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Vaginal Health: Is Douching Safe?

By:
Kelly Shanahan

Question :

Is douching at least twice a week dangerous or safe?

Jen

Answer :

Douching this often is definitely a bad idea. Douching can wash away normal beneficial bacteria that live within the vagina, predisposing you to vaginal infections. Douching can also force bacteria higher, into the uterus and tubes, increasing the chance of your developing a serious infection that could damage the tubes and impair fertility.

Douching is not necessary. At the most, a woman should only douche once a month, unless instructed otherwise by her doctor for some specific reason.

 

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