# Female Dopers, have you ever douched? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700 "2010-08-27T18:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/201 "2010-09-02T14:57:52Z")
> [@wolf-alice](#): > > I’m late for this, but there’s no way no how you’re going to stop me from pontificating about my vagina. > > Right. I’m _down_ with my vagina. Menstrual cup, squat on a mirror, paint the skirting boards with my moon-emulsion. Fight the power, look at my labia. I don’t douche, I think the idea of commercial, soapy\* douches to make your vagina “clean” is vile and misogynist, but I’m not freaked out by the idea of rinsing out semen with a little water if you feel you need to, or if you’re at the end of your period and want to sit on someone’s face, etc. > > Listen, I don’t know if I’ve got Hampton Court Maze in there or he’s launching pints of manfat or what, but if we have sex late at night, gentleman gravy can be sliding out of me the following lunchtime, _which is freaking gross_. No, semen isn’t inherently dirty, but leave a cup in the aring cupboard for an afternoon and see how you like it then. Good for you if you don’t have this issue; I do, and a little rinse seems sensible. > > The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, yeah, so’s the eyeball - there’s nothing wrong with giving either a quick swish with something non-irritant if you happen to have filled it with a gallon of jizz. > > \*What’s even in a commercial douche? I’m in Britain and I’ve never seen one advertised. Are douche adverts common in the US? Because I do think that’s fucked up, and I’m not surprised this is an emotive issue if you’re constantly being told your vag needs a soaping. Sheesh. I just had to chime in to say that this made me seriously LOL, and that since moving to Scotland I’ve noticed a lack of internal rinsing devices in the shops here as well. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/202 "2010-09-02T15:41:31Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > No need to douche, a little push takes care of that. > [@Sateryn76](#): > > I do the “push” after sex to get things out, but it often hangs around up toward the top, and, say, on a Saturday morning at home, before my shower, I have had lots of it run out all at once and wet my underpants through. I have to ask, what’s the “push”? A link would suffice if it’s TMI. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/203 "2010-09-02T16:13:39Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Seriously, though, **Little Bird** , I don’t think that counts. You’re not douching. Folks here have been equally against rooting as douching, I thought I’d put in my $.02. > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I have to ask, what’s the “push”? A link would suffice if it’s TMI. Yanno when you clamp down with your vag, like when you stop peeing? That can shloop out semen like toothpaste from the tube. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/204 "2010-09-02T16:34:20Z")
> [@Little\_Bird](#): > > > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > > I have to ask, what’s the “push”? A link would suffice if it’s TMI. > > Yanno when you clamp down with your vag, like when you stop peeing? That can shloop out semen like toothpaste from the tube. Like a kegel exercise-- you use that same muscle to clamp down and push on whatever’s in there (men are rather fond of this on their junk if you can master it, fwiw). ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/205 "2010-09-02T16:50:14Z")
Ohhhhhh that! Yeah I can do that. Done kegels and done it on the junk, just never realized it could be used to dispose of things after. The dope comes to my rescue once again. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/206 "2010-09-02T17:27:10Z")
I’ve douched before, when I was much younger (my mom was big on it…she’s now 70 and I’m 44, btw) but not in oh, like over 20 yrs at least. Just plain water in the shower at the end of my period now and then if I wanted to have sex that night. Probably have only ever done it a handful of times in my life. Thing is, now that I think of it, the theory that there is all this icky rotting period stuff up there for days or longer after menstruation stops is bollucks, imo. I never douche now, still bleed like clockwork, and while I get a little bit of pink discharge for a day or so after the “end”, no solid bits ever. And no smell to indicate such “contamination.” Same for come…it flushes out on its own very quickly. My girly bits DO have an odor, and it varies depending upon a lot of factors : time of month/ovulation (it changes from very mild to stronger depending…just biology/phermones), sexual arousal, post-sex (would sometimes get that fishy smell after condomless sex with DH but never after sex with a condom, which tells me it was HIS secretions/their interaction with mine, not ME), and clothing/temperature/activity…the latter being entirely EXTERNAL odors…it is not my VAGINA which gets funky after a day of bike riding in spandex or a few days w/o a shower, but my labia and other external bits, from sweat and subsequent bac. growth. Same way underarms can smell due to sweat, though, obviously, with a totally different sort of smell. This is an important point. (might be TMI for some, but relevent, imo) There are times when I go…whew, bit of a funk down there, and invariably, if I check digitally (and I do, I’m nosy and have a good relationship with my yoni that way:D) any strong or objectionable odor is EXTERNAL. I may swipe over/around my folds and bring up a funk, but if I go inside, fresh as a daisy, normal mild scent/secretions. Thorough external washing does the trick. And keeping myself mostly shaved works wonders to minimize this external odor as well. (I still adhere to the theory that the function of pubic and underarm hair in humans is to trap and disperse phermones…it is certainly true that getting rid of the hair drastically reduces the trapping and dispensing). I think a lot of women who DO douche assume any