WHAT IS DOUCHING? The word ''douche'' is French for ''wash'' or ''soak.'' It is a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar.  Douches that are sold in drugstores and supermarkets contain antiseptics and fragrances.  A douche comes in a bottle or bag and is sprayed through a tube upward into the vagina. DISADVANTAGES Douching can lead to a variety of infections as follows  1. Vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis).  Douching upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora). These changes make the environment more favorable for the growth of bacteria that cause infection.  Studies have found that women who stopped douching were less likely to have bacterial vaginosis. Having bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of preterm labor and sexually transmitted infections. 2. PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus...