Douching is
squirting a special solution (usually a water/vinegar or
water/baking soda mixture) into the
vagina.
Some women
douche to
clean the vagina. Cleaning the vagina isn't necessary,
and it's been found that it can even be harmful, especially
if some of the more scented products are used.
The vagina has
the amazing ability to clean itself. The vagina
naturally gets rid of mucus,
semen,
menstrual fluid, and old cells that are no longer needed.
Besides having menstrual
periods,
women may have other
vaginal
discharges that are perfectly normal and are usually
whitish-yellow secretions that are absolutely healthy.
It's also normal
to have a natural genital odor. Douching has been found to
upset the balance of natural vaginal bacteria, which can
cause
vaginitis,
an inflammation of the vagina. Earlier generations of women
used douches as
birth control,
but douches are not effective as birth control regardless of
what anyone tells you!
