Is douching safe during pregnancy?

Most health care professionals and experts who work with women, don't consider douching a necessity. During pregnancy douching should always be avoided. There are a few reasons for this...

• Douching can cause an air embolism, one that can be fatal even, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
• Douching can introduce bacteria and other icky germs into your vaginal canal.
• Douching changes the ph environment of your vagina which can make you extra prone to developing infections. Plus, it can push existing bacteria and infections further up - to your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

If you're trying to get pregnant you should avoid douching since some studies have noted that women who douche regularly seem to have more issue with conception. If you're trying to avoid pregnancy, douching is also not a great birth control method - despite what you may have heard, douching after sex does not prevent pregnancy, say, like a condom or birth control pills do. Learn more about the problems with douching.