From the Guidelines
Douching does not help prevent pregnancy after contraceptive failure, and instead, emergency contraception options like Plan B One-Step or ella should be considered. If you've experienced contraceptive failure and want to prevent pregnancy, you should consider emergency contraception options like Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel 1.5mg), which can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, or ella (ulipristal acetate 30mg), which is effective up to 5 days after, as recommended by the CDC 1. Copper IUDs can also be inserted within 5 days as emergency contraception, as supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2. Douching, which involves rinsing the vagina with water or other solutions, cannot prevent pregnancy because sperm travel quickly into the uterus and fallopian tubes after ejaculation, well beyond the reach of douching fluid. Additionally, douching can actually push sperm further into the reproductive tract and is associated with various health risks including vaginal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. Some key points to consider when choosing an emergency contraception method include:
- The effectiveness of different methods, with copper IUDs being the most effective, followed by ulipristal acetate and levonorgestrel-based pills 3
- The timing of initiation, with all methods being more effective the earlier they are used
- Potential interactions with other medications, such as antiretroviral agents, which may affect the efficacy of certain emergency contraception methods 2 If you're concerned about pregnancy after contraceptive failure, contact a healthcare provider promptly to discuss appropriate emergency contraception options.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Douching in Preventing Pregnancy
- There is no evidence to suggest that douching is an effective method for preventing pregnancy after a contraceptive has failed 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- The studies reviewed focus on emergency contraception methods such as levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate, and the copper intrauterine device, which have been shown to be effective in preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.
- Douching is not mentioned as a recommended or effective method for preventing pregnancy in any of the studies reviewed.
Recommended Methods for Preventing Pregnancy
- The copper intrauterine device (IUD) is considered the most effective method of emergency contraception, with a high efficacy rate in preventing pregnancy 5, 7, 8.
- Other effective methods include oral administration of levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate, which can be used within a certain time frame after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure 4, 6, 7.
- These methods are recommended for use in cases where a contraceptive has failed or where no contraception was used during sex.