What The Heck Is A 'Douche', And Should I Be Using One? READY FOR REVIEW BY LUCY

Fumble’s starter guide to douches; what they are, how they work, and why people use them

Ever heard the word ‘douche’ before? It’s sometimes deployed as an insult, but you could be forgiven for not understanding why.

Well, the word literally means to ‘spray or shower yourself with water’, but it also refers to the practice of washing out the vagina or anus with water, or other fluids.

People sometimes buy the mixtures online, or sometimes from a chemist. They are made up of a mixture of water, vinegar, fragrances, baking soda, or iodine and normally come in a bag, tube or bottle.

You put the nozzle up your vagina or bum and squeeze the bottle until all the liquid is gone (and now is inside your vagina/anus). They often look like this:

Why do people use vaginal douches?

If you’ve never douched before you may be wondering why people do it.

Douching has been around for a long time. In the 1940s, adverts for vaginal douches claimed that it would get rid of sperm and reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. This was proven to be completely false. Vaginal douches are NOT a form of contraception. In fact, many women complained of vaginal blisters and burning. This was because they were being sold douche mixes that were toxic.

Today, the most common reason for vaginal douching is to feel “cleaner”. Some women douche their vagina after their period, or because of the way their vagina smells.

Let’s be VERY clear here.

Your vagina is supposed to smell like a vagina. Yes, that’s right. It’s definitely not supposed to smell like rose petals, honey or whatever other fragrances are in douche mixes.

And guess what? There’s nothing wrong with your vagina smelling exactly like a vagina. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

However, if you’re really worried that your downstairs area smells different or unusual, it’s best to visit a GP as you may have a yeast infection or sexually transmitted infection.

Risks of vaginal douching

Your vagina is pretty smart and cleans itself by producing vaginal discharge! This is a very normal and healthy thing, and means that the vagina doesn’t need to be cleaned with soap or by douching. Douching actually washes out these natural vaginal secretions, which may increase your risk of yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginitis.

Basically, you don’t need to douche. Your vagina has got that whole cleaning thing covered.

What about anal douching?

Anal douching is pretty common among people who have anal sex. Why? Well, anal sex can get a little messy sometimes. So, just like vaginal douching, people use anal douching to feel ‘clean’. But there are still a couple of risks to be aware of.

Risks of anal douching

The anus contains healthy mucus that prevents bacteria from entering your poo. However, too much douching can reduce the amount of mucus in your anus, and increase the risk of infections. Lots of anal douching can also cause rectal irritation or itchiness. Just like your vagina, your body does a good job of cleaning the anus on its own so extra cleaning isn’t necessary.

You may feel more comfortable douching before anal sex, but it’s safest not to do it too often. If you are conscious about anal sex being messy there are some alternatives to anal douching. Doctors recommend eating a diet high in fibre, such as green leafy veggies and wholegrain foods. This helps to form poo, which reduces the likelihood of it showing up during sex.

No matter what you do, sometimes poo will make an appearance during anal sex, so don’t feel ashamed. It’s just part of anal sex.

To douche or not to douche?

Douching is a choice. You may feel that you still want to douche despite the risks. Just remember that you don’t have to do it. Your body is pretty great at cleaning itself. Humans are messy and dirty and that’s totally okay and normal. Our vaginas are not supposed to smell like soap and anal sex can be messy. So don’t feel pressurised to clean your vagina or bum to be “clean”.

https://fumble.org.uk/personal-hygiene-pretty-gross-thats-okay/