Should I douche? What is the best way to do douching with thrush? Is there a need for douching

Thrush is caused by the colonization of the microflora of the vagina by fungi of the genus Candida, which are also normally present there, but in smaller quantities. Their increase occurs under the influence of various factors: a decrease in immunity, intestinal dysbacteriosis, stress, hormonal disruptions.

Perhaps every woman in the post-Soviet space knows what douching is. But not everyone knows how to properly douche with thrush at home, and in an effort to achieve good goals, do not cause additional harm to your body.

Treatment of thrush with douching: to do or not?

What it is? At its core, douching with thrush in women is a therapeutic procedure, which consists in treating the vaginal mucosa with certain therapeutic solutions. Properly performed douching is a convenient and safe method of treatment that has practically no restrictions and does not affect the internal organs and systems.

Nevertheless, douching is strongly discouraged:

• during pregnancy (this disrupts the natural microflora of the vagina, can cause increased dysbacteriosis or excessive dryness, which negatively affects the mother and baby);
• before visiting a gynecologist (washing out microflora threatens you with incorrect test results);
• during menstruation (this carries a threat of infection of the uterus, contributes to the spread of pathogenic microorganisms);
• with acute inflammation, after abortion and childbirth.

Such treatment also has a significant drawback - douching with thrush, chosen as an independent treatment at home, will not be able to lead to a complete recovery. In addition, most gynecologists around the world, based on many clinical studies, argue that self-medication with douching is a very risky activity:

1. douching promotes the spread of infection and the development of inflammation of the uterine appendages, endometritis.
2. Douching the natural composition of the normal microflora of the vagina is disturbed, which provokes the thrush itself.

Remember that for the treatment of thrush there are special effective medicines in the form of suppositories or tablets, such as Livarol, Clotrimazole, Terzhinan and others. These are more reasonable, desirable treatment options than the dubious chamomile or baking soda douche.

How to do douching at home?

First of all, it is advisable to start the procedure twice a day - this is after waking up in the morning and in the evening, before going to bed. Then you can gradually move to one time. The usual number of procedures is mainly 8-10 times per course.

1. Before douching, be sure to wash the genitals.
2. You will need a regular syringe, and preferably an Esmarch mug, which is a container with a hose and two tips: vaginal and rectal. Boil the tip, and rinse the rubber container well, pour hot water, rinse with boiled water.
3. The prepared solution should be at body temperature, approximately 37 degrees.
4. You can irrigate with thrush right in the bathroom. Place Esmarch's mug on a wall or door, at a height of about 75 cm from your lower back, taking into account that you are lying in the bathroom. Lie on your back, sit comfortably. Bend your knees, slightly spread them apart. Lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly so as not to get microtrauma of the mucosa. Insert it into the vagina to a depth of 5 - 7 cm, gradually open the clamp. The jet of the solution should be weak and not cause discomfort. The therapeutic solution will independently flow into and out of the vagina, washing its walls.
5. For the effectiveness of treatment after washing the vagina, it is recommended to lie down for 15-20 minutes.
6. For one douching, take 200 - 300 ml, a glass of medicinal solution or herbal infusion.

There are several options for douching at home, and which one to choose for herself, each woman must decide for herself. Who is comfortable. If you do not dare to carry out the procedure at home on your own, then the gynecologist will do it in a hospital setting.

How to do douching with thrush?

For the preparation of any medicinal solution, it is necessary to use only boiled water at room temperature. The course of treatment ranges from several days to 1 week, until the complete disappearance of all symptoms of the disease. Frequency rate - 1-2 times a day.

In addition to chamomile and soda, the following solutions can be used to treat thrush with douching:

1. Hydrogen peroxide. Add a tablespoon of peroxide to a 0.5l jar of water, stir well.
2. St. John's wort and onions. Two tablespoons of St. John's wort are added to a liter of boiled water, insisted for two hours and filtered. Add the juice of half an onion to the resulting broth.
3. Tea tree . Tea tree oil (1 tsp) and medical alcohol are mixed and five drops of the mixture are added to a glass of boiled water.
4. Lemon. The juice from half a lemon is dissolved in a liter of water.
5. Potassium permanganate. A few crystals are diluted in a glass of water, the solution should have a pale pink color.

Baking soda is one of the more common home remedies for thrush. A solution of soda makes the acidic environment of the vagina, which Candida likes so much, alkaline. During the procedure, the development and destruction of pathogenic microorganisms is stopped. Also, soda helps to get rid of unpleasant discharge and itching.

