In a number of recent reports, both published and unpublished, the practice of vaginal douching for hygiene purposes has been shown to be unnecessary and even harmful, as it can lead to bacterial vaginosis or recurrent yeast vaginitis. During a round table discussion, the relationship between douching and the development of bacterial vaginosis, the consequences of bacterial vaginosis, and the steps that can be taken for diagnosis, treatment, and, most importantly, prevention of this disorder were discussed by experts at the 45th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists [Las Vegas, US; April 1997].