That’s a really great question. What is douching? The word “douche” means to soak or wash in French. Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Usually douches are prepackaged, mixed with water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle and can be squirted into the vagina through a tube or nozzle. Women can buy these products at the drug and grocery stores.

Now, is douching safe? Most doctors and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggest that women do not douche.

All health vaginas contain some bacteria and other organisms called the vaginal flora. The normal acidity of the vagina keeps the amount of bacteria down. But douching can change this delicate balance. This may make a woman more prone to vaginal infections. Plus, douching can spread existing vaginal infections up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.