Although some pregnant women use vaginal douche to keep that area clean, its use may cause some harm. What risks does vaginal douche present to a pregnant woman?
In general, vaginal douche is used to clean the vagina, but in this article, we'll learn about the risks it poses to expectant mothers:
Damages of vaginal lotion for pregnant women
Pregnant women who use vaginal douche may experience a number of potential negative effects, including the following:
1. Pelvic inflammatory disease
One of the harms of vaginal douche for pregnant women is that it increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease , which is an inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, which in turn reduces the possibility of pregnancy in the future.
2. Premature birth
One of the risks of vaginal douche for pregnant women is premature birth, but it is important to note that, unlike when done during pregnancy, using vaginal douche in the six months prior to conception does not increase the risk.
3. Ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is one of the harms of vaginal douching for a pregnant woman, as vaginal douche increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which in turn increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, and the more vaginal douche is used, the greater the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
4. Vaginal infections
Because vaginal washing upsets the balance of the bacteria that are naturally present in the vagina, using vaginal douching increases the risk of contracting vaginal infections like bacterial or fungal vaginosis.
It is important to note that while some people use vaginal douching to treat infections, doing so raises the possibility of the infection spreading to other reproductive system organs.
5. Cervicitis
One of the cervix diseases, cervicitis, is an irritation and inflammation of the cervix that results in many unsettling symptoms, including itching and pain in the vagina. Cervicitis is one of the risks of vaginal douche for pregnant women.
6. Other damages
Of the other harms of vaginal douche for pregnant women, we mention:
- Having a miscarriage.
- Cervical cancer.
- Infection with endometriosis .
- Amniocentesis.
Is vaginal douche necessary?
The vagina is one of the organs that work on Cleaning itself automatically, despite the fact that many women use vaginal douching for a variety of reasons, including: to get rid of unpleasant odours in the vagina, to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, or to clean the vagina of sperm after intercourse or blood residue after menstruation.
The presence of a vaginal odour is occasionally thought to be normal; however, if the intensity of the odour increases or the odour is accompanied by other symptoms, such as itching or pain, then this matter calls for a visit to the doctor. The acidic nature of the vagina also has the ability to control the growth of bacteria and reduce the risk of infection.
If you must clean the vagina, stay away from the vaginal douche and only wash the outer vulva with warm water and a mild, unscented soap.
Ways to keep the vagina clean when pregnant
We must learn about alternative, healthier ways to keep the vagina clean while pregnant after identifying the risks of vaginal douche, and we mention the following techniques among them:
- Washing the vagina with unperfumed soap and water by fixing the outer folds of the vagina and washing the inner folds.
- Make sure to dry the vagina and the surrounding parts after showering or after performing exercise, to avoid infection with many vaginal infections.
- Use deodorant products after consulting a doctor, and be careful not to use them inside the vagina.
- Wearing cotton underwear, which allows air to flow and prevents moisture from forming at the vagina.