A douche is something used to rinse out the vagina with water or a liquid mixture, usually by squirting it upward through a nozzle or bottle. Doctors generally do not recommend douching because it can disrupt the vagina’s natural balance and is linked to infections and other health problems.

What it does

  • Flushes fluid into the vagina and lets it run back out.
  • People have used it to try to remove odor, semen, menstrual blood, or to “clean” the vagina.
  • It does not prevent pregnancy or reliably prevent STIs.

Safety

  • Health authorities advise against routine douching.
  • It can increase the risk of vaginal infections and may affect fertility.

Slang meaning

“Douche” can also mean an unpleasant or obnoxious person in informal English.

TL;DR

In a medical sense, a douche is a vaginal rinsing device or mixture, but in everyday slang it’s an insult for an obnoxious person.