The pH of the vagina is essential for vaginal health.
Normalvaginal flora, the healthy bacteria in the vagina, thrive when the pH level is balanced.
However, medications, diet, and lifestyle factors all impact vaginal health.
Bluering Media / Getty Images
Bluering Media / Getty Images
Healthy Vaginal pH
The pH is important for several reasons.
A lower pH is more acidic, which is ideal for optimal vaginal health.
Your vagina should be slightly acidic, between 3.8 and 5.0.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
The vagina relies on a microbiome of various organisms for optimal health.
These bacteria help maintain a healthy vaginal pH.
Harmful bacteria or yeast can grow and cause an infection when the pH is out of balance.
Imbalanced bacterial growth can lead tobacterial vaginosis(BV).
Dietary Changes
Several dietary changes may positively impact your vaginal health and reduce vaginal pH.
Reduce simple sugars:Consuming simple sugars can lead to higher pH levels.
This can fuel yeast growth and increase abnormal vaginal floramaking one more susceptible to infections.
They include many plant-based foods, such as bananas, garlic, artichokes, asparagus, and more.
Hydration:Drinking plenty of water helps flush toxins and regulate the vaginas ecosystem.
Is Alkaline Water Better for Health?
There’s no evidence that drinkingalkaline waterbenefits vaginal health.
Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle factors play a role in overall health and may affect vaginal pH.
Manage Stress
Stress increasescortisol, which disrupts the acid-base balance in the vagina.
Some stressors are beyond our control, so managing them is the next best choice.
Coping techniques include:
Exercise may be especially beneficial inreducing stressand positively impacting the body’s microbiome.
Avoid Douching
Douchinginvolves cleaning the inside of the vagina with water or a solution.
Women often think they are supposed to douche.
Douching may also worsen an infection by pushing the bacteria into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
This can lead to a serious health issue calledpelvic inflammatory disease.
Secretions wash away blood, semen, and excess discharge.
Just use warm water on the outer areas to keep the outside clean when bathing.
Wearing breathable cotton underwear provides airflow.
Its also a good idea to change promptly after swimming or sweating to keep the area dry.
Both reduce the risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Use Barrier Protection During Sex
Semen has a pH level between 7.1 and 8.
Having unprotected sex briefly increases the pH of the vagina.
An increased pH is helpful when trying to conceive a baby because it helps protect the sperm.
Barriers such as condoms protect the vagina from exposure to the higher pH of semen.
Quit Smoking
Individuals who smoke cigarettes may be more susceptible to infections such as bacterial vaginosis.
They also may experience reduced levels ofLactobacillus, which is essential for maintaining vaginal health and pH.
Supplements and Other Remedies
Several additional strategies may help to restore and maintain vaginal pH.
Examples include various supplements and vaginal suppositories.
Probiotics
One of the best ways to consumeprobioticsis through your diet.
More research is needed to understand the effectiveness of these supplements.
Garlic
Garlic is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Some studies suggest it can help fight off vaginal infections.
Garlic may also be effective againsttrichomoniasisand yeast infections.
When eaten as part of ahealthy diet, garlic is generally safe.
Oral garlic supplements are available.
Its best not to use garlic directly in or around the vagina.
Garlic Supplements
Check with your healthcare provider before taking garlic supplements.
High amounts can increase the risk of bleeding and may interfere with the effectiveness of some medications.
Boric Acid Suppositories
Boric acid suppositoriessometimes are used to improve vaginal health and restore pH balance.
Their antifungal and antibacterial properties can help to treat infection.
Tea tree oil is effective against yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis in lab prefs.
Additionally, while it can target pathogenic (harmful) microorganisms, beneficialLactobacillusseem more resistant.
However, individuals who use tea tree oil vaginally may experience irritation and other unpleasant symptoms.
More research is needed to determine if and how tea tree oil is safe to use intravaginally.
Symptoms
Infections are a common cause of vaginal pH disruption.
Atrophic vaginitis, or thinning of vaginal tissue, may also cause burning or discomfort.
This is more common in perimenopausal or menopausal women due to decreased estrogen levels.
Some include litmus paper, while others use a vaginal swab.
You collect the sample at home and then compare your results with an easy-to-read pH color chart.
Similar tests provide a report of your vaginalmicrobiome.
However, they are packaged and sent to a lab.
Along with discharge, pH levels and normal flora keep the vagina clean and balanced.
At-home tests are available to test vaginal pH levels if you suspect they are unbalanced.
Call a healthcare provider if you have a fever or pain.
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