Women who douche squirt water or other solutions into the vagina to clean or rinse it out. Approximately 37 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 44 douche regularly -- and about half of these women do so on a weekly basis. Some reasons that women give for douching include reducing odors, avoiding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and rinsing away blood after a menstrual period. However, healthcare providers recommend that women let the vagina clean itself, since its chemical balance is highly sensitive.