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Vaginal douching is intravaginal cleansing with a liquid solution. Many women who douche, do it for hygienic purposes.

The reason given is to clean the vagina after sex or menstruation, to reduce the itching or clear odour. Some women also believe that douching after sex prevents pregnancy and the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Douching products could range from water, benzoic acid, citric acid to vinegar and so on. Douching has been associated with many adverse effects but many women still practice it.

What they do not know is that douching may be a vehicle for the transport of pathogen up the abdominal cavity, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes.

The risks of douching outweigh the benefits. Is douching dangerous?

1. The vagina naturally will have its own odour, and it has a way of cleaning itself. Douching can upset the vaginal flora, creating a favourable environment for more bacterial growth.

This can lead to Bacterial Vaginosis which in turn increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections. This imbalance also causes an overgrowth of Candida albicans leading to symptoms of what most women call ‘toilet infection’.

2. Pathogens that may have travelled up the reproductive system is the cause of pelvic inflammatory disease which is a major cause of infertility

3. The more a woman douches, the greater the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Douching may create difficulty in getting pregnant and also complications in pregnancy.

4. Many women with the pelvic inflammatory disease have HPV ( human papillomavirus) which is a risk factor for cervical cancer. The complications created from douching cannot be overemphasized.

Douching can mask existing problems, because of the immediate relief you might feel but the complications are greater. A strong odour or an unusual symptom in your vagina should be reported to your doctor.

Again the vagina is self-cleansing. Washing should be with only water, a little step further with a mild soap. Do not begin to scrub like you are washing your foot.

Take home

Allow your vagina to breathe, maintain proper hygiene and avoid excess moisture in your vagina area. What’s your take on this?