Some research suggests that even if a woman who douches regularly doesn't have PID, she will still take longer to conceive than women who don't. Douching at least once a week has also been linked to a possible increased chance of developing certain types of cancer — including cervical cancer and ovarian cancer.
So what is the best way to clean your vagina besides douching? The answer is actually to do nothing. Your vagina, like a self-cleaning oven, is meant to clean itself. The more you interfere with its process by douching or using strong soaps or soaps with fragrance, the more likely you are to experience irritation.
Simply rinse with warm tap water and a washcloth, if necessary. These are not normal processes of your vagina, but are signs that you have some type of infection. On the contrary, douching doesn't prevent any of these women's health problems — rather, it can cause serious health complications. The National Institutes of Health similarly discourages the use of vaginal douching, warning women that: Douching has been associated with many adverse outcomes including pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, low birth weight, preterm birth, human immunodeficiency virus transmission, sexually transmitted diseases, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, and infertility.
What is Douching? The word "douche" means to wash or soak. Douching is washing or cleaning out the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine.
The mixtures usually come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. The water mixture then comes back out through your vagina. Douching is different from washing the outside of your vagina during a bath or shower.
Rinsing the outside of your vagina with warm water will not harm your vagina. But, douching can lead to many different health problems. More African-American and Hispanic women douche than white women. Studies have not found any health benefit to douching. But, studies have found that douching is linked to many health problems. Most doctors recommend that women do not douche. Douching can change the necessary balance of vaginal flora bacteria that live in the vagina and natural acidity in a healthy vagina.
A healthy vagina has good and harmful bacteria. The balance of bacteria helps maintain an acidic environment. The acidic environment protects the vagina from infections or irritation. Douching can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
If you already have a vaginal infection, douching can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the uterus , fallopian tubes , and ovaries. This can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease , a serious health problem. Douching is also linked to other health problems. Researchers are studying whether douching causes these problems or whether women at higher risk for these health problems are more likely to douche.
You should not douche to try to get rid of vaginal odor or other vaginal problems like discharge, pain, itching, or burning. Douching will only cover up odor for a short time and will make other problems worse.
Call your doctor or nurse if you have:. These may be signs of a vaginal infection, or an STI. Do not douche before seeing your doctor or nurse. This can make it hard for the doctor or nurse to find out what may be wrong. Learn about…. Learn what it means if your vaginal discharge has increased in volume, changed texture, or has an unexpected color or odor. Learn when to call your…. If you experience discomfort in your genital area or when you urinate, you may have an infection. Urinary tract infections and yeast infections….
Some research has shown that regular bidet use could increase your exposure to certain pathogens. Learn more. Yeast infections are common.
Here are seven of the best over-the-counter products to help manage a yeast infection. The Bartholin glands are a pair of glands, near the opening of the vagina. If a duct from one of the gland gets blocked, fluids can build up…. A cyst may form if…. If you have vaginal atrophy, you may wonder if it can be reversed. With treatment, some women find that their symptoms improve. Although antibiotics can help treat bacterial vaginosis BV , it often comes back.
There are several steps you can take to lower your risk of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Michael Charles, M. Shrinking of the uterus to its prepregnancy size may take 6 to 8 weeks. Sore muscles especially in the arms, neck, or jaw are common after childbirth. This is because of the hard work of labor. The soreness should go away in a few days. Bleeding and vaginal discharge lochia may last for 2 to 4 weeks and can come and go for about 2 months.
Vaginal soreness, including pain, discomfort, and numbness, is common after vaginal birth. Soreness may be worse if you had a perineal tear or episiotomy. If you had a cesarean C-section , you may have pain in your lower belly and may need pain medicine for 1 to 2 weeks. This can cause discomfort and swelling. Care after vaginal birth Most women need some time after delivery to return to their normal activities.
Use pads instead of tampons for the bloody flow that may last as long as 2 weeks. Ease cramps or afterpains with ibuprofen such as Advil. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. If you have swelling or pain around the opening of your vagina, try using ice.
You can put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Cleanse yourself with a gentle squeeze of warm water from a bottle instead of wiping with toilet paper. Try sitting in a few inches of warm water sitz bath 3 times a day and after bowel movements. Ease the soreness of hemorrhoids and the area between your vagina and rectum with ice compresses or witch hazel pads.
Ease constipation by drinking lots of fluid and eating high-fiber foods. Ask your doctor about over-the-counter stool softeners. What to avoid Give your body a chance to heal. Wait until you are healed about 4 to 6 weeks before you have sexual intercourse. Your doctor will tell you when it is okay to have sex. Try not to travel with your baby for 5 or 6 weeks.
If you take a long car trip, make frequent stops to walk around and stretch. Do not rinse inside your vagina with fluids douche. Care after a C-section If you had a C-section, you will need to take it easy while the incision heals.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, and aerobic exercise, for 6 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. Until your doctor says it is okay, don't lift anything heavier than your baby.
You may have some vaginal bleeding. Wear pads. Do not use tampons until your doctor says it is okay. Hold a pillow over your incision when you cough or take deep breaths. This will support your belly and decrease your pain.
You may shower as usual. Pat the incision dry when you are done. Coping With Emotions Having a new baby is exciting. Expect changes in your relationship If you have a partner and this is your first baby, your focus may have shifted from being part of a couple to being parents.
Watch out for depression " Baby blues " are common for the first 1 to 2 weeks after birth. Get support from others If you're feeling tired or overwhelmed, talk to your partner, friends, and family about your feelings. You also might want to: Go for walks with your baby.
Find a class for new mothers and new babies that has an exercise time. Try yoga, meditation, massage, or other ways to cope with stress. For more information, see the topic Stress Management. Common Problems Some women have problems—such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and sore breasts—that last for a while after childbirth. Constipation and hemorrhoids Home treatment measures are usually all that is needed to relieve mild discomfort from hemorrhoids or constipation.
To prevent or ease symptoms of constipation: Eat a high-fiber diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water and fruit juices. Try a stool softener, such as Colace. Do not strain push hard during a bowel movement.
Get more exercise, such as walking, every day. To treat the itching or pain of hemorrhoids: Keep the anus clean by wiping carefully after each bowel movement. Gently wipe from the front to the back.
Baby wipes or hemorrhoid pads are usually more gentle than toilet paper. If you use toilet paper, use only soft, undyed, unscented toilet paper. Take warm soaks in a tub or a sitz bath.
Warm water can help shrink or soothe hemorrhoids. Add baking soda to the water to relieve itching. Use cold packs. Do not sit for long periods, especially on hard chairs. Drink plenty of fluids and use stool softeners, if needed.
Don't strain push hard during a bowel movement. Vaginal and perineal problems Soreness in the vagina and the area between it and the anus perineum is common after delivery. To reduce pain and heal: Try using ice. Pelvic bone problems Recovery from pelvic bone problems , such as separated pubic bones or a fractured tailbone coccyx , can take several months. Breast problems Breast engorgement is common between the third and fourth days after delivery, when the breasts begin to fill with milk.
Postpartum Checkup Your doctor will want to see you for a checkup 2 to 6 weeks after delivery. Keep a list of questions to bring to your postpartum visit.
Your questions might be about: Changes in your breasts, such as lumps or soreness. When to expect your menstrual period to start again. What form of birth control is best for you. Weight you have put on during the pregnancy. Exercise options. What foods and drinks are best for you, especially if you are breastfeeding. Problems you might be having with breastfeeding. When you can have sex. Some women may want to talk about lubricants for the vagina.
Any feelings of sadness or restlessness that you are having.
0コメント