Dear BeingGirl Experts,

What is douching? I saw it on your site, and I have no idea what it means. Could you tell me?

Sara

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Dear Sara,

Douching is the rinsing of the vagina by squirting water or other solutions containing vinegar, baking soda, or commercial douching solutions into it.

Because routine douching changes the delicate chemical balance in the vagina, it can make a woman more susceptible to bacterial infections or introduce new bacteria into the vagina and cervix. It also can spread existing vaginal infections to the Fallopian tubes. Women who douche have a higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.

It is my opinion that you do not need to douche unless it is doctor-prescribed. The normal vaginal discharge is nature's own self-cleansing mechanism. I suggest that you do NOT douche unless it is under a doctor's direction.

BeingGirl Experts