In French, the term Douche Translates to “washing with water” or to “absorb,” and attributes to the practice of washing or rinsing out the vaginal area with water or some other solution.
Douche sets are accessible at majority drug or grocery stores, and are sold in containers that grant the user to spray the solution inside of the vagina through a hose or nozzle. Douche solutions most often consist of a water-based that can also include vinegar, baking soda, iodine, and some type of perfume or fragrance of some sort.
Scientists conclude that 15-45% of American women between the ages of 16 and 45 douche on a daily basis. About half of these women douche weekly.
But is douching valuable for them? Absolutely not! Many experts claim that douching has no purpose and can create even more complications for women.
The vagina is an organ that cleans itself. The walls of the vagina and the cervix constitute a tiny amount of mucous that transfers menstrual blood, matured cells, and other things out of the vagina. Specialized bacteria in the vagina also assist to ward off infections caused by other organisms normally not found in the vagina. The typical acidic status of the vagina is also crucial for reducing the risk of infections. The healthy vagina serve as a polished, fragile system that douching can easily throw out of balance.
Douching gets rid of the good bacteria in the vagina whose job is to fight off vaginal infections. Up till the mid-20th century, it was commonly used for medical treatment before realizing it was causing more harm than good.
Absurdly, though most women still thinks that douching will “clean out” the vagina, douching in reality increases the risk of bacterial colonies and related vaginal infections. Furthermore, douching can also account for pre-existing vaginal infections to journey deeper into the woman’s reproductive system, pushing the infection straight into the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. New studies have even found that the chances of a woman contracting an STD are increased with douching.
So, why are women still douching? Research concludes that it may be due to a number of tales that are still out there. These tales include:
Remember that the vagina has built-in abilities to clean itself out. Experts agree that douching is worthless and in many cases, may even cause an adverse reaction.