Focusing on women, sexual health

By: Kathy Greaves

Posted: 5/14/08

Dear Readers,

In honor of our recent holiday celebrating mothers, I thought I would focus on questions related specifically to women and their sexual health.

Dear Dr. Sex,

Is douching bad? Do you suggest it? Will it help with odor?

Signed, Not So Fresh

Dear Not So Fresh,

Douching is completely and totally unnecessary. In fact, douching can even have negative results.

For those unfamiliar with douching, it is a process by which a woman squirts fluid up into her vagina to clean it. In theory (product marketing theory that is) douching cleans the vagina and leaves a woman feeling "fresh all over."

In reality though, the vagina is a self-cleaning structure, secreting fluids designed to ensure a proper pH balance and help the body fight infection. By forcing artificial substances into the vagina, the pH level is forced into a state of imbalance. The vagina is then forced to work overtime, increasing the secretion levels in an effort to regain a balanced pH.

Douching repeatedly causes the vagina to repeatedly increase secretion production. Having to repeatedly overproduce secretions can actually cause a vaginal infection. Douching also washes away the normal vaginal secretions and may even push unwanted bacteria further up into the reproductive system. Finally douching does not - I repeat does not - work as a means of birth control.

Sperm move fast after ejaculation and some will reach your uterus before you reach the bathroom. Additionally, douching may even force sperm further up into the uterus.

So basically, douching serves no purpose at all and can even be harmful.

In terms of vaginal odor, I cannot imagine why the smell of vinegar (a common ingredient in over-the-counter douches) would be preferred to the natural odor of the vagina.

Nonetheless, if you want to feel fresh, I have a few simple suggestions as well as one somewhat unconventional idea.

First, bathe daily with mild soap and water on the outside of the vagina only. Do not get soap in the vagina as it will alter the pH level just as the douche would.

Second, avoid products like feminine deodorant sprays, scented soaps or bath gels, scented toilet paper, scented tampons and scented sanitary napkins. These products can be highly irritating to the vulval and vaginal tissue. Also, the vaginal powders and sprays have been associated with ovarian cancer.

Third, don't wear nylon underwear, hosiery or tights for an extended period of time. These products maintain a very warm, very moist vagina - conditions that bacteria love.

And fourth, don't wear underwear to bed. This extended period of time allows the vagina to air out.

The unconventional suggestion - particularly for women who have higher levels of vaginal secretions - is to either trim or shave completely the pubic hair around the vaginal opening. This will keep the secretions from "attaching" to the hair and staying moist.

Instead, the secretions will be absorbed by the underwear. On a more sexual note, you could let your partner trim or shave your hair and consider it foreplay.

Dear Dr. Sex,

How does the pill work physiologically to prevent pregnancy?

Signed, Shopping for Birth Control

Dear Shopping,

The pill you are referring to is the oral contraceptive pill. Formally, they should not be referred to as birth control pills. While it is an issue of semantics, there is a difference between birth control and contraception. Contraception prevents conception while birth control controls birth.

Therefore the pill in question prevents conception, so it should be referred to as an oral contraceptive because it prevents the egg and the sperm from uniting. It does this in two ways.

First, in most women, it prevents ovulation. The most common pill is the combined oral contraceptive which, when taken, results in an artificially high level of estrogen. This prevents the release of two hormones related to ovulation.

Second, this high level of estrogen changes the cervical mucous and its consistency making it difficult for sperm to pass into the uterus.

Finally, this estrogen level also changes the uterine lining making it inhospitable in the unlikely event that ovulation occurs, and sperm get past the cervix, and a sperm and the egg unite.

Kathy Greaves Ph.D., is a senior instructor at OSU in the department of human development and family sciences. The opinions expressed in her columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Daily Barometer staff. Greaves can be reached at kathy.greaves@oregonstate.edu or by placing questions in the box at the MU information desk. All questions submitted to Greaves are subject to being answered in her Dr. Sex column.