Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. In the United States, almost one in five women 15 to 44 years old douche. Doctors recommend that you do not douche. Douching can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant. Douching is also linked to vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

What is douching?

The word "douche" means to wash or soak. Douching is washing or cleaning out the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. The water mixture then comes back out through your vagina.

How common is douching?

In the United States, almost one in five women 15 to 44 years old douche.

More African-American and Hispanic women douche than white women.2 Douching is also common in teens of all races and ethnicities.3,4

Studies have not found any health benefit to douching. But, studies have found that douching is linked to many health problems.

Most doctors recommend that women do not douche. Douching can change the necessary balance of vaginal flora (bacteria that live in the vagina) and natural acidity in a healthy vagina.

A healthy vagina has good and harmful bacteria. The balance of bacteria helps maintain an acidic environment. The acidic environment protects the vagina from infections or irritation.

Douching can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. If you already have a vaginal infection, douching can push the bacteria causing the infection up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious health problem.

Douching is also linked to other health problems.

Health problems linked to douching include:5

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is an infection in the vagina. Women who douche often (once a week) are five times more likely to develop BV than women who do not douche.6

Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection in the reproductive organs that is often caused by an STI

Problems during pregnancy, including preterm birth and ectopic pregnancy

STIs, including HIV

Vaginal irritation or dryness

Researchers are studying whether douching causes these problems or whether women at higher risk for these health problems are more likely to douche.

Should I douche to get rid of vaginal odor or other problems?

No. You should not douche to try to get rid of vaginal odor or other vaginal problems like discharge, pain, itching, or burning.

Douching will only cover up odor for a short time and will make other problems worse. Call your doctor or nurse if you have:

Vaginal discharge that smells bad

Vaginal itching and thick, white, or yellowish-green discharge with or without an odor

Burning, redness, and swelling in or around the vagina

Pain when urinating

Pain or discomfort during sex

These may be signs of a vaginal infection, or an STI. Do not douche before seeing your doctor or nurse. This can make it hard for the doctor or nurse to find out what may be wrong.

Should I douche to clean inside my vagina?

No. Doctors recommend that women do not douche. You do not need to douche to clean your vagina. Your body naturally flushes out and cleans your vagina. Any strong odor or irritation usually means something is wrong.

Douching also can raise your chances of a vaginal infection or an STI. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor.

What is the best way to clean my vagina?

It is best to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina cleans itself naturally by making mucous. The mucous washes away blood, semen, and vaginal discharge.

If you are worried about vaginal odor, talk to your doctor or nurse. But you should know that even healthy, clean vaginas have a mild odor that changes throughout the day. Physical activity also can give your vagina a stronger, muskier scent, but this is still normal.

Keep your vagina clean and healthy by:

Washing the outside of your vagina with warm water when you bathe. Some women also use mild soaps. But, if you have sensitive skin or any current vaginal infections, even mild soaps can cause dryness and irritation.

Avoiding scented tampons, pads, powders, and sprays. These products may increase your chances of getting a vaginal infection.

Can douching before or after sex prevent STIs?

No. Douching before or after sex does not prevent STIs. In fact, douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protect you from infection. This can actually increase your risk of getting STIs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Learn ways to prevent STIs.

Should I douche if I had sex without using protection or if the condom broke?

No. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protect you from infection. This can increase your risk of getting STIs, including HIV. Douching also does not protect against pregnancy.

If you had sex without using protection or if the condom broke during sex, see a doctor right away. You can get medicine to help prevent HIV and unwanted pregnancy.

Should I douche if I was sexually assaulted?

No, you should not douche, bathe, or shower. As hard as it may be to not wash up, you may wash away important evidence if you do. Douching may also increase your risk of getting STIs, including HIV. Go to the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible. The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) can help you find a hospital able to collect evidence of sexual assault. Your doctor or nurse can help you get medicine to help prevent HIV and unwanted pregnancy.

Can douching after sex prevent pregnancy?

No. Douching does not prevent pregnancy. It should never be used for birth control. If you had sex without using birth control or if your birth control method did not work correctly (failed), you can use emergency contraception to keep from getting pregnant.

If you need birth control, talk to your doctor or nurse about which type of birth control method is best for you.

