Urgent health warning issued against 'period douching'

An urgent health warning has been issued to anyone who 'douches' during their period.

Whether it's down to outfit restrictions, leakage anxiety, the chaos that is PMS, skin breakouts, food cravings, awful cramps, or a barely-there sex drive - I'm sure we can all agree just how darn inconvenient periods can be.

So, it's no surprise that many women and people who bleed each month are keen on finding ways to, um, 'speed up' the process or try their hardest to keep things from getting too messy.

We already know all about the controversial 'period scooping', but many women are actually taking it one step further and douching down there while in the shower.

"When I'm in the shower, I kind of try 'scooping' the blood out - I feel like I can 'wash away' gobs of blood before they get on my pad," one Redditor revealed. "Part of me also hopes this might make my period shorter even though I know that's not likely."

Anyone who 'period douches' has been issued a health warning by experts (Fiordaliso / Getty Images)

Another confessed: "I do this also since I have endometriosis, and really I can't help but do anything I can to get the clots of blood out as soon as possible.

"I am going to pass them one way or the other, so may as well be in the shower."

And a third 'period doucher' continued: "I don't know why I was so surprised to read that I'm not the only one who does this, whoop whoop."

Well, you may want to think twice before douching on your period, as health experts have warned that it is not actually effective for the reported purposes of getting rid of unpleasant odours, avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, preventing a pregnancy after intercourse and, as we say, washing away menstrual blood during your period.

Many women have taken to social media sharing their experiences with their feminine hygiene routine (Getty Stock Images)

WebMD states: "Some women say douching makes them feel cleaner. There is, though, very little scientific evidence of benefit from douching."

Meanwhile,Very Well Mind adds: "Managing your menstrual flow can be messy sometimes, and douching after your period may seem like an easy solution. But it is not.

"People who douche often often feel that it makes them feel 'cleaner' and helps prevent vaginal odour or infection. To date, there is little evidence of this."

WebMD cited several studies and highlighted three main risks attached to vaginal douching (Olga Pankova / Getty Images)

However, the experts warn that, overall, the risks of douching far outweigh the benefits.

Such risks include:

• Vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis). Douching upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora). These changes make the environment more favourable for the growth of bacteria that cause infection.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. Research has found that women who douche may have a 73 percent higher risk of getting PID.
• Pregnancy complications. Women who douche more than once a week reportedly have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who don't douche. According to research, douching may also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy by as much as 76 percent. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implants outside the uterus. The more a woman douches, the greater the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.
• Cervical cancer. Douching at least once a week has been linked to a possible increased chance of developing cervical cancer.

Womenshealth.com echoes this, recommending you keep your vagina clean and healthy by:

• Washing the outside of your vagina with warm water when you bathe. Some women also use mild soaps. But, if you have sensitive skin or any current vaginal infections, even mild soaps can cause dryness and irritation.
• Avoiding scented tampons, pads, powders, and sprays. These products may increase your chances of getting a vaginal infection.

So, should you 'douche' your period away? Well, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) says you should avoid doing so.