Douching is the process of washing or cleaning out the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Douches are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine, and are usually squirted upward through a tube or nozzle into the vagina. Some women use douches to try to get rid of vaginal odor and believe that doing so helps to keep the vagina clean. However, doctors recommend that women do not douche, as it can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant, vaginal infections, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . Douching can change the necessary balance of vaginal flora (bacteria that live in the vagina) and natural acidity in a healthy vagina, which can lead to health problems. Studies have not found any health benefit to douching. Women who douche more than once a week have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who dont douche, and douching may also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) . Therefore, it is recommended that women do not douche and instead let their body naturally flush out and clean their vagina.