Douching can make it harder to get pregnant and can cause problems during pregnancy:

Trouble getting pregnant. Women who douched at least once a month had a harder time getting pregnant than those women who did not douche.7

Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. Douching may increase a woman's chance of damaged fallopian tubes and ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg attaches to the inside of the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. If left untreated, ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. It can also make it hard for a woman to get pregnant in the future.

Higher risk of early childbirth. Douching raises your risk for premature birth. One study found that women who douched during pregnancy were more likely to deliver their babies early.8 This raises the risk for health problems for you and your baby.

WHAT IS ANAL CLEANSING?

Anal cleansing is the proper hygienic care of your backside. With great anal hygiene, you can remain relaxed and comfortable during sex, ensuring your anal experience can remain positive for you and your partner. You can keep your anal area clean by using external and internal methods.

External hygiene really boils down to keeping the area clean regularly and before you’re ready to have anal sex. You can do that with regular washing with soap and warm water or by installing a bidet at home. You can also shave or wax your anal region, but that is a personal aesthetic preference (and comes with potential problems like ingrown hairs or irritation).

HOW TO ANAL DOUCHE

The main anal douches are a pre-filled store bought enema, a bulb douche, a water bag douche, and a shower douche. Bespoke Surgical recommends you find the one that suits you best, with the understanding of all the principles for their proper use. Our best advice: keep it simple. You only need to clean a few inches, not your entire gut. The anal canal is about 4-6” deep, so contrary to popular belief, only a minimal amount of preparation is needed. Avoid the temptation to vigorously squeeze in an entire bucket full of water. Think of how a colonic works — what goes in, comes right back out. It’s just a gentle rinse cycle.

IS ANAL DOUCHING SAFE? RISKS OF OVER-DOUCHING

Over-douching (cleaning too deep, with too much force, or with too much water) can cause problems, such as douche dependency, prolonged anal irritation, elevated mucus production, and lengthening or incomplete contraction of the rectum/colon, which can lead to chronic constipation. One’s anal sphincters keep everything inside and the constant pushing required for douching can cause injury to these muscles, let alone just the insertion of a device can cause added localized injury. Proper use and lots of lubrication aids proper mechanics. Additionally, your gut contains some good bacteria that assists in digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and keeping bad bacteria in check. Aggressive and frequent anal douching with products currently out in the market can actually flush away the good shit (pun intended), leaving you susceptible to a whole host of stomach and intestinal issues. Aside from the health risks, over-douching can also loosen stools that are higher up in the rectum, which wouldn’t normally interfere with anal sex, making it even messier than if you hadn’t douched at all. Remember: douching with commercially prepared enemas or just plain tap water creates a lot of mucus and dryness in the area, which can cause cell damage, cracking, and bleeding, making it easier to contract and pass along both HIV and other STDs.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF POOP?

Poop, also known as stool or feces, is a normal part of the digestive process. Poop consists of waste products that are being eliminated from the body. It may include undigested food particles, bacteria, salts, and other substances.

Sometimes, poop can vary in its color, texture, amount, and odor. These differences can be worrying, but usually, these changes are not significant and will resolve in a day or two. Other times, however, changes in poop indicate a more serious condition.

Keep reading to discover more about the different types of poop, including what is and is not normal.

FAST FACTS ON TYPES OF POOP:

Poop can come in different shapes, colors, and smells.

A person should pass a normal, healthy poop easily and with minimal strain.

Anyone who has blood in their stool should seek urgent medical attention.

WHAT IS NORMAL POOP LIKE?

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What is normal poop like?

Different types of poop represented by toilet paper on wooden boards.

Normal poop is brown and has a soft to firm consistency.

Normal poop is generally:

Medium to dark brown: This is because it contains a pigment called bilirubin, which forms when red blood cells break down.

Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement emit gases that contain the unpleasant odor associated with poop.

Pain-free to pass: A healthy bowel movement should be painless and require minimal strain.

Soft to firm in texture: Poop that is passed in one single piece or a few smaller pieces is typically considered to be a sign of a healthy bowel. The long, sausage-like shape of poop is due to the shape of the intestines.

Passed once or twice daily: Most people pass stool once a day, although others may poop every other day or up to three times daily. At a minimum, a person should pass stool three times a week.

