A procedure such as douching is often used in gynecology. It can be carried out both for the treatment of ailments and for prevention purposes. For the manipulation to be effective, various solutions based on medications, herbal infusions and chemicals are used. One of them is potassium permanganate.
Previously, douching with potassium permanganate was used to combat almost all vaginal infections, as well as to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. Today, the procedure is losing its popularity due to the advent of modern methods of treating gynecological diseases. However, this method has the right to exist, but subject to strict adherence to the dosage of the drug.
Potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate, or potassium permanganate) is a fine powder with a blue-metallic luster. When diluted with water, a solution of a dark purple hue is obtained. The substance contains potassium salt and manganese acid. Potassium permanganate is characterized by powerful antiseptic properties. By reacting with proteins, it creates albuminates, which provides an anti-irritant and cauterizing effect. Potassium permanganate solution is widely used in medicine. It is used for gastric lavage in cases of poisoning and gastrointestinal disorders. Potassium permanganate is also suitable for washing wounds. It is used for gargling.
Contraindications
Many women are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to use potassium permanganate for thrush at home. Potassium permanganate solution is practically harmless if you adhere to the recipe for preparing the solution and take into account existing contraindications. These include.
Potassium permanganate is a well-known remedy that our mothers used and which is considered truly universal. It is used for burns, poisoning, infections, gynecological and urological; children are bathed in its solution, they gargle with it, and are also widely used for domestic purposes. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to wash themselves with potassium permanganate, and if you want to find out when you should use potassium permanganate for washing, whether there is any benefit from it and what the risks may be, read our article!
Potassium permanganate for douching
As mentioned above, douching with potassium permanganate is used for the complex treatment of gynecological diseases. It is worth noting that the procedure can be classified as an effective contraceptive method. To carry it out, you need to prepare a 0.02-0.1% solution of potassium permanganate. Its shade should be slightly pink, otherwise douching the vagina with potassium permanganate can lead to chemical burns and ulcers. You can make a solution of potassium permanganate by eye. To do this, 10 crystals of the substance should be dissolved in 1 liter of water. It is necessary to take into account that they do not all dissolve immediately, so it is first advisable to make a concentrated solution of bright crimson color and only then pour it into boiled water.
It is important to know that potassium permanganate solution is effective for a short period. Destruction of pathogenic flora is possible only at the time of vaginal irrigation. Douching with potassium permanganate should be done only with a freshly prepared solution.
Does douching help cure diseases or make them worse?
Douching is washing the vagina with solutions of herbs or medications. The first and most important thing that every girl should know about these procedures: douching can only be used as prescribed by a doctor.
Do not douche just like that: after douching, water (or solution) leads to a decrease in resistance to pathogens and disruption of the vaginal environment - vaginosis. Frequent douching “for hygiene”, which women prescribe for themselves, is one of the causes of thrush.
This is a controversial procedure, and given that it somehow washes out healthy microflora from the vagina, not all gynecologists prescribe it. In any case, you should douche only on the recommendation of a doctor, not more often and not longer than he prescribed.
In world practice, gynecologists are moving away from this procedure, replacing it with less aggressive methods of treatment. According to some doctors, douching for erosion further damages the epithelium of the cervix, and douching for thrush too often aggravates dysbacteriosis.
Is it worth and possible to carry out this procedure before visiting a gynecologist? No no and one more time no. The doctor will not be able to take a smear from you, since the secretions, a natural lubricant, have been thoroughly washed by you. The effect of the solution on the mucous membrane distorts the clinical picture, and it becomes difficult to identify the disease and make a diagnosis.
How to do douching?
If you still want to know how to douche correctly, read on. First you need to buy a douche bulb at the pharmacy. A regular Esmarch mug will also work. The rubber tubes of the Esmarch mug or syringe should be wiped with alcohol, then rinsed with boiled water. The tips of Esmarch's mug are boiling. You must be sure that the syringe and all its parts are disinfected. Prepare the solution, draw it into a syringe.
