# Advantages of Douching? (TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739 "2005-09-15T05:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/1 "2005-09-15T05:55:16Z")
So are there any women out there that douche? As a male I’m somewhat ignorant of that aspect of female hygiene. If so, with what? Some sort of solution? Does it achieve anything? Causes yeast infections? Or douching some archaic practice that only serves as fodder jokes? ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/2 "2005-09-15T07:12:16Z")
They still sell supplies for it at Walmart, I passed them looking for other things a few days ago, and thought to myself, wow, I’ve been wandering around the feminine care area since puberty and I never saw that stuff. I must be blind. I don’t know anyone that does and all the books say it’s bad for you and unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/3 "2005-09-15T09:10:55Z")
My mother douched when I was growing up, and probably still does. I’ve never asked her how that’s worked for her. Contrary to the old commercials, most mother/daughter conversations do not revolve around feminine hygiene. From what I’ve read, and from my own experience, douching revolves around the archaic idea that women’s vaginas are somehow “dirty” and need to be “rinsed and disinfected” before they are clean and acceptable. IMHO, this is marketed paranoia. The vagina balances itself, not unlike the immune system. It manufactures its own bacteria which keeps its PH at a healthy happy balance. A normal vagina does not need artificial/outside help to keep itself clean and healthy. If you douche you’re actually killing/rinsing away the healthy bacteria and making yourself more vulnerable to an imbalance which can lead to an infection. Yeast infections, again IMHO, are only caused by imbalances in your system…in my case, from generic “all-purpose” antibiotics, which kill _all_ bacteria in your system, not just the bacteria that’s causing whatever other health problems it was prescribed to solve. Yeast infections are also linked to scenarios in which you have sex and do not urinate/cleanse yourself shortly afterward. (That’s the only time I’ve ever had one; new boyfriend, just moved in together…lots and lots of sex…didn’t get up til the next morning…bingo! Yeast infection!) Some women are more prone than others, but generally speaking, douching does not help anything but a woman’s preconceived idea that her vagina needs to be “scrubbed” like a bathtub because it has a tendency to get “dirty” over time. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/4 "2005-09-15T14:36:10Z")
Douches can disrupt the growth of normal vaginal flora and indeed cause yeast infections. The vagina is actually the cleanest part of a woman’s body. Douching is unnecessary and can cause problems. If odor is the issue, try wearing a pantiliner during the day, washing more often or keeping pubic hair trimmed very short. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/5 "2005-09-15T14:45:30Z")
It’s not the actual vagina that’s usually the problem, after all. **Amazon Floozy Goddess’s** advise is correct, because it’s the labia area that can be not so fresh, if you must know. I know, I know, lots of people call the whole works the vagina (or, if you are my son, the bagina) but douching is for the _real_ vagina and that’s one place that doesn’t need freshening. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/6 "2005-09-15T14:59:25Z")
In times past, douching was mainly employed as a birth control device. It was only marginally effective, so they say. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/7 "2005-09-15T15:07:28Z")
I’ve been wanting to start a thread about this. I’ve been wondering as well. What is the bag for? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/8 "2005-09-15T15:32:11Z")
Does anybody actually use flavored douche or is that just an urban myth? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/9 "2005-09-15T16:06:46Z")
You used it to mix the water and powder, hang it up and use the attached nozzle to douche with. Nowadays you can buy premixed bottles, with the nozzle that screws into the bottle. I don’t douche any more, for all the reasons listed. I have used it for end-of the-period cleansing when expecting to have sex that night. I used the flavored ones back in the day. I’m not sure how they tasted, but my boyfriend seemed to like them. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/10 "2005-09-15T16:29:55Z")
Great…now I have that SNL “Autumn Fizz” commercial running through my head… “Autumn Fizz…the carbonated douche.” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/11 "2005-09-15T17:00:53Z")
So why is douche bag such a great insult? I thought the ‘dirty’ stuff got collected in the bag. Well, my ignorace has be bested today. Now I can go back to the Enquirer. ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/12 "2005-09-15T23:24:58Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > So why is douche bag such a great insult? I don’t know, but I know I can’t get enough of using “douche nozzle” as an insult these days! Heh… ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/13 "2005-09-15T23:34:34Z")
[slight hijack] Did you guys know that Lysol used to be marketed as a contraceptive douche? Back in the days before talking openly about birth control was acceptable, it was touted that Lysol would kill “germs” and was exellent for “marital hygiene.” The directions for usage were printed on the back lable. (The museum in which I work has one of these.) Unfortunately, many women believed that if a little Lysol would kill “germs”, a lot of Lysol would kill even more. They were horribly burned. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/14 "2005-09-15T23:45:31Z")
> [@Audrey Levins](#): > > Yeast infections, again IMHO, are only caused by imbalances in your system…in my case, from generic “all-purpose” antibiotics, which kill _all_ bacteria in your system, not just the bacteria that’s causing whatever other health problems it was prescribed to solve. Yeast infections are also linked to scenarios in which you have sex and do not urinate/cleanse yourself shortly afterward. (That’s the only time I’ve ever had one; new boyfriend, just moved in together…lots and lots of sex…didn’t get up til the next morning…bingo! Yeast infection!) TMI and a little OT, but pertinent to this post - the only time I’ve ever gotten a yeast infection was when I was already on antibiotics for an ENT infection. Stopped the antibiotics, the yeast infection cleared up right away. I’ve never used a douche. I’ve seen various ‘feminine hygiene’ products in the supermarket, but we don’t seem to have the market for it over here, AFAIK. But then I barely shave my legs if I can help it, so I’m not really up on all the female doo-dads and whatnots that we’re expected to use nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/15 "2005-09-16T13:02:04Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > [slight hijack] > > Did you guys know that Lysol used to be marketed as a contraceptive douche? Back in the days before talking openly about birth control was acceptable, it was touted that Lysol would kill “germs” and was exellent for “marital hygiene.” The directions for usage were printed on the back lable. (The museum in which I work has one of these.) > > Unfortunately, many women believed that if a little Lysol would kill “germs”, a lot of Lysol would kill even more. They were horribly burned. You know how when in the movies when a guy gets kicked in the balls all the males in the room tend to flinch in sympathy? [This scan of an old Lysol ad should have the same effect on females.](http://thewvsr.com/lysol.htm) Ow! ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/16 "2005-09-16T13:47:35Z")
People buy those things all the frickin’ time at Wal-Mart. Seriously, there are probably 5-6 people a day who come through my line with douches. The grossest part is the fact that they’re called “vinegar douches” or something. Who wants vinegar up their cooter? Also, I’ve heard that it is not necessary to use them and that oftentimes they cause more harm than good. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/17 "2005-09-16T13:57:38Z")
We got them in our dorm welcome packets back in the 80’s. Can you even imagine? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/18 "2005-09-16T14:24:50Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Does anybody actually use flavored douche or is that just an urban myth? “Tuna” was a poor seller… ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/19 "2005-09-16T14:56:57Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > “Tuna” was a poor seller… “Goat cheese” didn’t do too well either… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739/20 "2005-09-16T15:11:26Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > “Goat cheese” didn’t do too well either… “Bea Arthur” also had disappointing numbers… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-douching-tmi/321739.md?page=2)