I am a little over three months post-op! Everything is going great, but I have a question about douching. Dr. B doesn't really recommend it, and my gyno is not pro-douching. However, since our vaginal tissue is not the same as a natal vagina and we don't lubricate, it seems to me like regular douching using a mild water/vinegar solution would be necessary for long-term post-ops.Since it's basically a large hole, I imagine it can be a breeding ground for bacteria. I noticed I have a sour kind of odor, but it's actually coming from the top of my inner labia, not my vagina. I've just been washing the outer vulva every-day with Dial soap. I'm planning on buying one of those re-usable bulb-type douches, so I can just rinse with fresh water.

I was instructed to do it after surgery but I haven't done it in many years. I seem to produce a small amount of discharge that over time tends to discolor my underwear. The only thing that I put in there is the KY jelly that I use once a week when I dilate. The natural bacteria that I must have up there only has a very mild odor that I smell on the dilator. There is an issue with douching in that it can upset the natural bacteria balance causing odors and infections. I would suggest you discuss this with your doctors before deciding not to follow their advice.

I went to Brassard, and he recommended douching for the first two months but not afterward "because it can disturb the normal balance of the vagina." I followed his instructions, and I've had no problems (I'm 4 years post-op now). I do lubricate, though, at least a bit. I was one of the ones for whom his use of mucosal tissue from the urethra paid off, as I do have a bit of constant moistness in the area as well as self-lubrication on arousal. Anyway, as far as I can tell, my vagina *is* self-cleaning and does fine without douching. 3 months is still a little early for everything to settle down, too, so there may be some temporary issues while the natural balance is established.

Ladies, thanks for your input, that's good to hear!

Always amuses me when people think they know better than trained medical professionals..

It always scares me when trained medical professionals make mistakes, and I've seen far too many of them. I always double check everything.

I use one of those rubber bulb like things and still douche every time after dilating with water and a little bedadine. I only use KY...tried  coconut oil and found that there was a odor and goo at the end of my dilator with a smell of coconut gone rancid.

When Douching I   only insert the bulb tip to around 1 plus inches.. I understand that some go very deep. I have zero odor.

I read that you are only 3 months post op. Have you spread the labia minora and exposed the clitoris? If not then I suggest you do that and you will see that there is a white crusty layer inside, its noral to have this build uo.   This is where the cheese like odor comes from and I suggest that you throughly clean that area.. the first cleaning may require q tips as the build up can be dense.

I actually couldn't even see my clitoris until around 8 weeks post-op. I don't see anymore residue but I will try cleaning it better with some q-tips. Glad yours went away. 

I'm on the douching upsets your ph balance brigade, I have 1 UTI so far, got that almost a year post op. other than that no issues. I wash it with ph balanced wash for vaginas

Nope I never douche. I do also naturally lubricate though. But I do use silicone lube as well when dilating and having sex. I've had to be careful about what lube (what ingredients) or I end up with constant yeast infections.

I am almost 2 years post op and I douche every single day. When I dont douche, the fishy smell down there bothers me specially when having sexual intercourse.

No I do not and I am sexually active. I do have a slight fishy smell, but that's apparently normal.

I go for a yearly checkup at the Gynecologist to get a pap smear and a general checkup and everything is normal in my vagina besides not been attached to a uterus.

noleen : Yeah, the fishy smell is a sign that everything is working well down there.   It's the result of the good bacteria. (You can't get a Pap smear as such, though; that is a test of the cervix, which is part of the uterus. I know of gynecologist who do claim to perform them on trans women, but they must be using it as shorthand for "checking for cancerous cells" or something.)

Hello everyone, I douche after the smell of my encounter gets bad.  Most of it appears to run out in the course of the night.  But still you can really smell that fishy (cum) smell when you are standing.  Pretty sure others can smell it too.  Once I get home I use a smaller dilator with a little water based lube and water in the shower to flush the critters out.
I don't normally douche and not overly necessary when using a condom.

Anne

EOM

Quote from: Jenna Marie on August 03, 2016, 11:13:17 AM
noleen : Yeah, the fishy smell is a sign that everything is working well down there.   It's the result of the good bacteria.

Yeah exactly. As long as I shower every other day or so, the smell doesn't get too bad. But after a few days w/o shower it can be pretty fishy lol

Hi Kimbee!!!

I am 15 months post op... Dr B was my surgeon as well and I got the don't need to douche talk from her as well... I have never had an odor problem.. A friend had gone through that issue and told me to only use bacteriostatic lube... Which I do ( Surgilube )... Thank goodness I'm down to once a day or less dialation schedule now!... Life is easier!!!

Anyway... When I do feel the need to clean out I use a "Waterworks" douching system I found on Amazon and it works well with just warm water!!!


Take Care!!!
Ashley