In this Article

• What is douching?
• Why do women douche?
• How common is douching?
• Is douching safe?
• What are the dangers linked to douching?
• Should I douche to clean inside my vagina?
• What is the best way to clean my vagina?
• My vagina has a terrible odor, can douching help?
• Should I douche to get rid of vaginal discharge, pain, itching, or burning?
• Can douching after sex prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
• Can douching after sex stop me from getting pregnant?
• Can douching hurt my chances of having a healthy pregnancy?
• Vaginal Douche (Douching) Index

Should I douche to clean inside my vagina?

No. Doctors and the ACOG suggest women avoid douching completely. Most experts believe that douching increases a woman's chances of infection. The only time a woman should douche is when her doctor recommends it.

What is the best way to clean my vagina?

Most doctors say that it is best to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina cleans itself naturally by producing mucous. Women do not need to douche to wash away blood, semen, or vaginal discharge. The vagina gets rid of it alone. Also, it is important to note that even healthy, clean vaginas may have a mild odor.

Regular washing with warm water and mild soap during baths and showers will keep the outside of the vagina clean and healthy. Doctors suggest women avoid scented tampons, pad, powders, and sprays. These products may increase a woman's chances of getting vaginal infections.

My vagina has a terrible odor, can douching help?

No. Douching will only cover up the smell. It will not make it go away. If your vagina has a bad odor, you should call your doctor right away. It could be a sign of a bacterial infection, urinary tract infection, STD or a more serious problem.

Should I douche to get rid of vaginal discharge, pain, itching, or burning?

No. Douching may even make these problems worse. It is very important to call your doctor right away if you have:

• vaginal discharge with a bad smell
• thick, white or yellowish-green discharge with or without a smell
• burning, redness, and swelling of the vagina or the area around it
• pain when urinating or
• discomfort during sex

These may be signs of a bacterial infection, yeast infection, urinary tract infection, or STD. Do not douche before seeing your doctor. This can make it hard for the doctor to figure out what is wrong.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Natural Methods of Birth Control - Natural methods of birth control are non-mechanical and non-hormonal. They are also considered fertility awareness methods and there are a variety of choices for natural birth control.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI In Adults) - Learn about urinary tract infection causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in men and women. Antibiotics may be used to treat recurrent bladder infections.
• LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) - Learn about Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), a procedure done to remove abnormal tissues of the cervix. LEEP is used to treat mild to moderate dysplasia.

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