Esmarch's irrigator
The basis of the solution is boiled water at room temperature. For one time, 200-300 ml is enough - a liter or one and a half liter Esmarch mug should be filled less than half. If you are using an Esmarch mug, it is suspended 75 cm above the lumbar region. You need to lie on your back, bend and spread your knees. At home, the procedure is usually carried out in the bathroom, otherwise a bedpan is placed under the buttocks. The vestibule of the vagina is lubricated with lanolin or petroleum jelly. Air is released from the tube. Insert the tip of the syringe (5–7 cm) into the vagina. At first the stream should be weak. The solution should wash the vagina and pour out - the procedure takes 15 minutes. After douching, you need to lie down for 20–30 minutes.
Gynecological douche
If you still have questions about how to perform this procedure, ask your gynecologist. Some girls are looking for information about how to douche the uterus. However, douching allows you to introduce the solution only into the vagina, so douching of the uterus is not performed.
Is it possible to douche during pregnancy?
Carrying out this procedure during pregnancy can cause disruption of the natural microflora, and now the proliferation of pathogenic flora threatens not only the mother, but also the baby. Douching during pregnancy, according to modern medical requirements, is unacceptable.
Douching solutions
If you douche at home, use only clean boiled water to prepare solutions to avoid infection.
- Douching with potassium permanganate
This procedure causes conflicting reviews from gynecologists: some prescribe vaginal douching with a light solution, but most argue that potassium permanganate does more harm than good: it can burn the vaginal mucosa and destroy beneficial microflora. Using potassium permanganate to prevent pregnancy is ineffective.
- Douching with hydrogen peroxide
To prepare the solution, peroxide is diluted in a concentration of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. This procedure helps restore a healthy acidic environment in the vagina.
- Douching with chamomile
Douching with chamomile is most often done for thrush: the syringe is filled with 2 tbsp infusion. l. flowers per 1 liter of boiling water.
- Douching with soda
Soda is used to change the acid-base balance. First of all, this is douching for conception. The fact is that a healthy vaginal environment is acidic, and sperm is alkaline. Under the influence of an acidic environment, many sperm die and lose mobility: nature has provided this mechanism so that only the most viable ones swim to the egg. Douching with soda for conception - no earlier than half an hour before sexual intercourse - reduces acidity and “helps” sperm reach their target. This is a folk method, and there is no evidence of its effectiveness. This is how our grandmothers douched. If you decide to try it, remember: an alkaline environment is more vulnerable to pathogens, and there is also a risk of developing candidiasis. The syringe is filled with a solution of 1 tsp. for 0.5 liters of boiled water.
The soda solution is used not only for douching for conception, but also against candidiasis. Douching with soda for thrush can slow down the activity of the fungus and even destroy it. On the other hand, using soda for thrush makes the vaginal environment even more alkaline, only exacerbating the acid-base balance.
- Douching with chlorhexine
Chlorhexine is prescribed in cases where a broad-spectrum drug is needed against pathogenic bacteria and fungi simultaneously.
- Douching with chlorophyllipt
Chlorophyllipt solution is used in the presence of gynecological infections. It is effective in combating staphylococci that are resistant to antibiotics. For douching, chlorophyllipt (alcohol solution 1%) - 1 tbsp. l. - diluted with 1 liter of water. Chlorophyllipt oil 2% is used for cervical erosion - the doctor lubricates the cervix with a cotton swab. Chlorophyllipt alcohol 1% or chlorophyllipt oil 2% is used as an impregnation for tampons that are installed in the vagina during erosion. Chlorophyllipt spray is used topically for erosions. Under no circumstances should you use a spout that has a chlorophyllipt spray to administer the drug into the vagina! The syringe cannot be replaced with a spray. Before using chlorophyllipt solution, make sure you are not allergic to it. The instructions for the drug chlorophyllipt contain a complete description of how to do this. If you are going to use chlorophyllipt, the instructions contain answers to most questions regarding how to douche correctly.
- Douching with vagotil
Vagotil is used for vaginitis caused by Candida albicans or Trichomonas vaginalis, cervical erosion, ulcerations resulting from prolonged use of a pessary, and itching in the vagina and leucorrhoea. To douche, vagotil (5–15 ml) is dissolved in 1 liter of water.
In what cases does the doctor prescribe douching?
