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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria
Published on: May 25, 2022
A pilot study of vaginal flora changes with randomization to cessation of douching
Mark A Klebanoff1, William W Andrews, Kai Fun Yu
1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. mk90h@nih.gov
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to determine whether women who douche regularly would enter a randomized trial of douching cessation or continuation, whether they would adhere to the assigned behavior, and whether there was a dramatic impact on vaginal flora.
Goal:
The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of a large, definitive trial of douching cessation.
Study Design:
Women who douched at least weekly and who had either bacterial vaginosis or normal flora by Gram stain were assigned at random either to continue douching or to stop for 8 weeks. Vaginal Gram stains were obtained every 7 days from each woman.
Results:
Forty-eight women were randomized. Those assigned to continue reported douching during 77% of study weeks; those assigned to stop denied douching in 94% of weeks. No dramatic differences in flora were observed between women in the continue versus stop groups.
Conclusion:
A large randomized trial of douching cessation is feasible.
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