You asked, we answered: Is it OK to douche your vagina?

Published March 11, 2021

Published

picture of a woman in the shower

Question:

Is it OK to douche your vagina or no?

Answer from OB-GYN By Jennifer Griffin Miller, MD:

The vagina is a part of the body that is naturally colonized with “good” bacteria such as Lactobacillus (think yogurt and probiotics!) These organisms, in combination with the natural secretions of the vagina, create a self-cleansing environment that prevents serious infections and maintains the health of the skin (mucosa) of the vagina. 

Douching can modify the types of organisms of the vagina by disrupting the colonization and potentially introducing other bacteria into the vagina. Gynecologists do not generally recommend douching for this reason.