VAGINAL DOUCHING AND ADVERSE HEALTH-EFFECTS - A METAANALYSIS

Objectives. The meta-analysis described here reviewed the current lite rature on adverse health effects of vaginal douching. Methods. Papers published in English from 1965 through 1995 were potentially eligible. Results. One third of White women and two thirds of Black women of re productive age reported douching regularly. Analyses indicated that va ginal douching increases the overall risk of pelvic inflammatory disea se by 73% and the risk of ectopic pregnancy by 76%. Frequent douching was shown to be highly associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and modestly associated with cervical cancer. Conclusions. Current Litera ture suggests that frequent douching increases the risk of pelvic infl ammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and, possibly, cervical cancer.