However, with excessive zeal to use soda solutions, you can get the exact opposite effect. The mucous membrane of the vagina is overdried and an inflammatory-allergic reaction occurs. Douching with sodium bicarbonate is contraindicated during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth, especially in the presence of severe inflammation of the genital organs or erosions.

To prepare a solution for douching from thrush, mix 1 tsp in 500 ml of boiled water. soda. It is necessary to carry out the manipulation in the morning and in the evening. Douching with a solution of soda is performed in the absence of an allergy to alkalis. In addition, it is desirable that a woman does not take contraceptives.

Traditional medicine also suggests douching with chamomile infusion.

To prepare a decoction, take 2 tablespoons of dried flowers per 1 liter. boiling water. Pour boiling water over the flowers, put on fire and bring to a boil. After the infusion has cooled to 37-38 degrees, it can be used for douching.

Such a wonderful natural antiseptic as chamomile can be combined with oak bark, taken in equal proportions, to enhance the effect. Douching with chamomile can be alternated with soda treatment.

This is not as common, but no less effective method. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antioxidant that destroys almost all known types of pathogenic bacteria, including viral and fungal infections. Such a solution inhibits the viability of anaerobic microorganisms that live inside the vagina, which greatly facilitates the general condition of the disease.

In order to prepare a liquid for the procedure, mix a tablespoon of peroxide and 0.5 liters of water (warm and boiled) and douching. If there was abundant discharge during a fungal infection, the procedure helps almost immediately. However, if you are not sure about the cause of the discharge, you should not use the method without first consulting a gynecologist.

Furacilin

Using a solution of furacilin as a composition for douching will relieve the unpleasant manifestations of thrush - itching, burning, irritation, relieve swelling and inflammation.

To prepare a solution, five tablets of furacilin are diluted in 500 ml of boiling water or hot water (it dissolves better).

Malavit is a popular herbal remedy. It can be bought at a pharmacy. The drug relieves swelling, destroys aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms.

The douching solution is prepared as follows: dilute 15 ml of the solution in 300 ml of boiled water. The course of treatment is 5 days or more at the discretion of the attending physician.

Ready solution can be found in any pharmacy at a very affordable price. Initially, this drug comes in a convenient packaging that does not require the use of a syringe - the bottle is equipped with its own spout for easy administration of the solution.

You should take a horizontal position and insert the spout of the bottle into the vagina. After squeezing out a little chlorhexidine, you need to lie down for a few minutes. Constant douching with this medicine is not recommended. Otherwise, bacterial vaginosis may occur.

Also, douching with this substance very often provokes allergic reactions.

Douching is an affordable method of treatment that allows you to influence the mucous membrane of the vagina, the vaginal segment of the cervix, and also allows you to reflexively affect the tissues of the uterus. This method of treatment allows you to dissolve and wash the pathological contents, disinfect the vaginal tissues, and also locally act on the mucous membrane with drugs.

There are a lot of gynecological diseases that the douching procedure will help to cope with. Their frequent diagnosis is associated with complex anatomical features of the female reproductive system. In the vagina, cervix, there are a large number of recesses, pockets. When the environment is disturbed, the tissues become inflamed and eroded. All this leads to the development of severe pathological processes.

1. At .
2. With endocervicitis.
3. With milkmaid.
4. The diagnosis is erosion of the cervix.
5. With chronic inflammation in the structures of the uterine appendages.
6. With chronic adhesive pelvioperiotonitis.

1. With bleeding from the uterus.
2. With inflammatory phenomena in the tissues of the genital organs, which have an acute stage of the course.
3. With menstruation .
4. During pregnancy.

Not all representatives of the female half have an idea how to douche correctly. The gynecologist must explain and teach the procedure. But if even after that the patient still has questions, this article will give detailed answers to them.

Clinical studies conducted on the basis of gynecological centers show that a five-day course of douching is enough to get rid of the symptoms of candidiasis.

• In the early days, doctors recommend douching 2 times a day: in the morning, immediately after sleep and in the evening, before bedtime.
• The procedure is carried out 2 times a day for 3 days, after which they douche only in the evening.
• After 5 days, the procedure cannot be completely abandoned, but it is carried out once a week to maintain the achieved result.
• At home, an ordinary douche pear is used to irrigate the vagina. In specialized centers for these purposes, a special tool is shown - Esmarch's mug. Before each manipulation, the tip is washed and boiled.

The douche is a personal hygiene product, so the other person cannot use it to protect themselves. In a situation where the indicated instrument began to be used for the douching procedure, in no case should it be used for other purposes, for example, for enemas or microclysters.