odors are coming from inside, when unless there is an infection or PH or fauna imbalance (which ironically are encouraged BY douching), that is unlikely. To each their own, but in my opinion, a healthy pussy/yoni/cunt is SUPPOSED to have a scent (it’s like a plate of hot cookies saying, come and get me! :p) and that aroma should be pleasant and arousing to heterosexual males and the woman herself. If a man had issues with the normal, clean scent of my sex, it would suggest to me that he had some sexual and/or other hangups. For my part, I absolutely LOVE the scent of a relatively clean but bit musky ball-sack. If I stuck my nose down there and smelled roses or cologne or NOTHING I’d be VERY disappointed. ☹ I’ve spent some time on boards which deal with sex related topics and erotica writing, which is a hobby of mine, and it appears that the vast majority of men who share their opinions on the issue of the scent of a woman agree that they ADORE a woman who has a clean, healthy, heady smell to her and are really let down by a sterile, odorless pussy. They confess to sniffing panties and grabbing their girlfriends before they can get to the shower after a long day just so they can get a dose of that glorious funk. Hardly a scientific study and completely self-selecting in nature, but the “eww, it’s icky and she should shower/douche/put perfume on it just before sex or I ain’t going there” camp is ALWAYS outnumbered 100 to 1. Napolian’s letter to Josephine informing her that he would be home in 2 weeks and to “stop washing” is possibly the best known example of a man who enjoyed his pussy funky. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/207 "2010-09-02T17:43:01Z")
I meant Napoleon. Just to correct my own spelling error…as soon as I looked at it, I said, DOH! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/208 "2010-09-02T18:20:36Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > Napolian’s letter to Josephine informing her that he would be home in 2 weeks and to “stop washing” is possibly the best known example of a man who enjoyed his pussy funky. 😃 Well, in fairness, when he walked up to her, that’s right where his head was on her, so of course he had a preference! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![llcoolbj77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb9ed0/32.png) [@llcoolbj77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llcoolbj77)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/209 "2010-09-02T20:20:32Z")
Awesome thread ladies… very informative. 1. Never douched. Learned in health class that it was unhealthy, unneccesary, and probably a man-made plat to keep us all subservient. But I do have a question for some of you ladies… whenever I have had sex (with more than a few guys so it is not the consistency of their baby batter)… the jizz completely slides out the moment I stand up. I have never, ever, had an unfortanate appearance in my pants even an hour later, let alone the next afternoon. Maybe the walls of my vagina are not as accordioned??? When my husband and I have been, “family planning,” I will actually lay for 20 minutes with my legs up to avoid the almost instantaneous white-wash down my thighs. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/210 "2010-09-02T20:30:13Z")
I’m wondering if there’s even a single male doper who’s been brave enough to still be reading. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/211 "2010-09-02T20:46:18Z")
> [@llcoolbj77](#): > > When my husband and I have been, “family planning,” I will actually lay for 20 minutes with my legs up to avoid the almost instantaneous white-wash down my thighs. I did that also! ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/212 "2010-09-02T20:52:28Z")
> [@llcoolbj77](#): > > Awesome thread ladies… very informative. > > 1. Never douched. Learned in health class that it was unhealthy, unneccesary, and probably a man-made plat to keep us all subservient. > > But I do have a question for some of you ladies… whenever I have had sex (with more than a few guys so it is not the consistency of their baby batter)… the jizz completely slides out the moment I stand up. I have never, ever, had an unfortanate appearance in my pants even an hour later, let alone the next afternoon. Maybe the walls of my vagina are not as accordioned??? > > When my husband and I have been, “family planning,” I will actually lay for 20 minutes with my legs up to avoid the almost instantaneous white-wash down my thighs. In my experience (albeit limited) most slides out in the bed soon after my muscles stop spasming (the proverbial wet spot…why men so often choose to do it on YOUR side of the bed; they are NOT just being considerate by coming to you :dubious::D) and the rest plops out the first time I go to the toilet (if it has not already oozed its way out the moment I stand to go there). Any tiny remnants are easily washed off/out in the shower. Don’t think I’ve ever had any significant drainage more than a few hours post-sex. Maybe my Vagina is just very efficient at squeezing stuff out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/213 "2010-09-02T21:05:28Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > I’m wondering if there’s even a single male doper who’s been brave enough to still be reading. > > 😃 It might do them good. This place IS all about fighting ignorance, no? 🆒 I have to say, my late DH was a bit of a prude and OCD in some ways (would throw away a bowl if I had given the dog water in it once or the kids had used it for mud pies, no matter how I sanitized it, liked to shower and/or brush his teeth after sex, etc..), but he positively LOVED the aroma of my pussy and would often pause during cunnilingus to inhale deeply and moan. What a man. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/214 "2010-09-02T21:12:48Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > > > Napolian’s letter to Josephine informing her that he would be home in 2 weeks and to “stop washing” is possibly the best known example of a man who enjoyed his pussy funky. 