Is potassium permanganate fumigation effective?

Potassium permanganate is a chemical and also a strong oxidant. It has a good bactericidal effect, so people often use it for disinfection and sterilization. Some women also use it to wash their vagina when they are infected with fungi or after their period. When it is necessary to flush it with water in proportion, then let us understand together what specific proportion of potassium permanganate solution is needed to fumigate the vagina, and whether it will be effective.

Gynecological

A 0.01% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate can be used for vaginal washing; a 0.02% aqueous solution can be used for sitting baths to treat excessive leucorrhea; during the honeymoon, using a 0.05% aqueous solution to clean the vulva can prevent urinary tract infections. The incidence of hemorrhoids in women is relatively high. Soaking in a basin with 0.1% aqueous solution can relieve itching and pain, prevent infection, and promote the reduction of prolapsed hemorrhoids.

Because potassium permanganate has a bactericidal effect, many women use it to clean the perineum, and even use potassium permanganate wash to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, it does not prevent STDs.

There are two reasons why potassium permanganate does not prevent STDs. First of all, potassium permanganate solution has a very weak killing effect on viruses, molds and parasites, while the pathogens that cause sexually transmitted diseases include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Moreover, many pathogens not only exist on the surface of the vulva, but also lurk deep in the urogenital tract and in the folds of the vaginal mucosa. Therefore, simply cleaning the vulva with potassium permanganate cannot eliminate these pathogens, let alone prevent and treat sexually transmitted diseases.

But potassium permanganate can indeed clean the private parts. Low concentration potassium permanganate solution can flush skin wounds, ulcers, thrush, abscesses, etc. For women, potassium permanganate solutions of different concentrations can be used to clean and disinfect the genitals. In actual use, putting a few grains of potassium permanganate solution in a basin of water can clean the genitals. Men can also use potassium permanganate lotion to clean their private parts, generally with a concentration of 0.1%.

It cannot be used for some vaginitis. If women use potassium permanganate wash for a long time, it will kill a large number of vaginal bacteria that normally parasitize the vagina and help maintain the acidic environment, causing pathogenic bacteria to multiply. Don't take a sitz bath with potassium permanganate solution as soon as you find vaginal inflammation. Bacterial vaginitis and Trichomonas vaginitis can be treated with potassium permanganate aqueous solution sitz bath as an auxiliary treatment, but the use of potassium permanganate to treat fungal vaginitis not only fails to inhibit the reproduction of fungi, but sometimes even aggravates the condition. Since potassium permanganate takes effect slowly, it must be soaked for 5 minutes to kill the bacteria. It should also be noted that when preparing potassium permanganate wash solution, use cold boiled water, as hot water will cause it to decompose and become ineffective. The prepared solution can usually only be stored for about two hours, and when the solution turns brown-purple, it loses its disinfecting effect.

The above is the effect and usage ratio of potassium permanganate on female gynecology. However, you still need to be cautious when flushing and must use it under the guidance of a doctor. Do not use it without authorization as soon as you find itchy vulva or redness and swelling of the vagina. You should go to the hospital for examination to confirm what type of bacterial infection it is. In addition, do not use potassium permanganate for a long time to avoid disrupting the vaginal flora.