THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VAGINAL DOUCHING AND LOWER GENITAL-TRACT INFECTION IN YOUNG-WOMEN

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between a history of vaginal douching and gynecologic history, genital examination findings, and laboratory data in predominantly black adolescent and young adult females at an inner city family planning clinic. Of 175 females (mean age 17.7 +/- 1.46 years), 69% reported douching. Of those reporting douching, 25% reported douching 48 hours prior to their clinic visit. Univariate analysis indicated significant associations between vaginal douching and a past history of gonorrhea and trichomonas infection, current Neisseria gonorrhoeae and current bacterial vaginosis (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated this was not an independent association. Recent vaginal douching did not appear to significantly influence microscopic detection of vaginal infections, vaginal white blood counts (WBCs), and endocervical polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) indicating that recent douching had no effect on laboratory tests performed in the clinic.