WHAT COLORS CAN POOP BE?

While brown poop is considered the "normal" color of poop, some greenish-brown hues may also be acceptable.

Poop can be other colors too, such as:

Black

Stools that are black, especially if they have the appearance of coffee grounds, suggest gastrointestinal bleeding. Substances such as iron supplements, black licorice, black stout, and bismuth medications also cause black poop.

White

If stools are white, gray, or pale, a person may have an issue with the liver or gallbladder as pale stools suggest a lack of bile. Some anti-diarrhea medications cause white stools.

Green

Spinach, kale, or other green foods can cause green poop. However, green-colored stool may be a sign that there is too much bile and not enough bilirubin in the poop.

Red

Different color including white, brown and black on tile shades.

While normal poop is usually brown, other colors are possible, including black or white.

Poop that is red-colored may be the result of gastrointestinal bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the stool can indicate hemorrhoids.

Eating beets or red berries, or drinking beet or tomato juice, also turns poop red. Once these foods have passed through the digestive tract, poop should become brown again.

Orange

Consuming many orange-colored foods, which are rich in a pigment called beta-carotene, causes orange stool.

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are among the many foods that contain this pigment.

However, blocked bile ducts or certain medications including some antacids and the antibiotic rifampin can cause orange poop.

Yellow

If stool appears yellow or is greasy-looking, it suggests the poop contains too much fat. This may be the result of absorption issues, or difficulty producing enzymes or bile.

Most people will experience variations in stool color at some stage. Usually, this is down to diet or some other minor cause. However, anyone who experiences changes in poop color that last for 2 or more weeks or has red or black stool should see their doctor.

TYPES OF ABNORMAL POOP

Types of abnormal poop

The following situations may suggest a digestive issue:

pooping too often (more than three times daily)

not pooping often enough (less than three times a week)

excessive straining when pooping.

poop that is colored red, black, green, yellow, or white

greasy, fatty stools

pain when pooping

blood in the stool

bleeding while passing stool

watery poop (diarrhea)

very hard, dry poop that is difficult to pass

People experiencing any of these types of poop should see a doctor.

WHAT CAUSES ABNORMAL POOP?

Excessive caffeine consumption may cause abnormal poop. Staying hydrated can prevent constipation.

Abnormal poop can have many causes, ranging from minor to severe. Causes can include:

Stress

Digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can be triggered or exacerbated by stress. In some people, it can manifest as diarrhea and in others as constipation.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to be able to move through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration.

Lack of dietary fiber

Fiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet that is low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems.

Food intolerances and allergies

People with an intolerance or allergy to certain foods can often experience diarrhea, constipation, or other traits of abnormal poop when they consume a problematic food.

For example, people with lactose intolerance often experience diarrhea if they have dairy, while those with celiac disease will have an adverse reaction to gluten.

Medical conditions

Certain conditions can cause constipation, diarrhea, or other poop abnormalities. Examples of such conditions include:

depression

cancer

an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Parkinson's disease

HOW TO ENSURE HEALTHY BOWELS

To ensure healthy bowel function and healthy poops, follow the tips below:

Eat enough fiber: Aim to get the recommended minimum daily amount of fiber, which is 25 grams (g) for women and 38 g for men under 50 years old; women over 50 should aim for 21 g while men over 50 should consume 30 g daily.

Drink plenty of water: A reasonable amount is about 8 glasses (64 ounces) per day. It is especially important to stay hydrated when consuming more fiber.

Take probiotics. These beneficial bacteria can be found in capsule form, although some yogurts and drinks can also provide probiotics. Probiotics have been found to aid in relief from constipation, as well as infectious diarrhea.

Try magnesium: Magnesium hydroxide is often used to treat constipation. It is safe for most people, although it is not recommended for people with renal insufficiency.

Exercise: Staying physically active can encourage normal bowel function and can alleviate constipation. It also relieves stress, a common cause of abnormal poops.

A well-functioning digestive system is essential for health and wellbeing. It also suggests that a person is eating a balanced diet balanced diet.

Poop abnormalities that persist can lead to complications. For example, ongoing diarrhea can result in nutritional deficiencies while constipation can cause bowel obstructions.