What To Do Instead Of Douching

Douching refers to the act of washing one’s vagina with water. It is a practice that some women perform with the hope of cleaning the body thoroughly and preventing odor. However, this is wrong.

Image: Vagina Douching

In most cases, vinegar is combined with the water, while some premade douche treatments contain baking soda or iodine. Antiseptics and perfumes are also included in a few.

Multiple problems, including burning and discomfort, are possible adverse effects of douching. If you’re trying to hide a problem, such as an unusual odor, these complexities can make it much more so.

There are douching alternatives that you can try to ensure good health even during pregnancy. Here’s what to do instead of douching.

Keep your body clean

Antibiotics, changes in food, smoking, and stress all have the potential to disrupt the delicate balance of the flora in the vagina. You can prevent vaginal odor by maintaining a healthy immune system across your entire body.

Wear clean clothing

Comfortable clothing should include cotton underwear and be loose enough to allow air to flow freely. Clothing made of textiles that constrict airflow and promote the growth of bacteria should be avoided. Examples of these are satin, silk, and polyester.

Dry the body part

In order to avoid infection and odor, it is vital to properly dry the vagina and the surrounding area after a sex session. Deodorizing products should never be used in the vaginal area.

Avoid harsh cleansers

Avoid using abrasive cleansers like douches in your genital area! They can cause discomfort and infections by disrupting the pH balance in your vagina. You can try a pH-balanced cleanser like Love Wellness pH Balancing Cleanser.

Love Wellness pH Balancing Cleanser.

Read: Choosing Vaginal Birth After a Previous 4th Degree Tear

What is the best way to clean your vagina?

To clean your vagina, all you need to do is take a simple bath or shower. Even if you’re not going to use soap, make sure you’re using something that’s mild and unscented. The skin of your genitals is quite delicate and can be irritated by chemicals and fragrances.

•       You can spread out your vaginal folds by holding back the outer skin with your first two fingers in a V shape.
•       Warm water can be used to gently squirt the affected region a few times. Use a light soap to clean it if desired. Soap shouldn’t be gotten inside your vagina, so don’t scrub it too hard.
•       Rinse the area thoroughly with water to eliminate all soap residue.
•       Pat the affected area dry with a clean towel.

Watch: Dr Simi Adedeji explain How to Wash Your Vagina & Vulva, the dos and don’t.

What are the dangers of douching?

Infection

In certain women, douching can cause an illness to spread or even lead to the development of an infection, as stated above. Douching has the potential to raise one’s risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis as well as other sexually transmitted illnesses. Having a droopy stomach might also cause vaginal discomfort. 

Read: Vaginal Boil During Pregnancy

Douching can affect the physiological pH of the vagina by disrupting the balance of microorganisms in the vagina. Vaginal infections, such as yeast infections, can be exacerbated by changes in the microorganisms that ordinarily populate the vagina. If an infection is already existing in the vagina, dilating the cervix might transfer the bacteria higher up the reproductive canal.

It is common for women to claim that douches provide health benefits, including cleaning the vagina, washing away blood after menstruation, and averting pregnancy or illnesses.

Douching does not “clean” the vagina, contrary to popular perception. Douching doesn’t shield you from getting pregnant or from contracting any sexually transmitted diseases either (STDs).

Difficulty to get pregnant

It is more difficult for women who douche more than once a week to get pregnant compared to those who don’t douche. As many as 76% of ectopic pregnancies can be attributed to distorting the uterus. Embryos are implanted outside of the uterus in ectopic pregnancies Ectopic pregnancies are more likely when a woman engages in excessive douching.