Companies often sell products that do not add value to your life. For example, a douching product with a misguided claim that it treats STDs, cleans leftover period blood, or eliminates odor in the vagina or rectum.

Here is the truth: a healthy vagina cleans itself, and health professionals advise against using douching methods and products. Cryoviva Singapore encourages every woman to know that reliable hygiene habits do not include douching. As it disrupts natural balances, it may reduce fertility and carry risks like infections (BV, PID, ectopic pregnancy).

What is Douching?

It is the washing or cleaning out of the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids.

• Vaginal Douching (for Cleaning the Vagina)

It is the method of rinsing the inside of the vagina with water or a mix of ingredients (vinegar, baking soda, etc.). This is using a special bottle or bulb.

Why do People do Douching

Because of the Misguided beliefs that

• It prevents pregnancy and STDs
• It cleans leftover period blood
• It eliminates odor

  
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• Rectal Douching (for Cleaning the Rectum)

It is the method of flushing the rectum (last stop before the feces are eliminated through the anal canal) with water or a liquid via a squeeze bottle or tube.

Why do People do Douching

• To clean the rectum before anal intimacy
• Reduce mess
• Feel cleaner or more confident

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Risk Associated With Vaginal Douching

Know your risk if you are under the wrong impression that vaginal douching is safe:

• Disrupts the healthy balance of bacteria (Lactobacillus species such as L. crispatus, L. iners, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri).
• Increases the risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and ectopic pregnancy.
• Worsens the condition of the infection.

Risk Associated With Rectal Douching

Know your risk if you are under the wrong impression that rectal douching is safe:

• Using harsh, inappropriate tools can cause damage to delicate rectal tissues.
• It can cause injury, infection, or push bacteria further inside if done improperly.
• It imbalances the body’s natural bowel rhythms.
• May interfere with electrolyte balance.

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Why You Do Not Need Vaginal and Rectal Douching

Vaginal and rectal douching are unnecessary because both the vagina and rectum have natural self-cleansing mechanisms. They can maintain hygiene effectively without any external intervention.

Vaginal Self-Cleaning Mechanisms

• Lactobacilli bacteria are present in the vaginal microbiome. They produce lactic acid to sustain an acidic pH (3.8-4.5), inhibiting harmful microbes such as yeast or BV-causing bacteria.
• Vaginal discharge consists of shed epithelial cells, mucus, and fluids. It flushes out debris, old cells, and excess bacteria outward.
• Vaginal natural lubrication and hormonal shifts contribute to regulating this ecosystem.

Rectal Self-Cleaning Mechanisms

• Your rectum produces slippery mucus from special cells (goblet cells) to ease poop movement and catch dirt. This protects the inner lining from scratches or germs.
• Muscle squeezes (peristalsis) push waste out during poops. Additionally, good gut bacteria help break it down; hence, there is no need for extra rinsing.
• Regular pooping naturally clears leftover residue.

How Can Douching Reduce Fertility?

Douching has been shown to increase the risk of reduced fertility. 

Here are the possible key mechanisms of reduced fertility:

• No Room for Good Bacteria

Douching can remove lactobacilli that maintain an acidic pH (3.8-4.5). This allows harmful bacteria to overgrow, leading to bacterial vaginosis (BV).

• Pushes Harmful Germs in an Upward Direction

The methods can propel bacteria or yeast into the uterus or cervix. This can raise pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) risk, scar the fallopian tubes, and block the travel of sperm or an egg.

• Delay in Pregnancy Detection

It can mask infection symptoms such as odor and discharge. This lets untreated STIs/PID silently damage fertility. Douches can take longer to conceive on average.

Does Douching Affect Pregnancy? Yes | But How

• Women may have a harder time getting pregnant than women who do not douche.
• Increase the chance of damaged fallopian tubes and ectopic pregnancy.
• If left untreated, ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening and make it hard for a woman to get pregnant in the future.
• Douching can raise the risk of premature birth. 

Methods of Intimate Hygiene | 8 Methods

1. Vagina has a natural self-cleaning mechanism. Hence, only wash the external area (vulva, labia, clitoris) gently with your hands.
2. Do not wash inside the vagina.
3. After using the toilet, always wipe from front (vagina) to back (anus). This prevents the chances of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
4. Opt for loose-fitting underwear made from cotton. This prevents heat and moisture from getting trapped, which can increase the risk of infection.
5. Stay hydrated.
6. Eat fibrous food for good, natural vaginal microflora.
7. Both partners should wash their hands and genitals before an intimate act.
8. If you prefer using a product to wash only the outer part, choose a mild, fragrance-free, pH-balanced intimate wash (around pH 3.5-4.5).

What to Avoid for Intimate Health

• Avoid douching
• Avoid scented products such as scented pads, tampons, wipes
• Avoid wearing damp clothes (they encourage bacterial growth)

Conclusion 

Do not fall under marketing gimmicks and trends of intimate area hygiene, especially when you are pregnant or planning. Nature has gifted your intimate area with natural bacteria and lubricants that can take care of it. 

Always follow methods that are scientifically proven and doctor-recommended. This will help your overall health, including your intimate area.

Planning to Protect Your Baby’s Health in the Future

Then, like many parents in Singapore, you can also consider an option like cord blood storage for stem cell preservation from Cryoviva Singapore.

Why are parents choosing it? Stem cells from cord blood offer the following benefits:

• Safeguard from 80 diseases, including cancers, blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and genetic conditions.
• Support healthy immune systems after post-chemotherapy.
• Cord blood collection is non-invasive, painless, and risk-free for mother and baby just after delivery.

You can contact Cryoviva Singapore by speaking to our dedicated team to guide you further in the stem cell preservation services.

• Phone number: (65) 8339 8482
• Address: Corporate Office 37 Jalan Pemimpin, #01-06 Mapex, Singapore 577177
• Write Us: enquiry@cryoviva.com.sg

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. For intimate health, especially during pregnancy, contact your healthcare professional only.

Note: This content is medically reviewed by the Cord Blood Collection Team of Cryoviva Singapore, a leading private cord blood bank in Singapore that has successfully stored over 10,000 umbilical cord blood and cord tissue units. All content is medically reviewed to ensure reliability and clinical accuracy.