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This article was co-authored by Cindy Basinski, MD. Dr. Cindy Basinski is a Board-Certified Urogynecologist based in Newburgh, Indiana. She has been practicing both general and Urogynecologic surgery for over 24 years and specializes in minimally invasive surgical procedures. She is a Board Certified Subspecialist in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). She received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
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Although douching was once a common practice, it has fallen out of popular use in recent years. Studies show that douching can cause bacterial infections and problems during pregnancy, making it a less-than-perfect cleaning method.[1] If, however, your doctor has suggested that you douche, follow the steps below to do it correctly and safely.
Steps
Know that your body cleans out vaginal discharge, blood, and semen on its own. Many women douche in order to clean themselves after a period, rinse out vaginal discharge, or to clean out semen after sex. The great thing about the human body though, is that it is built to do these things on its own. The vagina cleans itself without douching, meaning that you don’t have to refer to man-made soaps and rinses in order to keep your vagina in healthy, working condition.[2]
Douche at your doctor’s suggestion. The last few years of studies have offered up important research that shows that douching can be more harmful than beneficial to your body. The vagina naturally cleans itself with its high acidity and natural mucous, which douching removes. As a result of douching, you are more likely to suffer from a yeast infection or other bacterial infection. Talk to your doctor before you decide to douche, and do so at their discretion.
Don’t douche to remove itching or burning sensations. Some women feel like they need to douche in order to get rid of itching or burning they feel near or inside their vagina. These are symptoms of an infection though, and douching simply covers them up. Rather than trying to wash away these symptoms, meet with your doctor and explain what you’re experiencing.[3]
Don’t douche to remove a strong odor. Although the vagina may have a very mild, constant odor, if you are experiencing a strong odor (outside of your menstrual cycle), it is likely a symptom of a possible infection. Instead of trying to rinse out the odor, talk to your doctor and ask for their advice. They may or may not support the idea of douching, but it is best to go to them first rather than possibly making things worse.
Don’t douche in attempts to prevent STDs or pregnancy. Douching is not an alternative to a condom or other contraceptive; its primary goal is to ‘clean’ the inside of the vagina. Therefore, don’t douche in attempts to prevent an STD/STI or pregnancy after sex, as it will be ineffective.[4]
Wash the outside of your vagina as an alternative to douching. If you are concerned about keeping your vagina clean and odor-free in general, stick to washing the outside of your vagina instead. Use a mild soap and warm water in the shower or bath to remove any sweat or grime that might have built up on the exterior of your vagina, while your body does the work of cleaning the inside on its own.[5]
Choose a douching product. Look through the available douching products at your local drugstore to choose an option that looks best for you. Avoid any solution that contains scents or dyes, as these are much more likely to cause an infection. If you prefer, you can create your own douching solution at home using vinegar and only buy a squeeze bottle at the store for application.[6]
Prepare the douching solution. If you bought a kit at the store, follow the box directions to prepare the douching solution it came with. Typically you will need to use a quart of water to prepare it. If you are making your own at home, mix one part vinegar with three parts water, in an amount equal to at least two cups.
Fill the squeeze bottle or douche pouch with the solution. Follow the directions on the box to do this, or simply pour the solution into the squeeze bottle. If all the solution doesn’t fit, fill it as high as you are able and then add the rest later.
Get into the shower or bathtub. Douching isn’t the messiest thing in the world, but it could be under certain circumstances. To prevent spilling any of the solution, get into the shower or bathtub for the entire process. You’ll likely want to shower or bath afterwards anyway.
Rinse the vaginal cavity using the squeeze bottle. Insert the tip of the squeeze bottle or douche pouch into the vagina, and squeeze it to release the fluid. Continue rinsing the inside of the vagina until you have used all the available fluid.
Wash the outside of the vagina. Use a mild soap and warm water to wash the outside of the vagina as you would normally during a shower or bath. Your goal now is to wash off any of the douching solution left on the exterior of your vagina. The douching solution is relatively harmless on any other part of your body, so rinse it off if it came into contact with anything else but don’t worry about it too much.[7]
Finish cleaning up. Follow up with any post-douching cleaning activities you deem necessary. Clean out the douching pouch/squeeze bottle and store it for later use, and clean up anything else you might have made a mess with while concocting your solution.
How Do You Wash Your Vagina?
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- QuestionWhat about rinsing the vagina with just water?
AbigailAbernathyTop AnswererThis is the better option to douching. Douching can lead to infection, as it disrupts the vagina's natural pH balance. - QuestionIs it necessary to use feminine wash everyday?
Community AnswerNo. Find what works for you. Everyone's body is different. - QuestionAfter douching in the shower do you need to scrub the tub?
Community AnswerNo, that isn't necessary.
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SubmitTips
- You don't need to try to "hold in" the solution. By using a whole quart, you can be assured there is enough flow to thoroughly rinse the vagina.Thanks
- If you use a douche pouch and the plastic tip, don't force it too far in or make it hurt. You shouldn't feel anything but warm water running down.Thanks
- Use the solution only once when it's fresh and discard any leftover.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of How.com.vn readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on How.com.vn, please submit it in the field below.
- Do not use normal body soap to clean your vagina. This will irritate your vagina and harm the helpful bacteria. It's okay to use soap on the area outside your vagina.
- If you're using an antibacterial douche, follow up with a probiotic and eat a lot of yogurt to ensure your vagina maintains the right amount of good bacteria.
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Warnings
- If the solution you prepare burns when you begin, stop immediately and wash with pure water.Thanks
- Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience pain, burning, itching, or spotting after douching.Thanks
- If you have an infection, seek medical attention right away. Do not try to treat it only by douching.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about feminine hygiene, check out our in-depth interview with Cindy Basinski, MD.
References
- ↑ http://women.webmd.com/video/corio-yeast-infection
- ↑ https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching
- ↑ https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching
- ↑ https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching
- ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/vaginal_douche_douching/article.htm
- ↑ http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health-pictures/hygiene-rules-for-a-healthy-vagina.aspx#/slide-2
- ↑ http://www.everydayhealth.com/specialists/woman/etingin/qa/how-do-i-douche/index.aspx
About This Article
Board-Certified Urogynecologist
This article was co-authored by Cindy Basinski, MD. Dr. Cindy Basinski is a Board-Certified Urogynecologist based in Newburgh, Indiana. She has been practicing both general and Urogynecologic surgery for over 24 years and specializes in minimally invasive surgical procedures. She is a Board Certified Subspecialist in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). She received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. This article has been viewed 1,645,384 times.
Co-authors: 30
Updated: February 3, 2024
Views: 1,645,384
Categories: Personal Hygiene
Article SummaryX
To douche for feminine hygiene, first prepare a douching solution by mixing 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Alternatively, purchase a douching kit from your drug store if you don’t want to make your own solution. Pour the solution into a squeeze bottle before getting into the shower or bath tub. Then, place the tip of the bottle inside your vagina and squeeze the solution out. After you’ve finished cleaning inside your vagina, wash the outside with a mild soap and water. Finish by cleaning the douche bottle and the bath tub if you spilt any of the solution while douching. For tips on how to know when it’s a good time to douche, keep reading!
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