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Douching Is a Remediable Risk Factor for Sexually Transmitted Infections
The Female Patient, 07/08/09

Vermund SH et al. - Vaginal douching is a harmful practice that increases risk for adverse reproductive health outcomes.2 In particular, younger women who are more sexually active and at higher risk for STIs may be more susceptible to douching-related risks for STI acquisition.4,5 Many women view douching as a part of good hygienic practice. This attitude is often promulgated within social networks, particularly by mothers, who often encourage daughters to engage in this behavior from an early age. Given the negative reproductive health consequences of douching and evidence that shows effectiveness of risk-reduction education, health care professionals are in an excellent position to discourage douching. Experts suggest that clinicians:

Discuss the harmful effects of douching, including how it increases risk for ectopic pregnancy, reduced fertility, low birth weight, cervical cancer, STIs, and preterm delivery. Specifically engage adolescents and young women at high risk for STIs.
Provide douching prevention counseling that is patient-centered, nonjudgmental, and attuned to the patient’s age, culture, sexual orientation, and developmental level.
Identify a patient’s readiness to change, and provide appropriate counseling for that stage; consider engaging influential family members, including mothers, mothers-in-law, and sisters.
Encourage professional organizations to review the evidence and provide guidance for their constituents, both providers and patients, as to the risks of douching.

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