illness. You should also stick to water or a very mild soap solution; anything stronger could cause irritation and inflammation.

It is a common belief among health professionals that the vagina should be left to clean itself. The mucous the vagina makes naturally cleans and washes away vaginal discharge and semen. It is important to know that even clean and healthy vaginas may have a mild odor. You can keep the outer vaginal area healthy and clean by simply washing with mild soap and water. To avoid irritation, you should also avoid using other scented feminine hygiene products.

The Pros and Cons of Vaginal Douches
Advantages
1. Reduces Odor
Vaginal douching can eliminate odor for a short period of time. Many women douche at least once a week to help reduce odor. However, doctors claim that washing with soap and water is enough to keep the vaginal area clean. It’s also important to note that a slight odor is perfectly normal.

2. Allow your body to cleanse itself
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends allowing the body to cleanse itself naturally. The reproductive system produces significant amounts of mucus that serves a cleaning and protective function. The mucus cleans the system by transporting bacteria from the vaginal canal out of the body. Just like the mucus in your nose and sinus cavities, it acts as a protective barrier so that bacteria have a difficult time moving further into your system. When you douche, you remove the mucus, and open yourself up to infection.

3. Listen to your body
Your vagina is a well-balanced piece of tissue. Thousands of women never douche in their whole life and have never experienced any problems. If you have odor problems that are not temporary, your body is letting you know that you need to see a physician. Often, douching will exacerbate a problem by carrying bacteria into your uterus or fallopian tubes that should be taken care of with oral medications.

Disadvantages
1. Removes Good Bacteria
Something many women don’t realize is that vaginal douche can actually kill off the good bacteria in the vagina. The vagina contains both good and bad bacteria that balance each other out. Using a douche can disrupt the balance and cause infections. Once the infection is there, additional douching can push the infection into the fallopian tubes, ovaries and other parts of the reproductive system.

2. Gives a Sense of Feeling Clean
Many women use a vaginal douche because they claim it leaves them feeling fresh and clean. It might be used after a period to remove menstrual blood or after sexual intercourse. However, there are no studies that have actually proved that vaginal douching does clean the vagina.

3. Can Alter PAP Smear Results
It’s easy to feel uncomfortable about a strong odor coming from the vagina. However, douching before getting a PAP smear may alter the results. Instead of getting an accurate culture from your vagina, the douche may cause skewed results. Also, if you’re experiencing a strong odor, the gynecologist needs to know about it. As strange as it may seem, the odor will allow her to more accurately diagnose any vaginal infections or diseases you may have.

4. May Lead to Medical Problems
Last, but not least, vaginal douche can lead to medical problems. Not only can it push infections higher into the reproductive system, but women that use douche are more likely to get cervical cancer. It can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease and may cause ectopic pregnancies.

Douches and Douche Syringes

Douches and Douche Syringes

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