😃 > > Well, in fairness, when he walked up to her, that’s right where his head was on her, so of course he had a preference! 😃 Touche. 😃 DiosaBellissima gets off a good one! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/215 "2010-09-02T21:14:19Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > In my experience (albeit limited) most slides out in the bed soon after my muscles stop spasming (the proverbial wet spot…why men so often choose to do it on YOUR side of the bed; they are NOT just being considerate by coming to you :dubious::D) and the rest plops out the first time I go to the toilet (if it has not already oozed its way out the moment I stand to go there). Any tiny remnants are easily washed off/out in the shower. Err, ah, why have a wet spot when you can just stick hand towel between your legs after he pulls out? Ya’ll aren’t sleeping on sticky sheets…are you? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/216 "2010-09-02T21:21:00Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > > > In my experience (albeit limited) most slides out in the bed soon after my muscles stop spasming (the proverbial wet spot…why men so often choose to do it on YOUR side of the bed; they are NOT just being considerate by coming to you :dubious::D) and the rest plops out the first time I go to the toilet (if it has not already oozed its way out the moment I stand to go there). Any tiny remnants are easily washed off/out in the shower. > > Err, ah, why have a wet spot when you can just stick hand towel between your legs after he pulls out? Ya’ll aren’t sleeping on sticky sheets…are you? My husband and I have two towels that we take 5 seconds to lay down on the bed before anything goes on. Easy peasy! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/217 "2010-09-02T21:37:54Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > > > In my experience (albeit limited) most slides out in the bed soon after my muscles stop spasming (the proverbial wet spot…why men so often choose to do it on YOUR side of the bed; they are NOT just being considerate by coming to you :dubious::D) and the rest plops out the first time I go to the toilet (if it has not already oozed its way out the moment I stand to go there). Any tiny remnants are easily washed off/out in the shower. > > Err, ah, why have a wet spot when you can just stick hand towel between your legs after he pulls out? Ya’ll aren’t sleeping on sticky sheets…are you? No - he does, duh. You don’t have sex on _your_ side of the bed! ---
**Author:** ![Neeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Neeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neeps)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/218 "2010-09-02T21:38:15Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I have never rooted around up there for spare change either, nor felt the need - apart from once, following IVF treatment when I had to use progesterone suppositories. > > The story was that the prog was meant to drain out, and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have this problem (you know where this is going). After a few days I just felt the urge to check… When you have golfball sized lumps of a cross between mozzarella and chewing gum to contend with, that’s when you need to root around up there - if you don’t have that going on, leave well enough alone. Ha, yes, that’s the only time I have ever had to root around up there, and I think it was thanks to you that I knew to do that. Bet you’re proud, eh? And yes, there were gummy chunks up there. Urgh. Under normal (non IVF, progesterone suppository) circumstances, I’ve never even considered douching. I had an american friend when I was in school (I’m a Brit), and the topic came up once. I think I had the reaction that most people here seem to have had - why the 'eff would you want to mess with nature. It cleans itself! There may be a little stuff coming out after sex, but not anything that I need to be worried about. I’m really pleased I came across this thread. I’m going to be tormenting my husband with tales of my hoot. I think this word has replaced hoo-ha as my favourite way to refer to my vajay-jay. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/219 "2010-09-02T21:39:43Z")
I want to add one more thing here. Just as I re-read and it comes to mind. Many women are almost completely ignorant of their natural cycles and the signs which accompany them. They notice more discharge, more odor, and assume they have some sort of infection. They use an OTC product or rush to the Dr. The reality is, such variations are perfectly normal. Our secretions change in quantity, texture and scent throughout our hormonal cycle each month. We have been brainwashed or simply left ignorant, into believing that any odor, any discharge, is some sign of infection or “dirtyness”. I am a huge fan of girls and women getting to know their cycles and pussies. Otherwise, you can easily be convinced that perfectly normal functions are somehow pathological and in need of masking or treatment. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700/220 "2010-09-02T21:43:54Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > > > In my experience (albeit limited) most slides out in the bed soon after my muscles stop spasming (the proverbial wet spot…why men so often choose to do it on YOUR side of the bed; they are NOT just being considerate by coming to you :dubious::D) and the rest plops out the first time I go to the toilet (if it has not already oozed its way out the moment I stand to go there). Any tiny remnants are easily washed off/out in the shower. > > Err, ah, why have a wet spot when you can just stick hand towel between your legs after he pulls out? Ya’ll aren’t sleeping on sticky sheets…are you? Usually, he was gracious enough to hand me his tee-shirt or underwear after, yes. 😉 We weren’t always so prepared as to lay down towels beforehand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-have-you-ever-douched-why/551700.md?page=12)