Vagi.nal can.cer discovered too late, young woman regrets not listening to her mother: Doing this every day—how could “that area” endure it?

What has shocked many people is that the “habit” mentioned by the mother and daughter is not unusual at all. In fact, countless women do it every day without realizing the hidden risks.

At a hospital gynecology clinic, a 27-year-old woman sat waiting for her results, head lowered, eyes red, tears silently falling. “The doctor said it’s vaginal cancer, already at a middle-to-late stage…,” she whispered, her voice trembling, face pale. Standing beside her, the mother could barely contain her pain: “I warned her about this habit so many times, but she wouldn’t listen.”

The young woman, known as Xiao Ying (from China), had been married for just one year and was excited about her new life when the diagnosis suddenly shattered all her plans. What startled many was that the “habit” they referred to was something extremely common—something many women practice daily, unaware of its potential dangers.

It was a behavior believed to improve cleanliness, yet it concealed a serious health risk that is often underestimated.

A habit that seems good but quietly causes harm

Xiao Ying’s habit was frequent vaginal douching with intimate cleansing solutions. She washed almost every day, believing “cleaner is better,” and sometimes even did it twice a day out of anxiety.

Few people realize that this kind of “over-cleanliness” can actually destroy the body’s natural protective barrier. Medical research has long confirmed that the female intimate area is self-cleaning, thanks to its natural acidic environment and beneficial bacteria. Overusing cleansing solutions—especially those containing strong detergents or fragrances—can disrupt the vaginal microbiome, damage the mucosal lining, trigger chronic inflammation, and increase cancer risk.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has reported a statistical association between frequent vaginal douching and both cervical and vaginal cancers. The suspected mechanism involves microbial imbalance leading to persistent inflammation, which creates favorable conditions for HPV infection and long-term persistence. When high-risk HPV is not cleared, local tissues are repeatedly irritated, significantly increasing the likelihood of malignant transformation.

Even more concerning, many women only recognize the problem once symptoms become obvious—by then, the critical window for early intervention has often been missed.

Over-cleansing the intimate area may change the body in these 4 ways

After months of excessive washing, the body often sends warning signals:

• Abnormal discharge and stronger odor. As beneficial bacteria decline, harmful bacteria proliferate. Odor does not improve—it worsens, creating a vicious cycle.

• Increased itching and burning. Long-term mucosal irritation leads to redness, stinging, and itching. Many women mistakenly believe they are “not clean enough,” wash even more, and make the condition worse.

• Recurrent gynecological infections. Clinical data show a strong link between douching and chronic, hard-to-treat vaginitis and cervicitis.

• Reduced ability to clear HPV. HPV infections that might otherwise resolve naturally can become persistent when the local environment is damaged—this is a key step toward cancer.

The Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has pointed out that high-risk HPV persisting for more than 12 months significantly increases cancer risk, while damage to the mucosal barrier reduces viral clearance rates by over 23%.

How to properly protect intimate health

Experts recommend adjusting habits according to three basic principles:

• Practice scientific hygiene and prioritize clean water. Daily care only requires gently washing the external area with warm water. Avoid deep douching and do not overuse cleansing products. Even during menstruation, hygiene should remain gentle.

• Regular HPV and cervical cell screening. Women aged 25 and older should undergo HPV testing combined with cervical cytology (TCT) every 1–2 years, especially if married or sexually active.

• Support immunity and maintain a stable vaginal environment. Get adequate sleep, eat a balanced diet, avoid high-risk behaviors, keep underwear clean and dry, and consider probiotic support when necessary to restore microbial balance.

Doctors also stress that if abnormal discharge, persistent itching, pain, burning, or bleeding after intercourse occurs, women should seek medical care promptly and not delay.