Indications: douching is prescribed for erosion, chronic inflammation of the vagina and cervix. To restore the acid-base balance, douching may be prescribed for thrush (candidiasis) and some other diseases. Contraindications: acute inflammation of the genital organs, pregnancy, menstruation, within 3-4 weeks after abortion or childbirth.
Potassium permanganate for thrush
A disease such as thrush is familiar to many women firsthand. To combat it, as a rule, pharmaceutical drugs are used, which are not always effective. Medicines help cure candidiasis, but it is important to understand that they negatively affect the microbiological background of the body. If a woman suffers from dysbacteriosis, her body is susceptible to the development of fungal infections of the genital organs. An imbalance of microorganisms primarily contributes to a decrease in immunity, resulting in relapses of candidiasis.
Before starting treatment for thrush, it is important to consult a gynecologist. Doctors give patients various recommendations on how to ease the course of the disease. One of them can be considered douching with potassium permanganate for thrush. This method will help reduce the severity of the symptoms of candidiasis and, in combination with other means, will lead to complete recovery.
If we talk about fungal disease in men, then manganese solution can be used to wash the genitals. Representatives of the stronger sex, after diagnosing candidiasis, need to wash the affected areas with a medicinal solution based on potassium permanganate. To prepare it, you need to take a glass of clean boiled water and 0.5 mg of the substance. At first it may seem that the solution is low-concentrated, but it should be remembered that potassium permanganate is a potent substance, so men need to carry out the washing procedure once a day for 10 days.
Douching with Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine solution is a local antiseptic, sold in any pharmacy and available without a prescription. It is a clear, odorless liquid that looks like regular water. When introduced into the vagina, it has a disinfecting effect and is effective against fungal diseases, including candidiasis.
Douching with chlorhexidine during pregnancy is performed as follows:
- You need to lie down and take a comfortable position.
- Unscrew the cap of the product.
- Insert the tip of the bottle into the vagina. Chlorhexidine usually has a convenient tip so it can be used without a syringe.
- A small amount of the product is carefully squeezed out, after which you need to lie down for a few minutes.
Chlorhexidine should not be self-prescribed or used for longer than recommended by your doctor. Usually the course of treatment does not exceed 10 days.
Overuse of douching with Chlorhexidine can disrupt the normal vaginal environment and lead to the development of bacterial vaginosis. In addition, the drug can cause an allergic reaction in the form of redness and swelling of the skin and mucous membranes.
Why don't doctors recommend potassium permanganate for douching?
Experts do not recommend douching with potassium permanganate for a number of the following reasons:
• The solution dries out the vaginal mucosa, resulting in a disruption of its microflora.
• Potassium permanganate is presented in the form of crystals, which should be diluted in water to the desired concentration. Improper preparation of the solution at home can lead to severe burns to the mucous membrane. Frequent such procedures can aggravate the course of the disease. If procedures are not carried out according to norms, inflammation of the vagina may occur.
• We should also not forget that any douching should be an addition to the main treatment of gynecological diseases.
Douching rules
To properly perform douching at home, you need the following tools:
- Esmarch's irrigator. This is a device made of a tip and a container with collected liquid. The principle of operation is based on the removal of liquid under its own gravity.
- You can use a syringe. This is a rubber product that resembles a pear in shape and has a different volume. A distinctive feature of the syringe varieties is the type of tip; it is either a soft rubber tip that bends easily, or it is a hard plastic base. The latter are not recommended for use due to the high risk of trauma to the genital organs.
- It is preferable to use a diaper made of oilcloth material, which protects household items from contact with medicines.
- In some cases, especially if you have a small-volume syringe, you may need a mug or bowl to contain the medication. It is from this that the liquid will be collected.
If necessary, especially if a woman suffers from a problem such as dry mucous membranes, Vaseline oil, baby cream, or a specialized mask can be used to ensure painless and non-traumatic penetration of the tip into the vaginal cavity.
Some women face a problem where it is impossible to eliminate it by douching at home due to various reasons. That is why the attending physician can prescribe a douching procedure in a hospital setting.
Indications:
- Pregnancy.
- A severe inflammatory process that requires mandatory dynamics of the treatment condition.
- It is technically impossible to perform douching for women with increased body weight, inconvenience regarding defects in the structure of the genital organs, etc.
For the above reasons, the doctor prescribes douching by a medical professional, who, subject to all the rules of asepsis and antisepsis, carries out the procedure.
Douching: reviews of the procedure
Manganese solution is characterized by a strong antiseptic effect. It neutralizes toxins and enzymes of the fungus, which is why many women note that douching for thrush actually relieves unpleasant symptoms for a while. With its help you can eliminate itching, burning, pain. However, doctors recommend resorting to this method only when it is not possible to obtain specialist advice and treatment with modern medications.
As a rule, all side effects from potassium permanganate are associated with its versatility. Having an effect on pathogens, the product will also have an effect on important microflora, destroying them too.
Potassium permanganate or ordinary potassium permanganate is a compound familiar to our parents and grandmothers. It is difficult to find another such universal pharmaceutical product, because a solution of this product is used for burns, infectious lesions, poisoning, and washing with potassium permanganate helps to cope with some problems in urology and gynecology. Previously, this remedy was prescribed during pregnancy. Few infants have avoided bathing in a bath with a solution of potassium permanganate, and almost every child has gargled with it at least once.
Douching with Miramistin
The principle of action of the drug Miramistin is similar to Chlorhexidine. It is used for the prevention and treatment of infections, including sexually transmitted infections, as well as for the speedy healing of wounds and injuries.
If the need arises, the use of Miramistin during pregnancy is allowed. It acts locally and is not absorbed into the blood, so the risk to the child is minimal.
Clinical studies have not revealed any negative effects of the drug on fetal development. But still, its use in the form of douching is not recommended until the 14th week of pregnancy.
When inserted into the vagina, Miramistin may cause a slight burning sensation, which soon goes away on its own and does not require discontinuation of the drug. It, like any other medical product, should be used after consultation with a doctor, and the possibility of an allergy to the active components of the solution should be taken into account.
Miramistin is produced in bottles equipped with a convenient nozzle or a special tip that allows you to do without a syringe bulb. The drug is administered into the vagina while lying on your back.
In one application, you need to inject 5-10 ml of solution, after which the nozzle is removed and the position is maintained for 2-3 minutes so that the product has time to act. The duration of treatment is selected individually, usually up to 10 days.
When is it appropriate to use the product?
Potassium permanganate has gained a wide range of applications in medicine. The interaction of potassium permanganate with organic compounds causes the release of oxygen atoms, which suppress the activity of microbes. Oxygen causes their death. The enormous benefits of permanganate are due to the following properties:
- cauterization (at high concentrations of the substance);
- astringent effect (at low concentrations);
- antiseptic effect;
- neutralization of poisons;
- deodorization.
Although a solution with potassium permanganate has many areas of application, modern doctors resort to it quite rarely. This is natural: previously there was almost no alternative to it, but now there are many good drugs, almost all of which are much more effective and do not cause side effects, especially during pregnancy and in children.
As a rule, all side effects from potassium permanganate are associated with its versatility. Having an effect on pathogens, the product also inhibits its own microflora and destroys it.
That is why procedures with a solution of potassium permanganate often provoke dryness and itching. No less dangerous is the use of liquid of high concentration - it can easily cause a burn.
If we talk about the concentration of a solution with potassium permanganate, then the color often indicates it: barely pink is considered weak, and dark purple is considered concentrated. But no matter what type of product a person uses, each time when preparing it, one should wait until all the crystals are completely dissolved, because even one granule if it gets on the skin can cause a burn.
As a rule, it may be recommended to wash yourself with potassium permanganate in the following cases:
- with exacerbation of genital herpes;
- when anal fissures appear;
- when bothered by hemorrhoids;
- in the postpartum period;
- with thrush.
Carrying out douching with potassium permanganate and preparing a solution
When douching, the vagina is washed with a solution of potassium permanganate to cleanse it of waste products of microorganisms that have an adverse effect, as well as to wash out sperm. This procedure is carried out using a syringe or an Esmarch mug, which can be easily purchased at a pharmacy. The water for the solution should be boiled and at room temperature to avoid additional irritation to the mucous membrane. Douching is not a complicated procedure; once you try it, you can easily perform this procedure yourself at home.
