Let’s talk vaginal douche.

I know. But hear me out. 

A lot of women feel that vaginal douche is the only natural, safe way to wash away odor or unwanted residue from menstruation, sex, or even regular perspiration.

This is not only demonstrably untrue, it can be harmful in the long run. 

Normal vaginal secretions are designed to kill bacteria and flush out waste, and they are very effective at it. However, introducing outside substances to do that only adds to the waste product, not reduces it. Furthermore, the vagina has a very delicate ecosystem of beneficial and harmful organisms. In this system, a simplified explanation of the balance is that the helpful organisms kill and/or eat the harmful ones. 

Introducing outside substances only upsets that balance. Instead, the body will react appropriately to protect itself. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Just set it and leave it.

The vagina and by extension the vulva has a natural smell to it. While the beauty “women’s health” industry would have you thinking otherwise, a healthy vagina has its own scent, which is indicative of a healthy reproductive system.

If vaginal secretions begin to smell sour, fishy, or otherwise foul, that is an indication of a bigger problem that a healthcare provider should assess.

Let’s talk about why it isn’t helpful to vaginally douche or even wash the vulva with soap.

The pH scale is what we use to measure how much acid or alkaline a substance has. If a substance has a pH below 7, it is said to be more acidic. If the pH is above 7, it is said to be more alkaline. pH runs from 0-14. 

A healthy vagina has a pH level of roughly between 3.8 to 4.5. This can vary wildly from woman to woman, but that is the general window. So an acidic environment. This is sufficient for killing many organisms that could cause harm. For comparison, citric acid, a common sanitization ingredient, has a pH level of between 3 and 6, and vinegar, an excellent sanitization ingredient, has a pH of about 2.3. Iodine, used to clean wounds, can run from between 2 to 5.5. 

Most commercial douches contain either vinegar, or a combination of ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, iodine, antiseptics, and fragrances. This presents several complications: first, you are changing the pH balance in your vagina. This can cause an overgrowth of bacteria, which can lead to Bacterial Vaginosis. There are also studies that indicate an increased risk for STDs. 

This is a good reference for the benefits of vaginal douching: 

https://www.healthline.com/.../womens.../what-is-a-douche

And if you’re of a mind, here is one of the many studies about whether vaginal douches are indicated for women:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2567125/

What's the alternative? Bathe thoroughly, using no soap between the labia but rinsing thoroughly, because this area of the vulva is kept clean by natural secretions. If your water intake is good (another health tip another day) and your diet is balanced and you still have a smell you believe to be foul (you know your body,) sour, or fishy, see a healthcare provider. 

**Note that anything you ingest comes out in your secretions: this means sweat, saliva, and vaginal secretions included, so any medications, recreational drugs, or foods will affect the smell of your vaginal secretions.