A teenaged patient questions the nurse about douching. The patient states she ha

2 -- The vagina is normally slightly acidic. This acidity reduces the growth of undesirable bacterial. Douching will result in a reduction of the normal acidity of the vagina. The normal flora of the vagina has protective functions and douching will disrupt it. This disruption will increase the risk for infection. Estrogen is responsible for the growth of the vaginal mucosal cells. These cells produce glycogen and help to promote the acidity of the vagina. Estrogen is not directly secreted in the vagina. Douching does not disrupt the estrogen. In most cases douching does not introduce foreign pathogens into the vagina.