Although the use of potassium permanganate is used as a means of preventing pregnancy, you need to understand that this method does not provide a 100% guarantee. Also, the antimicrobial properties during douching do not last long and have an antiseptic effect on pathogenic microflora only at the time of the manipulation.
When not to resort to the procedure
It is worth noting that there are circumstances when the use of this antiseptic is contraindicated. Firstly, washing with a solution of potassium permanganate should be avoided during pregnancy. The expectant mother often experiences disturbances in the microflora of the genital organs, as a result of which ureaplasmosis, thrush and vaginitis become worse.
While waiting for the baby, washing with potassium permanganate will be ineffective; moreover, it will cause an even greater imbalance in the microflora in the expectant mother, increasing the risk of infection.
Secondly, a similar procedure should be excluded during menstruation, since it is optimal to wash with plain water during menstruation, as well as in case of pathologies of the genitourinary system. In the latter case, it is also recommended to wash with clean water, and not with a solution of potassium permanganate, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease. A clear contraindication to the use of the drug is an allergic reaction to it.
Douching with chamomile decoction
Chamomile is a medicinal plant. A decoction of its inflorescences is actively used in folk and traditional medicine. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, relieves pain and reduces irritation of the mucous membranes.
Douching with chamomile decoction during pregnancy eliminates genital itching, often present with candidiasis. Sometimes it is used in the form of baths and irrigations for cystitis.
The product is also effective for minor damage to the vaginal mucosa. But it must be borne in mind that it does not eliminate bacterial, fungal and viral diseases and is used only to alleviate the condition.
The advantages of chamomile decoction include complete naturalness, no negative effect on the vaginal microflora and no dry mucosa after the procedure.
To prepare the product, add 2 tbsp to one liter of boiling water. l. dried chamomile flowers (sold in pharmacies). The broth is brought to a boil and kept on fire for several minutes. Then, the mixture is cooled and filtered through cheesecloth or a fine sieve.
The prepared broth is taken into a syringe and its spout is inserted into the vagina. The procedure is carried out in a lying position, similar to a soda solution.
In this case, you need to relax as much as possible and monitor the depth of penetration so as not to stimulate the cervix. The decoction is injected gradually over 10 minutes. It is advisable to carry out the procedure before bedtime.
When administered correctly, chamomile infusion is safe for health.
The exception is cases of individual intolerance to this plant. But even if you do not have allergies, you can use the product during pregnancy only after consulting your doctor.
Use of the product after childbirth
Some experts are confident that if you wash yourself with potassium permanganate, a new mother will be able to avoid many postpartum complications. The fact is that the uterus of a woman who has recently given birth is an open wound and it takes about 3-4 months to restore the organ. At this time, microbes entering this area pose an extreme danger. That is why almost every woman who has just given birth receives advice to wash herself with potassium permanganate. For intimate hygiene, use a pinkish solution a maximum of 2 times a day for a week.
But there are still some points that a woman should know about after childbirth. When the doctor insists on washing with potassium permanganate, it is necessary to pay special attention to cleanliness and sterility. Potassium permanganate can be used to lubricate seams. In this case, a dark solution is used, and the seams are spot-treated. This procedure is a prevention of inflammation, as it suppresses the development of microorganisms, but to speed up the healing process it is better to use other means.
Is it worth washing with a solution of soda or potassium permanganate?
A young mother asks:
Hello, how do you feel about the fact that older experienced people advise washing themselves with a solution of salt and potassium permanganate to prevent inflammation and thrush?
Gynecologist Oksana Babula, an expert at Mom’s and Women’s clubs, answers:
Even women with normal vaginal microflora should not wash themselves with a salt solution, and especially with potassium permanganate, but with thrush this will cause a worsening of the condition.
You need to wash yourself either with plain water or, better yet, with special gels for intimate hygiene with lactic acid.
Women should not wash themselves with shower gel or soap; this can disrupt the acidity of the vaginal mucosa and cause a decrease in the number of lactic acid bacteria - lactobacilli, and this leads to the proliferation of “bad” microbes - such as Candida or Gardnerella.
