Vaginal Douching: Health Risks Associated with Repeat Gynecological Hygiene

Gynecological health and hygiene are a crucial part of maintaining longevity in women. For many, annual well-woman examinations are often the limit to the practice of gynecological health with medical treatment and hygiene only considered when a complication of health arises.

For some women, however, there is a need to practice extensive gynecological hygiene, even on a daily basis. Douching, for example, is a common practice among many women. While there is much debate over the health, and risks, associated with vaginal douching, women of all ages engage in this hygienic practice on a frequent basis.

When considering your own gynecological health, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits associated with vaginal douching. For some women, the need to douche is unnecessary as it is felt the natural bacterial flora should suffice in managing health. For other women, douching provides a sense of freshness and cleanliness and, in many cases, can become a daily practice. Your decision to practice douching is a personal one that should be discussed with your healthcare professional.

Some gynecologists are now discouraging douching as it may promote or exacerbate pre-existing complications. In women with exposure to a sexually transmitted disease, women who are pregnant and women who may suffer from PID, pelvic inflammatory disease, the use of douching may not be medically appropriate.

With the advice of your gynecologist, the decision to use douching should be made on a specific need or case-by-case basis. That is to say, in many cases, women do not need to engage in routine and regular douching practices unless your gynecologist makes this as high recommendation.

Of interesting note is the increased incidence with which women douche following the engagement of sexual activity that may have been violent or forceful. While the male partner may force douching as part of the sex act, some women simply choose to use vaginal douching as a way to "cleanse" themselves of the violent sexual event that just occurred against her.