VAGINAL DISCHARGE & DOUCHING
Some vaginal discharge is quite common and normal for women of childbearing age. Normally, cervical glands produce a clear mucus secretion that drains downward, mixing with bacteria, discarded vaginal cells, and Bartholin’s gland secretions. These substances may (depending on how much mucus there is) turn the mucus a whitish color (leukorrhea) and the discharge turns yellowish when exposed to air. There are times throughout the menstrual cycle that the cervical glands produce more mucus than others, depending on the amount of estrogen produced. This is normal. Sexual excitement and emotional stress have both been associated with a normal vaginal discharge. This discharge is a clear, mucus-like secretion. Disease may be indicated if vaginal discharge is abnormal in color, odor, or consistency, or significantly increased or decreased in amount. Very often, when the abnormal discharge is caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or transmitted through sexual intercourse, the sexual partner(s) may require treatment as well.
Excess discharge can be removed two different ways. The first of these is douching. This means rinsing the inside of the vagina with water. In order to do this you need to have a reusable douche set up. Go to any large pharmacy and pick one that looks like it would be comfortable for you. Fill the douche reservoir with warm water and add a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice. The amount is not critical; approximately a tablespoon will do. The function of the vinegar or lemon juice is to lower the pH and make it slightly acid like the vagina should be. You may also use about a teaspoon or boric acid crystals or powder. A douche like this can be used with no harmful effects because it is completely natural. Some doctors believe that this type of douching increases the risk of pelvic infections and ectopic pregnancies. I am not convinced that this is true, but it might be. To be on the safe side you might consider the alternative method discussed next.
Routine care
Good hygiene can help prevent some of the causes of abnormal discharge as well as help get rid of it if it occurs. Sometimes a little bit of extra patience is needed.
While many women use a douche to clean themselves after menstrual periods or sexual intercourse, gynecologists discourage such routine cleansing. The vagina is made to cleanse itself, and douching may remove the healthy bacteria lining the vagina (normal flora) that help protect you from infection.
By attempting to treat an abnormal vaginal discharge by douching, you might actually worsen the condition. Depending on the cause of the vaginal discharge, your health care provider might recommend a treatment specifically for the condition.
Do not douche without your health care provider’s knowledge when you have an abnormal discharge, and do not douche for 24 hours prior to seeing the doctor.
For yeast infections, medications such as Monistat can now be purchased over-the-counter. Prescription drugs may be necessary for some cases. Use these only if you KNOW that the discharge is caused by a yeast infection (if you have had identical symptoms that were diagnosed by a health care provider as a yeast infection).
If the discharge is caused by a sexually transmitted disease, the sexual partner must also be treated, even if there are no symptoms. Many organisms can harbor themselves without producing symptoms. Failure of the partner(s) to accept treatment can cause continual reinfection which may eventually (if not taken care of) lead to more extensive problems, possibly limiting future fertility and affecting overall health.
A second method of removing excessive vaginal discharge is called finger douching. You can do this in the shower by rinsing your fingers off and putting one or two fingers up inside your vagina as far as they will go. Remove your fingers and you will notice some discharge sticking to your fingers. Rinse this off and repeat the process until you can put your fingers inside your vagina and no discharge sticks to them. It is important to rinse your fingers carefully because any soap on your fingers might be irritating to the inside of the vagina.
Douching is rarely necessary, but it may decrease the risk of vaginal and bladder infections. Some women prefer to douche as a matter of personal hygiene. You may choose to douche frequently or not at all. If you're interested in advanced vaginal hygiene...
Commercial douche products, deodorant tampons, deodorant pads and feminine hygiene sprays should be avoided. They may contain ingredients to which you should be allergic. Disposable douches containing only vinegar and water are acceptable, but they're not very economical.
Sleeping without underwear is a good idea. This allows your genital area to be drier and cooler.
NEVER use pads, tampons or panty liners for discharge. If you and your physician can't cure the problem, switch to cotton underwear and accept that you're going to be doing more laundry.