Can Your Private PH Really Be Cast?
Feeling itchy or hot in your private area? Or have you recently noticed a strong odor, with fish on the bottom? You may be experiencing uneven pH of the vagina. Long story short, the pH of a vagina is a measure of the acidic or base area of your vagina. In grades 0–14, the pH near 0 is most acidic, and around 14 is very basic. The pH close to 7 appears to be neutral.
The healthy pH or "normal" pH of a woman's genitals usually does not fall in the medium range, but instead has the right acid, dropping somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5.
"This is how it is kept in the right environment, called lactobacilli, which produce acid as it digests its' food, '' explains Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University.
Unfortunately, private pH does not always balance. The pH of a woman's vagina can be lost for a number of reasons, including infections, chemicals, taking antibiotics, and even sperm, explains Kim Langdon, MD, an Ohio-based gynecologist.
- Some of the symptoms that you may experience with an unbalanced pH include:
- Strong fishy smell (this is often the case among people with common vaginal infections called bacterial vaginosis).
- New onset of yellow or white vaginal discharge
- Itching or burning of the vagina
- Below, here is how to treat an unbalanced vaginal pH, as recommended by gynecologists.
01
See a Doctor
Before attempting any type of medical treatment, the first thing you should do if you suspect that you have an unbalanced vaginal pH is to see a doctor.
“If you do not know what is going on, you should definitely consult a doctor because you may need someone trained in this field to be able to evaluate the work before you start trying 5,000 different home remedies,” says Tamika K. Cross, MD, a gynecologist in Pearland, Texas.
02
Try Oral Probiotic
Probiotic supplements are living bacteria and yeast that can help restore the health of your intestines and the microbiome.
If you have ever been to a ingredients chain, pharmacy, or health food store, you probably already know that you have a lot of options when it comes to probiotics. Minkin proposes a product called Pro-B, "which incorporates good young germs and helps restore the vagina, helping these boys thrive, produce acid, and keep yeast and bacteria away."
03
Try Private Gel
Vaginal gels are designed to measure your private pH if it is too high, or acidic. You will find many vaginal gels available over the counter.
04
Do Not Disturb the Happy Mouth
If you are lucky enough to have a healthy pH of the vagina, one of the best things you can do to keep it is to leave your vagina alone, explains Langdon. "It has its own way of cleansing itself," he said.
05
Be aware that antibiotics can affect your private pH
Most people do not realize that there are many good bacteria that live in the vagina and in the vagina.
"If you are taking any of the antibiotics for UTI (urinary tract infection), ear infection, or upper respiratory tract infections, it can cause your pH to drop because it kills other germs that often clog the vagina," said Cross. "This beautiful bacterium produces acid in lactobacilli and keeps the vagina acid stable."
Many different types of medications can deplete your private pH, but antibiotics are the most common, he points out.
06
Be aware that Some Product Ingredients Can Be Harmful To The Private Environment
"You can avoid a variety of ingredients such as parabens, glycerin, silicone, and petroleum," Cross said. "If your pH is already lost, those ingredients will make it worse."
07
Get Rid of Fragrant Products
Scented bath soap and soap are a popular part of many people's bathing habits. And this is not really a problem — these products can do wonders to keep many parts of our body clean. But when it comes to keeping the vagina clean and happy, these products are not great.
To maintain a healthy pH, you will want to move away from using scented soaps and other products in your vagina.
"Fragrant products can cause more irritation or damage than good," Cross said.
It turns out that a woman's genitals do a very good job of cleansing themselves, so you do not have to rely on many additional products, especially for a variety of perfumes. On this same note, you will also want to avoid being caught unless recommended by your doctor.
08
Eat Yogurt
Yogurt contains Lactobacillus, a “good” bacterium found in various parts of our body, including the genitals and digestive systems. Eating yoghurt may help you maintain a healthy and balanced private pH.1
09
Apply Some Lifestyle Changes
In your efforts to maintain a healthy pH of the vagina, a few lifestyle changes may be helpful. Other recommendations include eating a healthy or nutritious diet, staying clean, reducing your sugar intake, and wearing underwear made of cotton or other breathable fabric.
That being said, you cannot always rely on these methods alone. "While these home remedies can help, sometimes you need antibiotics or health care to help balance," said Cross.
10
Take Your Prescription Antibiotic
This can be confusing as we have said before that antibiotics can affect your private pH, but in some cases you may need to take antibiotics to balance your private pH. This is especially true if you have a vaginal infection such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.
Remember to consult a physician before trying any of these methods. Then, if all else fails, it may be time to return to the doctor. "There may be something going on that you need more help with," Cross reminds us.