[Guest]

I have heard that douching is actually bad for you. But I also know several women who do it and I wonder why they advertise it on tv if it's bad for you. So, which side of the story is true? I would like to be able to do it, but not if it will cause problems.

[patricias213]

Many of us have heard that women need to douche, that douching is necessary to keep ourselves clean and smelling nice. But douching disrupts our body's natural protective cleansing system and rinses away the bacteria and yeast that are always present in our vaginas. The resulting irritation can make it easier for us to get STDs, bacterial and yeast infections, and HIV infection. Women with HIV are already at greater risk for gyne problems; douching can complicate the vaginal infections common to women living with HIV/AIDS, possibly leading to serious health problems or an increase in viral load. Douching can also rinse away the vaginal secretions that can give us information about our overall health, especially where our hormonal cycles are concerned. For women who have HIV, this can mean losing out on clues which may be helpful in determining how HIV disease and/or medications are affecting there immune system.
The dangers of douching are threefold. First of all, douching can cause irritation and inflammation of vaginal tissues, which make it easier for STDs and HIV to set up shop in our bodies. Secondly, douching can actually cause an infection by disrupting the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina. Infections lead to an immune response, which for women with HIV could in turn lead to increased viral replication. Women who have irregular cycles because of hormonal changes or medications may also find that they experience more vaginal dryness, which can also lead to irritation, tears, and an increased risk of STDs, HIV, or vaginal infection. Douching on top of vaginal dryness is doubly dangerous for women of all ages and HIV status! So if your vagina feels dry or intercourse is uncomfortable, throw douches out the window and pile on the water-based lubricants -- they help keep you safer, and they're more fun!
Thirdly, douching can complicate an existing infection, perhaps even to the point of serious health risk. If you notice an unusual vaginal discharge, do NOT douche! The discharge may be a sign that your vagina is trying to re-balance itself, and washing it away could slow down your body's healing process. If the discharge is caused by an infection, douching could push the germs causing the infection up into the cervix or uterus, increasing the chance of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries). Women with immune systems weakened by HIV/AIDS are at special risk for developing PID, which may be more difficult to treat and more likely to cause long-term damage in HIV positive women than in women without HIV. If you think you might have a vaginal infection especially if you have low abdominal pain, pain with intercourse, or abdominal pain with fever and chills -- go to a doctor or clinic to have your symptoms properly diagnosed and treated.

[AFemaleProdigy]

I agree 100% with Patricias213!