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Fighting Vaginal Odor: Is Douching Bad For You And Natural Feminine Douches

Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt less “fresh” down there? Vaginal smells can happen to the best of us; unfortunately, they can also make a date night go bad. Fighting vaginal odor can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. 


How to make your vagina smell good?

Aside from products for vaginal odor like vaginal deodorant, one of the oldest methods used by women to help “clean things out” down there deals with douching. If you have been debating using this method to make your vagina smell better, it may be time to take a closer look at how douching can affect your vaginal odor and what it can do for you.

 

What is vaginal douching?

Vaginal douching is the process of using water (or a natural solution) to clean the vagina. The water (or solution) is inserted in the vagina, then “squirted” out. Douching has been around for hundreds of years. But before thinking of any homemade vaginal douche, we advise you to learn a little bit more about this method for fighting vaginal odor. 

Natural Douching, hands and flower

 

Douching for women: myths vs. facts

There are several common rumors surrounding vaginal douching that need to be addressed. These are some of the more common ones you should be aware of:
  • Can hot water tighten the vagina? No, douching with hot water will not tighten the vaginal walls. If anything, it can cause a serious burn down there and may even spark an infection. 
  • Does a vinegar vaginal douche tighten you down there? Doctors weighed in on this, and the answers were unanimous. No, douching with vinegar will not tighten your vaginal muscles. While vinegar is a traditional natural feminine douche, it’s best used diluted and won’t impact tightness.
  • Should you use a cleaning solvent down there? No! Lysol used to be used as a birth control douche back in the 1930s. This often had lethal results and could easily cause scarring and infertility. 
  • Does douching make you dry? It can, especially if you douche frequently with a drying solution. This is one reason you may want to abstain from douching.

    • How to make a natural feminine douche

    If you want to try your own homemade vaginal douche solution, use one of these options:
  • Pure water. Water is the best choice, since it will not irritate your vagina. 
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1-liter water mixed. There are other recipes that go as far as 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, but it’s best to err on the side of caution. 
  • Marshmallow root tea. This was an old remedy used in the 1970s for certain ailments. 

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    Is douching safe for women? 

    Douching is generally safe when done properly, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it. A better question is, “Is douching bad for you?” In most cases, that answer is a fairly firm “YES!” 
    Doctors advise against douching because it can kill the natural bacteria and flora in your vagina. There is also evidence to suggest that douching can cause infections like Bacterial Vaginosis, increase the risk of transmission in STIs, and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder.

    Can you douche while pregnant? 

    If you are pregnant, you should not try to douche until after the baby is born. There are research studies that suggest that douching can make it harder to conceive, more likely that babies are going to be born early, and a higher rate of pregnancy-related problems. 

     Woman's underwear and flower

     

    Five smart alternatives that actually help fight vaginal odor

    Douching is clearly not a good move when you are trying to fight vaginal odor.  These five alternatives to fighting vaginal odor are:
    1. Get yourself checked at an OB-GYN. Some funky smells are actually a sign of a serious infection that should be cleared up with antibiotics. Douching will not help an STI or vaginosis!
    2. Change up your diet. Eating less curry, onions, and similarly “potent” foods. Sometimes, food can alter your body odor. This includes body odor down there.
    3. Stop trying to wash the inside of your vagina. Counterintuitively, less is more here. 
    4. Wear breathable underwear. Cotton breathes well and allows your vagina to have more ventilation. This actually reduces your chance of getting sweat trapped there.
    5. Shower daily, especially if you go to the gym. This can help prevent “swamp ass.”

    Need help getting intimate?

    Intimacy isn’t just about prepping your body for a roll in the hay. Sometimes, it’s also about prepping your mind. Bido’s unique blend of botanicals and vitamins are here to help you relax and get in the mood for some lovin’. Give it a shot today! 

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