Douching Linked to Vaginal Infection
Douching- not recommended.
ACOG NEWS RELEASEFor Release: October 1, 2002
Douching Linked to Vaginal Infection
WASHINGTON, DC — Women who douche at least once a month have higher rates of bacterial vaginosis (BV) infections than do women who don’t douche, according to a study in the October issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Researchers studied 1,200 women at high risk for STDs at five clinical sites around the US. They found that of the approximately 40% of women who reported douching regularly for hygiene reasons or to treat bothersome vaginal symptoms, 2 out of every 5 of them had BV. The women with BV were much more likely to lack a specific kind of naturally occurring bacteria (HxOx+lactobacilli) necessary to fight off BV-causing bacteria than women without BV. The researchers suggest that douching may disrupt the normal vaginal microbiology leading to vulnerability to BV.
This study supports several earlier epidemiologic studies linking douching with BV. Other studies also have linked douching to the risk of acquiring HIV, pelvic inflammatory disease, preterm delivery, and cervical cancer.
Contact: Roberta B. Ness, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, at repro@pitt.edu.
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Studies published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of ACOG. ACOG is the national medical organization representing over 40,000 physicians who provide health care for women.
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