How to douche with a water bottle reddit

What is a peroxide douche?

Douching is the process of using water or a liquid solution to flush out the inside of your vagina. They’re done using bottles or bags with nozzles that squirt liquid up into the vagina. Most come with a prepackaged solution of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine.

But some people buy an empty douche bag and fill it with their own solution. A peroxide douche is a type of douche that uses a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Some claim that douching with hydrogen peroxide can help to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Hydrogen peroxide comes in many strengths, but the type you find at your local drugstore is usually a 3 percent concentration. This type of hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic solution often used to disinfect wounds. During a process called oxidation, hydrogen peroxide breaks down the cell walls of bacteria.

Can this oxidation process help to break down excess yeast and bacteria in the vagina? Read on to find out.

The first line of defense against BV is antibiotic therapy. If your doctor gives you a BV diagnosis, they’ll prescribe either oral antibiotics or an antibiotic cream. Antibiotics work well in the short-term.

Most people see their symptoms disappear within three weeks. But it’s also common for it to come back within 3 to 12 months. In addition, the antibiotics used to treat BV can have several side effects, including:

  • nausea
  • yeast infection
  • irritation

A hydrogen peroxide douche helps to avoid the use of antibiotics and their side effects.

There aren’t many studies looking at the use of hydrogen peroxide douches for treating BV.

A 2012 literature review looked at existing studies about the use of antiseptics, such as hydrogen peroxide, to treat BV. The authors did find some small studies suggesting that antiseptic solutions might be as effective as antibiotics. But they also noted that most of the existing research surrounding antiseptic douching is flawed.

Based on these issues and the existing research, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend antiseptic douching for BV. But this could change if more high-quality studies are done.

Healthcare providers generally advise against douching because it has more risks than benefits.

Douching, especially antiseptic douching, can throw the vaginal microbiome into chaos. Antiseptics are like broad-spectrum antibiotics since they kill both good and bad bacteria.

The good bacteria in your vagina serves a purpose, including helping to protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and yeast infections.

Douching can also throw off the natural acidity that protects your vagina against infection. Using a reusable douche can introduce mold and other fungus into the vagina.

If you already have BV, douching of any kind can cause the infection to spread. You may inadvertently flush bacteria up into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause chronic pain and infertility.

Additionally, peroxide douching can lead to irritation of the vagina and vulva. In one study on hydrogen peroxide douching, more than 30 percent of participants reported vaginal irritation.

It’s important to treat BV as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can increase your risk for STIs, including HIV and genital herpes. It also increases your risk for pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight.

Treatment for BV involves a course of antibiotics. You’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor. Sex partners with a penis typically don’t require treatment, but sex partners with a vagina should be tested.

Medications commonly prescribed to treat BV include:

  • Metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrogel-Vaginal). This is an antibiotic taken by mouth or applied topically. Topical metronidazole is a gel inserted into the vagina. Side effects include an upset stomach.
  • Clindamycin (Cleocin, Clindesse, others). This medication can also be taken by mouth, but is usually prescribed as a topical cream for BV. The cream can weaken latex condoms, so make sure to use a backup form of birth control if you use condoms.
  • Tinidazole (Tindamax). This is another oral antibiotic. It may also cause an upset stomach.

It’s important to treat BV to avoid complications, but douching isn’t the best method.

Douching with hydrogen peroxide can cause vaginal irritation, and douching in general while you have BV can spread the infection further up your urinary tract. If you think you have BV, make an appointment so you can get started on antibiotics.

If you’re planning to have anal sex or simply “clean” or “rinse” the area, you might consider anal douching. It’s a process many use to clean out the rectum – the last part of your large intestine – through the butt using water. But is it safe for you?

A diet high in fiber is usually enough to keep the inside of your rectum clean. Ideally, this should be your go-to method to maintain gut health and poop regularly. But if you’re planning to give anal douching a try, here’s a closer look at how to do it safely.

What Is Anal Douching?

The word “douche” is French and means to shower. In this case, anal douching refers to using a device such as a squeezable bottle or tube to squirt water or other liquids like saline up your butt to “clean” it. It can be done for medical or sexual reasons.

Who Does Anal Douching?

People of all gender identities can practice anal douching. But according to a study that looked at over 1,700 people, experts found that anal douching was more common among men. More than 7 out of 10 men douched, whereas over 3 in 10 women anal douched. The study also reported that among men who have sex with men, more than 5 in 10 men anal douched before they had anal sex.

Types of Anal Douching

There are many ways to try anal douching. Popular methods include:

Bulb douche. It’s one of the most common and affordable types of anal douching kits that usually includes two pieces – a rubber or silicone bulb and a nozzle that you insert into it. To use it, fill the bulb with warm water and insert the nozzle into your butt. Squeeze the bulb to release the water. This usually gives you a shallow cleanse.

