This was revealed by Dr. John Renner of the Consumer Health Information Research Institute in "The Women's Book of Home Remedies" who said that routine douching may actually do more harm than good.

The market is full of a variety of feminine hygiene products that promise to "clean" the vagina. These include sprays, perfumed soaps and other vaginal deodorants. However, doctors said these products contain alcohol and other harsh chemicals that can dry out and irritate sensitive vaginal tissues. Regular use of these products can upset the vaginal environment and cause harmful microorganisms to grow.

"Women have been told they should routinely douche with a variety of feminine hygiene products to 'clean' the vagina. The vagina doesn't need help in cleansing itself. It does so naturally. All routine douching does is alter the vagina's pH and encourage yeast infections. It can also increase the risk of PID, a potentially deadly infection of the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes," warned Renner.

A study in The Journal of the American Medical Association said women who douched three or more times per month were three-and-a-half times more likely to have PID than women who douched less than once a month. Symptoms of PID include fever, chills, lower abdominal pain or back pain, pain during or after intercourse, and a pus-like vaginal discharge.

Another study in The American Journal of Epidemiology showed that women who douched more than once a week were nearly five times as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who douched less often.

Regular douching also encourages the growth of the fungus called Candida albicans that often causes a vaginal infection called vaginitis or candidiasis. Vaginitis is characterized by an itching and burning sensation and a vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese.

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