You Should Not Be Using a Feminine Wash, According to Health Experts
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
[table-of-contents] stripped
In the United States, almost one in five women between the ages of 15 and 44 use a feminine wash, according to the Office of Women's Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some women want to clean up after sex, or following their period, or they say they douche to feel fresh. But not one of them needs it.
Even though the feminine hygiene aisle of your local grocery store or pharmacy is stocked with sprays, wipes and foams marketed to be used in your vagina, the inside of your body doesn’t ever require washing. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ.
“People get lulled into the idea that a certain product is intended for vagina use and think 'okay, that’s what it’s made for so it must be safe,' and that’s absolutely not the case,” says Lauren Streicher, M.D., a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, host of Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information Podcast and author of Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina.
What is a feminine wash?
The word “douche” is French for “shower” or “wash.” It’s a method of rinsing out the vagina using a solution. “Douche is a premade cleaning mixture that comes in a plastic bottle that can be squirted high up into the vagina,” says Sherry Ross, M.D., an ob/gyn, women’s sexual health expert and author of she-ology.
The pre-mixed washes typically contain a blend of water and vinegar, baking soda or iodine, and sometimes contain an antibacterial ingredient, too. Some people also make their own douche, often containing water and apple cider vinegar.
Is it safe to use one?
Not only is douching not helpful, but it can also be quite harmful. “The active cleaning ingredients used in most douches can upset the healthy vaginal discharge and pH balance,” says Dr. Ross. This can leave the vagina vulnerable to viruses, yeast and an overgrowth of bacteria, which can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV).
In fact, according to the Office on Women’s Health, those who douche often (once a week) are five times more likely to develop BV. And if you already have a vaginal infection, using a vaginal wash can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes, which can lead to a range of other problems.
While some people might see a feminine wash as a fix for a strong vaginal odor, unpleasant discharge, itching, pain or burning, these are possible signs of infection that can’t be rinsed away. See your health practitioner if you have vaginal discharge that smells bad, is yellowish-green, thick and white, or if you have any kind of discomfort when urinating, during sex, or at any other time.
Side effects of using feminine washes
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women not douche because research shows that women who do are at an increased risk of an infection of the reproductive organs called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause long-term pain in the pelvic region, increase the chances of ectopic pregnancy, and contribute to infertility.
Feminine washes may also increase the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). While UTIs are usually caused by fecal bacteria entering the urethra, douching can irritate the lining of the urethra, putting you at higher risk of infection. Studies also link douching with an increased risk of cervical cancer and pregnancy complications.
It’s also important to point out that while feminine washes are sometimes used after sex, they do not reduce your exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STI) or your chance of getting pregnant. In fact, douching can up your risk of contracting an STI.
How to clean your vulva
Squirting a cleansing solution up into your vagina is different from gently washing the vulvar area on the outside. (The vulva is the area outside your vagina, including the clitoris, clitoral hood, labia and urethra.) While the vagina should never be cleaned, the vulva should be washed whenever you’re sudsing up the rest of your body in the bath or shower.
It’s good hygiene to gently wash your vulvar area from front to back, getting in between the skin folds, using your hand or a soft cloth. Warm water is sufficient to clean the area, but you can use a cleanser if you wish.
Dr. Ross recommends avoiding feminine wipes, sprays or cleansers that are perfumed or list antibacterial properties, though. “Using the wrong type of soap can cause irritation, dryness and bad odor,” she says.
Bottom line: Your vagina isn’t supposed to smell like vanilla or a field of flowers, and you don’t need to mask your natural scent with douching. “The idea that your normal odor is something that needs to be covered up is problematic," says Dr. Streicher. "And that is not the case.”
You Might Also Like