Potassium permanganate for thrush
You can often come across advice to wash your face and douche with potassium permanganate for candidiasis. But many women are still not sure whether it is possible to wash themselves with potassium permanganate for thrush, and whether this procedure is effective. It is worth emphasizing that doctors advised such manipulation at a time when the problem had no other solution. But if we talk about the complete absence of anti-candidal therapy or about washing with potassium permanganate, then in the latter case this is at least some kind of treatment, although it is associated with considerable harm.
Washing for hemorrhoids and anal fissures
For such problems, a bath with a solution of the substance is a common recommendation, explained by the antimicrobial properties of potassium permanganate. Rinsing this area with it significantly reduces pain and swelling. As a rule, permanganate is used in lotions, baths and for washing the problem area. In the latter case, a weak, cool solution is used after visiting the toilet.
Baths are more effective because the exposure time of the medicine increases significantly. On average, this procedure lasts about 15 minutes and for it, potassium permanganate crystals are diluted in a significant volume of liquid to obtain a very weak solution. If we talk about lotions, then a piece of fabric is soaked in liquid and applied to the anus. Although the procedure has no restrictions on its use, it is not recommended to practice it for more than a week, as it can worsen the situation by drying out the skin.
Diseases for which douching is effective
Cervical erosion. When treating this pathological condition, a complex of therapeutic methods is used, including external agents and preparations for internal use. Douching with a weak solution of potassium permanganate during treatment allows you to achieve a more effective result.
Candidiasis or thrush. A common infectious disease of the genitourinary system, in which systematic douching with a solution of potassium permanganate for 10 days is of great help. The start of treatment should be planned after the end of menstruation and carried out at least 4 times a day, especially after intimacy. In this case, interruptions in use are not allowed.
Candidiasis in men. For the partner, as a treatment and prevention of this disease, manipulations are applied to washing the genital organ with a prepared 0.1% solution or using a cream, adding grains of powder to it and applying it to the surface of the head of the genital organ. After 10 - 15 minutes, the cream is washed off. It is important to ensure that the powder crystals dissolve completely in the cream to avoid burns.
Herpes of the genital organs. Manipulations using a solution of potassium permanganate are carried out for infected wounds and festering ulcers. Particular attention must be paid to the concentration of the finished solution.
In addition, potassium permanganate can be used in the treatment of other diseases, for example, hemorrhoids that develop after childbirth, for compresses for mastitis, and much more.
Washing for herpes infection
In case of exacerbation of herpes, it is permissible to use the solution only at the stage when the rash on the integument begins to fester. Potassium permanganate reduces inflammation and suppuration, and also dries out rashes, as a result of which the wounds heal more quickly. To achieve this effect, you must use a pinkish solution.
As in other situations, when there are manifestations of genital herpes, it is also not recommended to get too carried away with such washings. They are practiced only until the rash stops festering. Further, experts advise using other medications to relieve this disease.
Myths about washing with potassium permanganate
People attribute almost miraculous properties to the product. But you should not unconditionally trust all the information and what your neighbors advise, because among such reliable “facts” you can find many unfounded ones. So, below are the most common myths regarding washing with potassium permanganate.
Protects against pregnancy
In reality, such washing and even douching are not at all an effective method of contraception. Therefore, it is better to protect yourself using the methods indicated by experts. Moreover, it is possible that during such a procedure a woman can get a serious burn to the perineum, and the child will subsequently appear.
Helps avoid STDs
Alas, in such circumstances, potassium permanganate is also ineffective. A weak solution is absolutely useless, and using a concentrated solution for douching is completely unacceptable, as serious complications can result.
How to prepare potassium permanganate
It is quite possible to prepare a solution of potassium permanganate yourself. You will need 0.2 mg of potassium permanganate powder per 200 ml of boiled water. After thoroughly mixing the liquid, a solution should form that will have a pink tint.
Before each douching procedure, it is necessary to prepare a new solution. During pregnancy, washing and douching with such a solution is prohibited, as this can harm not only the health of the mother, but also the child.