Douching options in the clinic

There are clinical cases when a pregnant woman is still prescribed douching, then the procedure is carried out in a specialized center, under the supervision of specialists. In hospitals, manipulation is carried out for overweight women, because on their own, at home, they simply cannot perform it efficiently and correctly.

• Increased risk of losing a baby in the first trimester.
• Possibility of premature birth in the last trimester.
• The possibility of air entering the uterus and the development of the inflammatory process.
• Washing out beneficial microbial strains from the vagina and reducing the natural defense mechanisms of the mucous membrane.
• High probability of mechanical damage and tissue infection.

To avoid the douching procedure during pregnancy, you must follow all the recommendations of the gynecologist for the prevention of gynecological pathologies, and pregnancy should be planned.

Douching steps step by step

Douching in gynecology is most often performed with a soda solution or infusion (decoction) from medicinal herbal preparations. Consider how to do douching correctly. Patients must adhere to the following rules:

1. The solution is prepared a few minutes before manipulation. It should be warm, but not hot.
2. Disinfect the tip of the instrument. To do this, rinse it under running water, and then boil for several minutes.
3. Squeeze the pear of the tool as much as possible to release all the air.
4. The syringe is filled with medicine.
5. Direct implementation of the procedure.

A woman douches either over the toilet or in the bathroom.

• Before that, you need to take the correct posture: Tilt your torso forward and bend your knees.
• During these manipulations, the patient should be as relaxed as possible. Therefore, experts recommend other positions: sitting on the toilet with legs spread, or lying in the bathroom, with a slightly raised pelvis.
• To insert the syringe tip, the woman gently spreads her labia with her fingers, inserts the instrument, and slowly releases the solution. After that, clean cotton underwear is required.

The douching procedure cannot be chosen for self-hygienic care. Before deciding on this, you need to consult with a specialist, because the process can have negative consequences.

What means to use and possible complications

Vaginal douching is most often prescribed for erosions, chronic inflammation in the tissues of the vagina and uterus, as well as for fungal invasion. As a result of the procedure, the contents are washed out of the vagina, significantly reducing the concentration of lactobacilli. A low concentration of lactobacilli leads to the active reproduction of other pathogenic microorganisms. That is why gynecologists do not recommend frequently resorting to douching, and some generally prohibit this method.

If the patient is diagnosed with thrush, then it is recommended to use a warm infusion of chamomile or calendula or soda (1 glass of water + 1 tsp baking soda) as a solution for douching.
Douching is not the primary treatment for a fungal infection. Antifungal suppositories must be included in the treatment regimen. With candidiasis, a solution of citric acid is also used. To prepare it, dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of warm water. citric acid. This solution is also effective for trichomoniasis.
An acidic solution has one drawback - the activity of spermatozoa slows down, which makes conception impossible. Some of the fair sex use this method to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The acidic environment in the vagina is also maintained by douching with hydrogen peroxide.

With thrush, there is an acidic environment in the vaginal area. To shift it to the alkaline side, you can use ready-made solutions that can be purchased at any pharmacy chain: Chlorhexidine or Furacilin. These solutions have one positive quality. They are sold in special containers equipped with a spout. Therefore, there is no need to buy another pear-syringe.

What means are better not to use for douching

1. A solution of potassium permanganate. This substance, especially at high concentrations, can contribute to the burn of the delicate mucous membrane, the mucous membrane becomes dried, which leads to slight tissue trauma. In addition, as a result of douching, the natural microbial environment is washed out.
2. A solution of hydrogen peroxide and soda. If the solution is not made correctly, a high concentration of the active agent can lead to mild inflammation, burns, and even eroded areas.

For any gynecological diseases, you cannot self-medicate by douching, no matter how correctly you perform it. Only a doctor can prescribe such a method of treatment and choose a solution of the desired concentration for this. Self-medication can end badly, causing serious consequences for the female body, the treatment of which will last a long time, and is not always effective.

Marina Patsulo

Until recently, douching was used everywhere, but today its popularity has declined significantly due to the large number of contraindications and side effects of this procedure. In particular, many girls are interested in whether it is possible to douche in various ways during menstruation, or if this can provoke certain complications.

What is dangerous douching during menstruation?

During the entire menstrual cycle, serious changes occur in a woman's body. Starting from the first day, a layer of the endometrium grows in the uterus of the fair sex, to which the fetal egg will attach in case of fertilization.

If the conception of the baby did not occur, the extra layer of the endometrium is rejected and leaves the body in the form of menstrual flow.

At this moment, the girl's cervix opens slightly. This is laid down by nature so that blood clots and various tissues freely leave the uterine cavity. It is for this reason that during the period of active menstruation, the main female organ becomes especially vulnerable to all kinds of bacteria and pathogenic flora.

