Researchers did urine tests to detect phthalate exposure in 739 women who were surveyed about their use of douches and other feminine care products.
A new study claims that feminine
hygiene products for vaginal douching may expose users to potentially
harmful chemicals known as phthalates.
Researchers
did urine tests to detect phthalate exposure in 739 women who were
surveyed about their use of douches and other feminine care products.
The
more women douched, the higher their exposure to a form of diethyl
phthalate (DEP). Women in the study ranged in age from 20 to 49, and
more than half were overweight or obese.
According to lead study author Ami Zota, a researcher at the Milken School of Public Health at George Washington University,
“Phthalates
are chemicals of concern for women’s health because they are suspected
endocrine disruptors and can alter the action of important hormones such
as estrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones,”
Douching
is generally discouraged amongst women by doctors owing to risks such
as bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy
complications and potentially cervical cancer.
According to Zota, “douching is not medically required" because "a healthy vagina has an effective self-cleaning system.”
In the study, roughly one third of black women said they douched at least once a month, as did 11% of white and Mexican American women.
20%
of black women reported douching at least twice a month, compared with
just 7% of white participants and 3% of Mexican Americans in the study.
It
was found that women who reported douching at least once in the past
month had 52% higher concentrations of a form of DEP in their urine.
For those who douched at least twice a month, urinary concentrations of a form of DEP were 152% higher than for non users.
Researchers,
however, found no link between DEP and other feminine hygiene products
such as tampons, sanitary napkins, powders, sprays or towelettes.
They also found no connection between douching or other hygiene products and exposure to a form of DnBP.
