By Lisbeth Endre

To douche or not to douche that is the question. Vaginal douching is the ancient practice of rinsing the vagina for hygienic purposes. Still millions of women around the world continue do it, and a recent survey found that in United States 30 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 40 douche regularly.

So why do you think so many women still douche? When the vagina has its own self-cleaning mechanism — good bacteria that help to keep it healthy. First, douching disturbs this delicate balance by reducing the number of protective Lactobacilli, thus creating an environment in which bad bacteria can flourish. Second, douching can actually cause an infection by disrupting the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina.

The risks of douching have seldom been clearly explained. But in fact some researchers suspect that douching can cause irritation and inflammation of vaginal tissues, the resulting irritation can make it easier for us to get STDs, bacterial and yeast infections.

If you are having odor problems, seriously a little gentle wash and water on the vulva, a good soak in the tub, and voila! Nice, clean hoo-hoo. And nice clean hoo-hoo isn’t aromatically challenged. If yours is having odor issues, or unusual discharge issues (some types of discharge are perfectly normal!), this means you should see your doctor.