Thus, even in the case of a procedure using ordinary water, you can bring an infection into the uterine cavity and provoke the development of an inflammatory process.

In addition, any methods of vaginal irrigation involve the use of various solutions, which include certain chemicals and drugs.

If one of the aggressive substances enters the vagina during menstruation, it can very quickly reach the walls of the uterus and cause a serious chemical burn. In some cases, the consequences of such procedures are completely untreatable and overshadow the entire future life of a woman.

Finally, do not forget that any substances that enter the vagina during menstruation are washed out very quickly along with the discharge. Therefore, douching at the beginning of the menstrual cycle can be not only dangerous for a woman's health, but simply pointless.

What are the contraindications for douching after menstruation?

The douching procedure can harm women's health not only during menstruation, but also after them.

So, irrigating the vagina with any liquids is not recommended in the following cases:

• during the period of expectation of the child, this procedure can provoke a miscarriage or the onset of premature birth;
• for any inflammatory diseases in the acute stage, douching can only aggravate the situation;
• within a few weeks after the birth process, the female body is significantly weakened and very vulnerable to various infections and viruses, so it is better to wait a bit with any such procedures;
• for the same reasons, it is necessary to allow the body to recover from a miscarriage, a purge, or an abortion;
• Another situation where this procedure should not be performed is a hormonal imbalance in a woman's body, which manifests itself in the form of diseases such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Although no studies have proven that irrigation of the vagina with medicinal solutions worsens the course of these ailments, it will absolutely not be able to improve the condition of a woman;
• before visiting a gynecologist, it is better not to carry out the procedure, since in this case the results of the tests that the doctor will take may turn out to be unreliable;
• finally, you can not douche just like that, to cleanse the vagina for personal hygiene. This procedure can be carried out strictly for medical reasons and only under the supervision of a doctor.

How to douche with soda, and can it be done during menstruation?

Many women use a baking soda solution for douching, as they believe that it helps to conceive an unborn baby.

In fact, no clinical trials confirm the effectiveness of this method, however, it has been proven that it can be useful in the complex treatment of thrush.

To prepare a soda solution, dilute 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of clean boiled water.

Before the procedure, you should lie horizontally, slightly raising the pelvis. After introducing the solution into the vagina, it must be held for 30-40 seconds to create an alkaline environment.

If you are using this method to increase the chance of successful conception, douching should be done approximately half an hour before sexual intercourse. For the treatment of thrush, you can do this at any time, repeating the procedure 5-6 times a day.

Douching with soda solution during menstruation is perhaps the most dangerous way. Soda is an incredibly aggressive substance that is very likely to provoke a chemical burn of the mucous membrane, which can lead to unpredictable consequences on the part of the female body. In addition, the chances of conceiving a child during menstruation are extremely small, and increasing them by irrigating the vagina with a soda solution does not make any sense.

In what situations can a doctor prescribe douching with Octenisept?

Usually, douching with the pharmaceutical preparation "Octenisept" is prescribed if the patient has a bacterial infection in the vagina. This drug is very strong, so before use it must be diluted with boiled water at room temperature.

For irrigation of the vagina, a dilution of 1:6 or even slightly less is recommended. This method is incredibly effective, since the active substance "Octenisept", octenidine dihydrochloride, has a very high antimicrobial activity.

It is possible to douche "Octenisept" only if there are no contraindications, it is absolutely impossible to do this during menstruation, otherwise you can also get a very serious chemical burn.

Douching with chamomile and calendula before, during and after menstruation

Irrigation of the vagina with decoctions of medicinal herbs has been used since ancient times. Unlike the above methods, the procedure using liquids prepared on the basis of natural plants is much safer.

The most popular medicinal herbs in this category are chamomile and calendula.

Both that and another plant is used in the treatment of candidiasis, as well as to relieve various inflammations. Calendula is also often used to alleviate the condition in the presence of cervical erosion.

Part 2.

Douching is a procedure for irrigating the internal genital tract with a special solution in order to treat or prevent female diseases. In what cases is it necessary to douche and how to do it correctly?

Most women do it at home. However, not everyone knows about the rules and contraindications when performing the procedure. Violation of the dosage of the solution or improper use of the douche can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of the development of inflammatory processes and violations of the vaginal microflora.

