Staying Clean During Your Period

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 odor or infection. To date, there is little evidence of this.

The simple truth is that douching can disrupt the vaginal flora and increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

This article explains how to stay clean during your period and why douching should not be a part of your vaginal hygiene routine.

Menstruation Is Messy But Not Dirty

Despite what some people may feel, menstruation (your period) is not "dirty." It is a normal process in which the lining of the uterus (womb) is shed when pregnancy has not occurred during the roughly 28-day cycle.

As the lining is shed, between 2 and 5 tablespoons of menstrual fluid is discharged, 50% of which is comprised of blood. The discharge can cause staining and be messy, but all that is usually needed to clean the mess is plain water.

In some cultures, menstrual bleeding is not only considered unpleasant but taboo. In parts of Southeast Asia, as many as one in three girls are restricted from going to school if they are having their period.

Many of the same attitudes account for why vaginal douching is twice as common among Black females in the United States than White females. Particularly in Black communities, the practice is often handed down from mother to daughter under the presumption that it prevents odor and infection, enhances sexual pleasure, and contributes to overall cleanliness.

But often underpinning the practice is a general discomfort with female sexuality, portrayed by some as "dirty" or "unclean." In cases like this, vaginal douching may be regarded as a way to keep yourself spiritually "clean" for a male partner.

Don't Use a Douche

Douche comes from the French word for “to wash” or “to shower.” When you douche, you are spraying water, a vinegar-based solution, or antiseptic chemicals into the vagina to rinse it out and make it "clean." It may also be used to avoid smearing menstrual blood on a partner during sex.

The problem is that the vagina is not "dirty," and the "cleaning" of the vagina poses numerous health risks.

Your vagina stays healthy by maintaining a normal balance of acidity and alkalinity, known as pH. The correct pH (between 3.8 to 5.0) ensures that the vaginal flora—the makeup of bacteria and yeast in the vagina—remains in balance. This not only keeps the vagina healthy but also prevents potentially harmful bacteria from overgrowing and establishing an infection.

When you douche, you are disrupting both the pH and normal balance of the vaginal flora. This can lead to a wide range of health concerns, including:

• Vaginal discomfort: Including vaginal dryness, irritation, or pain during sex
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): A condition caused by the overgrowth of "bad" bacteria
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV: Caused when you strip away vaginal mucus and create tiny tears that allows STIs easier access into the body
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An inflammatory infection of the reproductive organs that can lead to infertility, often caused by an STI
• Pregnancy compilations: Including preterm birth and ectopic pregnancy

Clean Your Vulva With Water

Some people refer to the female genital tract as "self-cleaning." This is because the vagina secretes fluids to continually flush out the vagina while maintaining a healthy pH.

When you allow the process to occur on its own, it cleans not only the internal reproductive organs but also parts of the external organs, known as the vulva.

Thereafter, the only thing left is to clean visible blood or residue that may be smeared on the vulva.

To do so:

• Clean the vulva with plain water. If you feel you need a little extra cleaning, you can use a gentle, unscented soap.
• Spread the outer lips (labia) apart and gently cleanse around the folds, using your hands or a clean washcloth.
• Avoid getting water into the vagina.
• Pat dry gently with a clean cloth or unscented toilet paper.
• Avoid using any scented product (including feminine hygiene sprays, cleansers, or lotions) that can irritate the vulva and cause itching, dryness, or inflammation (vulvitis).

Sex During Your Period

If you are concerned about the appearance of blood during sex, you can do a light washing beforehand but should still avoid douching.

Instead, advise your partner of your concerns. If they are put off by the thought of blood, they can either delay sex until you are ready or engage in non-vaginal sex.

Some partners don't mind a little blood and are comfortable engaging in period sex. However, condoms should be used if you're not on regular birth control as you can still get pregnant during this stage of the cycle.

You will also need to remember to remove a tampon if you are using one to avoid getting it pushed in deeper.

Wash Blood Out of Your Clothes

If you get menstrual blood on your sheet, underwear, or clothes, you can prevent staining by acting immediately.

Here is a simple home remedy you can use to remove blood stains:

1. Place an old towel under the sheet or clothing item to catch any soak-through.
2. Gently pat the blood stain with hydrogen peroxide. The stain should start bubbling immediately.
3. After a few minutes, place the item in the washer on the cold cycle. Do not use the warm cycle as it can set (rather than remove) the stain.
4. Check after washing to see if the stain is removed. If not, try another round of hydrogen peroxide.
5. When the stain is amply removed, dry on the heat setting appropriate for the fabric.

Summary

If you want to clean a mess caused by your period, you can do so by gently washing the external female genitals (called the vulva) with plain water.

Do not douche as this can disrupt the vaginal flora and increase the risk of bacteria vaginosis, sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy complications like preterm birth and ectopic pregnancy.