Vaginal Secretions and Chemical Balance of the Vagina

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track of these variations is the basis for one method of birth control, discussed in Chapter 10.) The taste and scent of vaginal secretions can also vary with the time of a woman’s cycle and her level of arousal.

The vagina’s natural chemical and bacterial balance helps promote healthy mucosa. The chemical balance is normally rather acidic (pH 4.5*—the same as in red wine) (Angier, 1999). Regular bathing with a mild soap and washing between the folds of the vulva are all that are necessary for proper hygiene. A variety of factors can alter this balance, resulting in vaginal problems. Among these are douching (rinsing out the inside of the vagina) and using feminine-hygiene sprays. Douching is definitely not necessary for routine hygiene. Although most women mistakenly believe douching is healthy, it can alter the natural chemical balance of the vagina and increase a woman’s susceptibility to vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases (Hutchinson et al., 2007; Tsai et al., 2009). Various studies have found that douching increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, endo­metriosis (discussed on p. 70), transmission of HIV, ectopic pregnancy (discussed on p. 63), and decreased fertility. Moreover, douching during pregnancy increases the likeli­hood of preterm births (Cottrell, 2003). Feminine-hygiene sprays can cause irritation, allergic reactions, burns, infections, dermatitis of the thighs, and numerous other prob­lems. In fact, genital deodorant sprays and body powders have been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer (Cook et al., 1997). Furthermore, deodorant tampons are unnecessary: Menstrual fluid has virtually no odor until it is outside the body.

For most of the past hundred years, advertising has turned our cultural negativ­ity about female sexual organs into an extremely profitable business. Consequently, women in the United States spend millions of dollars each year on over-the-coun­ter douches. Minorities and educationally and economically disadvantaged women appear more vulnerable to this misinformation: Twice as many African American women douche than White women, and regardless of race, the prevalence of douch­ing is higher in women who have less education and income (Cottrell, 2003).