Buzz
While douching was once a common practice, its popularity has declined in recent years. Research indicates that douching can lead to bacterial infections and pregnancy-related issues, making it an imperfect method of cleaning. However, if your doctor has recommended douching, follow the steps below to do so safely and effectively.
Procedures
Determining When to Douche
Understand that your body naturally cleanses vaginal discharge, blood, and semen. Many women douche to cleanse after menstruation, clear vaginal discharge, or remove semen post-sex. However, the human body is designed to perform these functions independently. The vagina maintains self-cleaning mechanisms without the need for external soaps or rinses, ensuring its natural health and functionality.
Consider douching only under medical advice. Recent research has highlighted the potential harm of douching, disrupting the natural self-cleaning mechanisms of the vagina. This practice may increase the risk of infections like yeast infections. Consult your doctor before deciding to douche and follow their guidance.
Avoid douching for itchiness or burning. Some women may feel the need to douche to relieve itching or burning sensations near or inside the vagina, which are often signs of an infection. Douching masks these symptoms without addressing the underlying cause. Consult your doctor to address these symptoms effectively.
Avoid douching for strong odors. If you notice a strong odor outside of your menstrual cycle, it may indicate an infection. Instead of attempting to wash away the odor through douching, seek advice from your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Avoid douching for STD/STI or pregnancy prevention. Douching is not a substitute for condoms or other contraceptives and does not prevent STDs/STIs or pregnancy. Use appropriate protection methods and consult your doctor for advice on safe sexual practices.
Practice external vaginal hygiene without douching. Instead of douching, maintain external vaginal hygiene by washing with mild soap and warm water during showers or baths. Allow the vagina to naturally clean itself internally.
Proper Douching Techniques
Select the right douching product. Evaluate the douching products available at your local drugstore and choose one without scents or dyes to avoid potential infections. Alternatively, you can prepare a homemade douching solution using vinegar and purchase a squeeze bottle for application.
Prepare the douching solution. Follow the instructions on the store-bought kit to prepare the douching solution, typically using a quart of water. For a homemade solution, mix one part vinegar with three parts water, ensuring a minimum of two cups of the mixture.
Load the solution into the squeeze bottle or douche pouch. Utilize the instructions provided with the product or pour the solution directly into the squeeze bottle. If the entire solution doesn't fit initially, fill it as much as possible and add the remaining solution later.
Perform douching in the shower or bathtub. While douching isn't overly messy, it's best done in the shower or bathtub to prevent any spills. This also allows for easy cleanup afterward.
Flush the vaginal cavity using the squeeze bottle. Insert the nozzle of the squeeze bottle or douche pouch into the vagina and squeeze gently to release the solution. Continue flushing the inside of the vagina until all the solution is used up.
Cleanse the outer area of the vagina. Use mild soap and warm water to cleanse the external part of the vagina, as you would during your regular shower or bath routine. The goal is to remove any residual douching solution from the exterior of the vagina, although the solution is generally harmless on other skin areas.
Complete the cleanup process. Address any additional cleaning tasks you feel necessary after douching. Clean the douche pouch/squeeze bottle and store it for future use. Also, tidy up any spills or mess caused during the preparation of your douching solution.
How Do You Clean Your Vagina?
Helpful Advice
-
No need to try to retain the solution. Using a full quart ensures sufficient flow for thorough vaginal rinsing.
-
If using a douche pouch with a plastic tip, avoid inserting it too deeply or causing discomfort. You should only feel warm water flowing.
-
Use the solution once while it's fresh and discard any leftovers.
The insights shared in this section stem from the experiences of Mytour readers like yourself. If you have valuable tips to contribute to Mytour, please share them below.
- Avoid using regular body soap for vaginal cleaning as it can irritate and disrupt beneficial bacteria. External areas around the vagina can be cleaned with soap.
- If using an antibacterial douche, supplement with probiotics and incorporate yogurt into your diet to maintain a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the vagina.
Precautions
- If the prepared solution causes burning upon use, discontinue immediately and rinse with pure water.
- Consult your doctor if you experience pain, burning, itching, or spotting post-douching.
- If you suspect an infection, seek prompt medical attention. Do not attempt to treat it solely with douching.
