Vaginal pH is a measure of how acidic or basic your vaginal environment is. A healthy vagina is home to different types of acid-producing bacteria, dominated by Lactobacillus genus, and is mildly acidic (3.8-5.0 pH). This acidic environment creates a natural protective barrier preventing pathogen overgrowth and infections.
An imbalance in the vaginal ecosystem can alter healthy vaginal acidity and tip the scale to the point of dysbiosis, causing Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections. Common symptoms include itching, burning, odorous discharge and pain during sex. Vaginal infections also increase the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and are associated with adverse reproductive health outcomes.
In a woman’s daily life many factors cause imbalance in the vaginal pH, including – unprotected sex (semen), along with estrogen changes during menstrual cycles, with use of hormonal contraceptives, or low estrogen during breastfeeding, menopause and during recovery from cancer therapies. Antibiotics can also wipe out healthy vaginal microbiome.
