Risk of preterm birth that is associated with vaginal douching.
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.
Fiscella
Kevin
K
Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
Franks
Peter
P
Kendrick
Juliette S
JS
Meldrum
Sean
S
Kieke
Burney A
BA
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