In gynecology

For vaginal douching in a medical institution, Esmarch's mug is used. The procedure is performed on a gynecological chair. Esmarch's mug is filled with a specially prepared solution of the drug and suspended in a vertical position at a height of about 10 centimeters above the level of the chair. Before douching, the patient is treated with the external genitalia with a solution of furacilin or distilled water. Then the tip of the mug is inserted into the vagina to a depth of 5-7 centimeters and the solution is let in with a little pressure.

At home

Douching is performed using a regular syringe or a rubber bulb. The procedure is most convenient to carry out while lying in the bath with knees bent and relaxed.

Douching is performed in the following sequence:

• Pour the room temperature solution into the syringe. For one session, you will need about 200-250 milliliters of liquid.
• Take a comfortable position. It is best when a woman lies in the bathroom and puts her feet on her sides. If this is not possible, then douching can be done while standing over the toilet or in the pelvis, but then the legs need to be slightly bent and lean forward.

Gently insert the tip of the syringe into the vagina to a depth of 5 centimeters. The resulting microtrauma of the mucosa can provoke the development of a bacterial infection, which will further aggravate the course of the disease.

• Slowly inject the solution inside, then contract the vaginal muscles for a few seconds, and then relax. By pressing the syringe, the pressure of the jet should be controlled, it should not be powerful and sharp. Otherwise, the fluid will enter the uterus and provoke the development of the inflammatory process.

It is important to disinfect the syringe after douching. To do this, inside it can be rinsed with a solution of potassium permanganate, and wiped outside with alcohol. It is forbidden to use one tip for the douching procedure and for enemas.

Why do

The procedure is prescribed for women with the following diseases:

• Thrush.
• Inflammation of the cervix (of various etiologies).
• Cervical erosion.
• Deviation from the norm of the microflora of the vagina.
• Colpitis.
• Chronic cystitis.
• Endometritis.

For girls, douching is mainly prescribed for the treatment of vulvovaginitis, using plastic or soft rubber tubes. The procedure is performed very carefully exclusively by a paramedic or doctor.

Some women use douching as a precaution against unwanted pregnancies. However, this is an erroneous opinion and such a procedure is ineffective, even if the girl performs it immediately after intercourse. Vaginal douching is also ineffective for protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Douching is also used by many women as a routine hygiene procedure. However, without special need to interfere with the natural, normal microflora of the vagina is highly undesirable. In the absence of diseases, a daily shower is sufficient to maintain hygiene.

What can be done

For douching at home, infusions of medicinal herbs are used (chamomile, oak bark, celandine, calendula, wormwood, sage, St. The choice depends on the purpose of the procedure. For example, douching with chamomile is performed in the treatment of thrush and erosion, and calendula is prescribed for women with colpitis and various inflammations of the vagina.

A soda solution is very popular among women as a remedy for treating thrush and eliminating its symptoms. Also, the tool is used to increase the likelihood of conception with an increased acidic environment of the genital tract. Soda neutralizes excess acidity in the vagina, contributing to a freer penetration of seminal fluid into the uterine cavity.

To neutralize fungal microorganisms and restore the natural environment of the vagina, solutions prepared on the basis of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar are also used. You will need 1 teaspoon of the product and 250 milliliters of warm water. With mild symptoms of candidiasis, 2-3 douches per day are sufficient.

Tea tree oil is also used for douching, it has a healing and anti-inflammatory effect. To carry out the procedure, you must first prepare a solution: mix the oil with medical alcohol (in a ratio of 1: 1), and then add a few drops of this mixture to a glass of water. Douche for 7 days no more than 1 time per day.

Among the pharmaceutical preparations for douching in gynecology are used:

• Furacilin.
• Chlorhexidine.
• Miramistin.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• Boric acid.
• Chlorophyllipt.
• Vagotil.
• Dekasan.
• Vagil powder.
• Romazulan.
• Potassium permanganate.
• Tsiteal.
• Rotokan.
• Tantum rose.
• Malavit.

Due to antiseptic, antibacterial, antimycotic and other useful properties, pharmaceutical preparations destroy pathogenic bacteria, including fungal and viral infections. Means inhibit the viability of anaerobic microorganisms inside the vagina, which facilitates the general condition of the disease. However, douching with medicinal solutions can only help in the initial stages of the disease and as an adjunct to the main treatment, they are ineffective in chronic or advanced processes.

During menstruation

It is impossible to douche during menstruation, as there is a risk of infection entering the cervix.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, procedures that are not agreed with the attending physician are not allowed, especially in the early stages. Any wrong move can cause a miscarriage or endanger the health of the expectant mother and her baby.

Also, you can not do douching after an abortion and in the first 1-1.5 months after childbirth. During this period, the process of restoring the mother's body and the healing of possible tears and sutures is still underway.