Douching Raises Infection Risk, but Only for Women without Bacterial Vaginosis

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between pelvic inflammatory disease and douching a clinical study was conducted involving 654 women aged 14-37 years attending clinical sites in the eastern southern and central US. Participants were screened for endometritis upper genital infection and bacterial vaginosis as well as interviewed to determine background characteristics douching habits and risk factors. Results indicated that women who douched more than once a month were significantly more likely to have upper genital tract disease. Women who had douched within the previous 6 days also had increased odds of disease when compared with those who had not douched. The reason that women douched the product they used and the frequency of douching among women were not associated with the risk of endometritis or upper genital tract infection. Contrary to researchers expectations no significant association was noted between douching and upper genital tract disease among those with bacterial vaginosis. However an increased risk of genital tract disease in women with gonorrhea or chlamydia was observed relative to frequency of douching. Based on the observations it is assumed that inflammation or infection may be initiated by inciting upward bacterial movement but not exacerbate conditions that developed independent of douching.