Water bag douche. This contains a bag like a hot water bottle that you can hang high on a hook. One end has a long tube that you can insert into your butt. It also usually comes with an adapter to control the flow. The design allows it to be portable and easy to use. But you’ll need to clean it and replace it often to avoid infections.

Fleet enemas. These are over-the-counter laxative treatments that you can take for short-term relief, especially if you’re constipated. To do it safely, follow the instructions on the package. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor how to do it. You’ll probably see results in about 2-5 minutes. But if you notice side effects like bleeding, pain, blistering, a burning sensation, or other types of irritation in the area, tell your doctor. Don’t use fleet enemas for more than a week at a stretch unless a doctor approves it.

It’s best to use lubricants to reduce your odds of tearing, swelling, or bleeding. If you’re worried about doing it safely, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about your options.

Don’t use laxatives regularly unless you have constipation, you can’t have regular bowel movements, or you have impacted poop in your gut. If you do, talk to your doctor. They can suggest over-the-counter enemas or suppositories (laxative medications you insert up your butt) if necessary. This can help to loosen up the stool and pass it. Fiber supplements can help, too.

How to Do Anal Douching Safely

The best way to have a clean gut is to have a diet high in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise often. But if those don’t work or if you’re looking to try anal douching, there are few things you should keep in mind. Here are some tips to do it safely:

  • Use only warm water.
  • Gently slip the nozzle or tube inside your butt. Don’t force it in, as you can risk tearing or bleeding in the area. Use lubricants if necessary.
  • During your first try, only squeeze or squirt water in for about 10 seconds. It may feel strange at first, but you don’t need too much water. You only need to clean the first few inches inside your butt.
  • Try to hold the water in for a bit. You can hold your breath for this. To release it, breathe out and relax.
  • Repeat the process till the water comes out clean.

Things you shouldn’t do include:

  • Don’t rush it. This will reduce your odds of hurting yourself in the process.
  • Don’t squirt the water before you check the temperature. Make sure it’s not too hot. While you may like a hot shower, the same water could burn your insides.
  • Don’t put or spray too much water in. This might throw off the balance and kill good bacteria in your gut, too. It can also increase your risk for infection.
  • Don’t use olive oil, bleach, alcohol, or any cleaning chemicals you might find under your sink. It can cause serious harm to your gut health.
  • If you’re using a bulb to douche, after you squeeze it, don’t let go of it right away, as the water might get sucked back with all the particles in it. This makes the bulb unsanitary and unusable.

What Are the Risks of Anal Douching?

Studies show that douching can increase your risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

In fact, one study found that those who douche had 74% higher odds of reporting an STD in the past year, compared with those who don’t douche. But you might wonder how cleaning the insides of your rectum increases your odds of infection. Shouldn’t it do the opposite?

It can irritate or damage the inner mucus lining of your rectum (called rectal mucosa).

Without this protection, you’re more likely to get HIV or other infections, especially if you don’t use protection in the form of condoms or PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis), a type of medication you take to reduce your odds of getting HIV from sex.

How Is Anal Douching Different From Vaginal Douching?

Most doctors don’t recommend vaginal douching, as a healthy vagina is a mix of good and bad bacteria that help to maintain a proper acidic environment.

This allows it to self-clean, and it naturally carries a distinct odor. Douching your vagina throws off the good balance and puts you at risk for some serious infections and health problems. This can include pelvic inflammatory syndrome, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, it can cause you to have painful sex.

It’s possible for bits of poop to be stuck to the walls of your rectum, especially if you have a low-fiber diet or don’t have regular solid bowel movements. Anal douching, if it’s done safely, can help clear it up.

How Often Can You Do Anal Douching?

As with most things, anal douching is OK if you do it in moderation and you take your time doing it. There’s no correct number of times, but it’s best to limit yourself to once per day. Ideally, don’t do it more than 2-3 times per week.

If you’re unsure how to do it, hurt yourself in the process, notice any side effects from anal douching, or have symptoms of an STD, talk to your doctor right away.

How do you douche with water?

How to Do Anal Douching Safely.
Use only warm water..
Gently slip the nozzle or tube inside your butt. ... .
During your first try, only squeeze or squirt water in for about 10 seconds. ... .
Try to hold the water in for a bit. ... .
Repeat the process till the water comes out clean..

How long do you hold water in when you douche?

Table 1.

What does it mean to use a water bottle to douche?

Vaginal douching involves filling a bottle or bag with water and squirting this upward into the vagina. Women sometimes choose to mix the water with other fluids, such as vinegar, or to buy douching products that may contain ingredients, such as baking soda, iodine, antiseptics, or fragrance.

Should I douche with warm or cold water?

DO remember to use warmish water, and to re-lube with each insertion. DON'T use anything other than water, otherwise you could cause some serious damage, and try having to explain it at A&E!! Douching is OK, as long as it's done in moderation, and you take the time to do it properly.