What Is A Douche? Uses, Safety, And Alternatives

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat is a douche?

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Bethany Cadman — Updated on July 21, 2023

Why are douches used?
Is douching safe?
Risks
Is douching necessary?
Alternatives
Preventing vaginal odor

A douche is a device that contains water. Some people mix other fluids with the water. Douching involves flushing out or cleansing a cavity in the body, either for medical or hygiene reasons.

Many women use a douche to try to get rid of vaginal odor and believe that doing so helps to keep the vagina clean.

While as many as 1 in 5 women between 15 and 44 years old are thought to practice douching regularly, it can have unpleasant and even dangerous consequences.

Fast facts on douches and douching:

Douching is used to flush out, rinse, or clean any body cavity.
There are alternative and safer ways to ensure the vagina stays healthy and clean.
Douching can mask underlying health problems and make them worse.

Why are douches used?

What is a douche br /Image credit: Shattonbury~commonswiki, 2004/br A douche is filled with water and squirted into the vagina.Image credit: Shattonbury~commonswiki, 2004

The primary use of douches is by women to wash the vagina.

Vaginal douching involves filling a bottle or bag with water and squirting this upward into the vagina.

Women sometimes choose to mix the water with other fluids, such as vinegar, or to buy douching products that may contain ingredients, such as baking soda, iodine, antiseptics, or fragrance.

Women state that they use a douche for the following reasons:

to get rid of unpleasant odors in the vagina
to prevent pregnancy
to wash away bodily fluids, such as menstrual blood or semen
to reduce the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection

Despite this, douching has not been shown to achieve any of these aims.

Is douching safe?

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology state that women should not use douches.

The vaginal flora is the bacteria in the vagina. This keeps the vagina healthy and prevents infection. A woman’s vagina is ‘self-cleaning’ and can maintain the correct pH balance without interference.

Douching can remove good bacteria from the vagina. Using a douche can change its pH balance, allow bad bacteria to multiply, and infections, irritations, raw skin, and more severe complications to occur.

Risks of douching

Douching can cause more harm than good. The potential for complications, some of which may be severe, is dependent on the reasons a woman decides to douche in the first place.

Pregnancy

womans legs in the shower using There are some risks with douching including infections and cervicitis.

Douching is not a valid form of contraception. However, using a douche can make it more difficult for a woman who is trying to conceive.

Also, women who douche on a regular basis may have a more complicated pregnancy.

Pregnant women may experience:

early childbirth
increased likelihood of miscarriage
ectopic pregnancy

Infections

There is a common misconception that douching can help prevent vaginal infections or get rid of them. However, the opposite is true.

Douching regularly can increase a woman’s chances of developing a vaginal infection. Disrupting the vagina’s natural pH balance can result in yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

In fact, women who douche are five times more likely to develop vaginosis than those who do not.

Using a douche when an infection is already present is also more likely to make it worse and spread to other parts of the reproductive system.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection. It affects the reproductive organs and can reduce a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.

Women who douche regularly increase their risk of PID by 73 percent.

Cervicitis

Cervicitis occurs when the cervix becomes irritated or inflamed, and it can cause itching, pain, and vaginal discharge. It is another condition that is usually contracted via a sexually transmitted infection. However, douching also increases the risk.

While a natural vaginal odor and some vaginal discharge are both perfectly healthy, it is essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a more serious problem.

Signs to look out for include:

vaginal discharge that has a strong smell
vaginal discharge that is white, yellow, or green
vaginal odor that does not go away after a few days
pain or a feeling of discomfort during intercourse
pain when urinating
redness or swelling or a burning or itching sensation in or around the vagina

If a woman notices any of the above, it is advisable to seek advice from a doctor.

Is douching necessary?

A woman’s vagina is self-cleaning and will get rid of semen, menstrual blood, and other bodily fluids on its own. Cleaning with a douche or any hash or disruptive cleaning method is likely to cause damage to the vagina, which in some cases, could be severe.

A woman who is worried about vaginal odor or abnormal discharge should contact her doctor to discuss the issue. Using a douche to eliminate these concerns could mask underlying issues and may lead to more severe complications if left untreated.

Alternatives to douching

Keeping the vagina clean is simple. The easiest way is by washing with water when bathing or showering. A non-fragranced wash can be used, or one designed for vaginal use that will not upset the natural pH balance of the vagina.

When washing, a person should gently hold the outer folds of the vagina back and rinse or splash with water.

Do not scrub the area and avoid getting soap or washes inside the vagina. If using a wash, the individual should make sure to rinse thoroughly afterward and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Preventing vaginal odor

Woman drying after showering Safely reducing vaginal odor may involve drying the vagina and surrounding area carefully.

While the vagina has a natural odor, for some women the odor seems unpleasant or embarrassing.

Every woman’s vaginal odor is different, and activities such as sex and exercise can change how the vagina smells.

There are ways to reduce vaginal odor safely. These are:

Hygiene: Keeping the vagina clean by regularly washing with water or soap that does not contain harsh chemicals.
Clothing: This should be made of breathable materials, including cotton underwear, and not be worn too tight. A person should avoid fabrics, such as satin, silk, and polyester that restrict airflow and may encourage bacteria to grow.
Drying: It is important to dry the vagina and surrounding area carefully and thoroughly to avoid excess moisture, which can lead to infection and odor. If using deodorizing products, these must not be used on the inside of the vagina
Avoiding harsh cleansers: Not using harsh cleansers, such as douches, in the vagina can help prevent odor from occurring over the long-term.

By following the above advice, the pH balance and good bacteria in the vagina should remain undisturbed, and infections and odors are less likely to occur.

Women's Health / Gynecology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Chandra, A., Martinez, G. M., Mosher, W. D., Abma, J. C., & Jones, J. (2005, December). Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of U.S. women: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 23(25)http://cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_025.pdf
Douching. (2017, April 18)http://womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching
Douching [Fact sheet]. (2015, January 19)http://womenshealth.gov/files/documents/fact-sheet-douching.pdf
Harding, M. (2017, October 18). Common problems of the cervixhttps://patient.info/health/common-problems-of-the-cervix
Keeping your vagina clean and healthy. (2015, December 1)https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/vagina-health/Pages/keep-vagina-clean.aspx
Markham, C. M., Tortolero, S. R., Addy, R. C., Baumler, E. R., McKirahan, N. K., Escobar-Chaves, S. L., … Peskin, M. F. (2007, November). Factors associated with frequent vaginal douching among alternative school youth [Abstract]. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(5), 509512http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(07)00242-X/abstract
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Ott, M. A., Ofner, S., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2009, May). ORIGINAL RESEARCH–WOMEN'S SEXUAL HEALTH: Beyond douching: Use of feminine hygiene products and STI risk among young women [Abstract]. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(5), 13351340http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01152.x/full
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - CDC fact sheet [Fact sheet]. (2017, July 10)http://www.cdc.gov/std/pid/stdfact-pid.htm
Ross, E. (2015, March 10). Feminine odor problems? What every woman needs to knowhttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/03/feminine-odor-problems-what-you-should-know-about-douching/
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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Bethany Cadman — Updated on July 21, 2023

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