{"id":26503,"date":"2021-10-11T15:55:22","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T15:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=26503"},"modified":"2022-06-17T20:58:19","modified_gmt":"2022-06-17T20:58:19","slug":"vaginal-ph-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/vaginal-ph-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Maintain Vaginal pH Balance Naturally\u2014And What to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest: You probably don\u2019t pay too much attention to your vaginal health<\/a> unless things are painful, itchy, smelly, or otherwise uncomfortable. But when things do go wrong down below, it often involves an all-encompassing unpleasantness that you\u2019d do anything<\/em> to fix.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

In large part, the health of your vaginal tissue comes down to vaginal pH\u2014a measure of its relative acidity or alkalinity. The good news: There are specific ways you can maintain a healthy vaginal pH, which, in turn, can prevent infections, vaginal odors<\/a>, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Below, we’ll dive into what constitutes a healthy vaginal pH, what can mess with it, and how to bring it back into balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Why vaginal pH balance matters<\/h2>\n\n\n

The term pH refers to how acidic or basic (alkaline) something is, and the pH scale runs from 0 to 14. A pH below 7 is considered acidic, while a pH above 7 is considered basic. So what\u2019s a healthy vaginal pH? While you might assume neutral, you actually want things slightly acidic.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cA normal vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5, which inhibits the growth of inappropriate bacteria,\u201d says Wendie Trubow, MD, MBA<\/a>, a functional medicine gynecologist at Five Journeys. \u201cWhen the pH is higher and gets into alkaline range, then undesirable bacteria can grow, sometimes leading to bacterial vaginosis (BV)\u2014an imbalance caused by an overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis<\/em>, which can cause itching, burning, and an unpleasant odor.\u201d Additionally, BV often involves a gray, yellow, or white vaginal discharge with a foul, fishy odor.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is also characterized by a deficit of healthy vaginal Lactobacillus<\/em> bacteria. The Lactobacillus<\/em> species is incredibly important, as these beneficial bacteria secrete lactic acid, which creates an acidic vaginal pH. That inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria<\/a> in the vagina. So, when not enough of these \u201cgood guys\u201d are present, bad bacteria can proliferate. (Similar to what happens in your gut microbiome.)<\/p>\n\n\n

While BV isn\u2019t all that harmful by itself, research shows<\/a> that it can increase the risk of contracting a variety of sexually transmitted diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus 2, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and HIV. Why, exactly? High vaginal pH is associated with a greater number of inflammatory compounds called cervicovaginal inflammatory cytokines<\/a>, which have been implicated in increased vulnerability to STDs, as well as greater risk of preterm labor if you\u2019re pregnant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

What alters vaginal pH<\/h2>\n\n\n

A variety of factors can raise vaginal pH to unhealthy levels, including anything that suppresses the growth of good Lactobacillus <\/em>bacteria. Here are some of the top offenders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Douching<\/h3>\n\n\n

About 1 in 5 women<\/a> regularly douche, even though doctors recommend not to. Douching involves using a nozzle to wash the inside of the vagina with a combination of fluids including water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. However, the vagina is self-cleaning, so this is completely unnecessary. Not only is douching not needed, but it can alter the delicate balance<\/a> of good and harmful vaginal bacteria that is necessary to maintain an acidic environment. This, in turn, can prime you for infections.<\/p>\n\n\n

Menstruation\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n

Because blood is normally slightly basic<\/a>, menstruation can temporarily raise the pH of the vagina. Often, this doesn\u2019t cause any issues, but when menstrual blood hangs around too long\u2014say, if you don\u2019t change your tampon<\/a> frequently enough\u2014pH remains elevated for longer, which may contribute to problems.<\/p>\n\n\n

Unprotected sex\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n

Ejaculation of semen into the vagina can play a role in elevating vaginal pH, because semen is slightly alkaline<\/a>. Again, there\u2019s nothing wrong with this, but it\u2019s another thing to note that may make you want to pay more attention to your vaginal health. (Oral sex would not have the same impact.)<\/p>\n\n\n

Poor gut health\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n

In Dr. Trubow\u2019s practice, recurrent BV often relates back to the health of the gut microbiome. This is because the gut and vaginal microbiomes are closely connected<\/a>, and the bacteria and other microbes in the gut can influence<\/a> the composition of microbes in the vagina. Everything from an overly processed diet to excessive stress to antibiotic use can negatively impact the gut.<\/p>\n\n\n

Antibiotics\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n

While you should never skip antibiotics when your doctor prescribes them for a specific condition, it\u2019s important to know that these drugs not only kill pathogenic bacteria, but also the good bacteria necessary to maintain a healthy vaginal pH.<\/p>\n\n\n

How to balance vaginal pH<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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While your unique biology may potentially prime you for an imbalanced vaginal pH, there are a number of ways to get your levels back in check and prevent unpleasant issues. \u201cThe vagina is a really cool ecosystem and it responds well to a number of interventions,\u201d says Dr. Trubow. Here are some ways you can tackle the issues outlined above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n