We often come across products for intimate wash (vaginal wash) emphasizing on the importance of vaginal hygiene and maintaining a healthy vaginal pH. But is vaginal douching or vaginal washing really an absolute necessity as much as it is commercially endorsed? Let us find out…

The statements, ‘use intimate washes regularly’ or ‘vaginal douching is a healthy practice’ are popular myths that many women believe. The fact is gynecologists do not recommend vaginal douching (frequent or otherwise).

Before we proceed on why vaginal douching is not recommended, it is important to understand what is vaginal douching. ‘Douching’ means ‘washing’ or ‘soaking’. So vaginal douching means washing the vagina with water, soap, or other mixtures of fluids. Most of the commercially available vaginal washes are pre packaged mixes of water with baking soda, vinegar, or iodine available in a bag or a bottle. The liquid mix is squirted up your vagina to clean or wash the vagina. The squirted liquid then comes back out through the same route. 

What happens when you ‘douche’  your vagina?

A woman’s intimate parts (including the vagina) harbor large varieties of commensals (healthy bacteria living in the intimate parts) that help maintain the natural acidity and pH. The natural acidity in the intimate areas is necessary to protect the vagina from both external and internal irritation, and infections. Douching washes away these healthy commensals and also alter the pH of an otherwise healthy vagina.

Why do doctors not recommend vaginal douching?

As discussed above, since vaginal douching alters the natural acidic environment of your vagina, it may lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, putting you at a risk of several vaginal infections and other health conditions including:

  • Vaginal irritation, itching, and dryness
  • Bacterial vaginosis (yeast infection of the vagina)
  • Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
  • Complications in pregnancy

Moreover, douching action can also push an existing vaginal infection further up into the uterus, uterine tubes, and the ovaries resulting in a serious medical condition called pelvic inflammatory disease.

How to clean your vagina?

Your vagina has a self-cleansing capacity through its secretions called the ‘mucus’. The mucus helps in elimination of blood, vaginal discharge, and semen. It also helps to maintain a healthy acidic environment and pH in your vagina. Cleaning your vagina with regular clean water during a bath or shower is sufficient.

Take Home Message: If the question is ‘to douche or not’ it is better to vouch for a ‘no douche’ and trust the self-cleansing capacity of your vagina.

Disclaimer: The content (video/text) presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.