Most women wonder if they need to douche to clean the inside of their vagina. The answer is no. In fact, douching can actually cause more harm than good.
Douching can irritate and inflame the vaginal tissue, creating a breeding ground for STD’s, and even HIV. The balance of bacteria to yeast in the vagina can become disrupted by douching, causing a woman to have more yeast infections in addition to other vaginal infections and vaginal disorders, such as vaginal dryness.
If you already have a vaginal infection and douche, you may be compounding the problem. Douching can actually push the germs further into your cervix and uterus, causing PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) or other serious infections to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
It is important to know that the vagina has normal, healthy secretions. During you cycle, you will have more or less discharge, with varying scents. These do not have to be, and should not be, washed away by douching. If you have discharge that changes in color to a yellowish, brownish or greenish color or if the texture is foamy or cottage cheese, you probably have an infection. If, however, your discharge looks normal but you experience a fishy, yeasty or bad odor, this could be a sign of an infection as well.
This would be a time to seek medical attention and forgo using a douche. While some doctors may prescribe douches for a specific problem, most will prescribe an antibiotic or suppository remedy. Once an infection is cleared up and proper balance restored, the vagina actually cleans itself.
The secretions and discharge wash away any little intruders. Like a self cleaning oven, you don’t have to worry about using anything to wash it. It is one of the few things that is self sufficient and can actually take care of itself. Maybe that’s why our vaginas picked up the moniker of “kitty” or the more vulgar terms, “pussy.” Like a cat that cleans itself and requires little maintenance, our kitties just like that. A nice shower a day, with a mild soap, maybe an additional shower after exercise or sex, annual gynecological exams and taking a peek yourself one a regular basis. . .and you’ll will be purring for a lifetime! Say no to douchebags.
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