title: Risk of preterm birth that is associated with vaginal douching.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the association between vaginal douching and preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled hospitalized women after delivery in a case-control study. Women who were delivered of a live preterm singleton infant were assigned as cases. Women who were delivered at term were randomly selected as control subjects. We surveyed women about their douching habits and risk factors for preterm birth and abstracted data from the records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment, vaginal douching within 6 months of pregnancy was not significantly associated with preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.6). However, in secondary analyses, douching more than once per week (odds ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.0-15.5) or longer than 10 years (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2) was associated with preterm birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginal douching does not appear to be a strong risk factor for preterm birth. Further study is needed to confirm the risk that is associated with frequent or long-term douching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fiscella
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: Juliette S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kendrick
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.forename: Burney A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kieke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina