Your vagina’s health is much more complex than what you may think. It takes more than daily cleansing with an intimate wash to ensure your lady bits are healthy and happy.  More importantly, just because your vagina looks and feels good doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s in its best shape. It’s all about the pH level.

What is a vaginal pH level, you ask? Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Today we are going to address the most common questions, and clear the confusion associated with vaginal pH values.

What is a pH Level?

Understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy vaginal pH level starts with understanding exactly what a pH value is. The “pH” refers to the acidity level of your vagina. A healthy level is between 3.5 and 4.5, which basically means that your vagina has the perfect amount of good bacteria (lactobacilli), and not an overgrowth of the bad ones. This generally means no abnormal discharge, odour or irritation.   More importantly, a healthy vagina pH level will help protect your vagina from infections, such as yeast infections and even bladder infections.

What Affects a Vagina’s pH Level?

There are many things that can cause an unhealthy pH level, many of which you may do on a daily basis. Simply using a harsh soap when washing your lady bits can contribute to poor levels, which is why we always recommend using an intimate wash – or better yet, a pH intimate wash.

Other contributors that can cause your vagina’s pH value to spike above 4.5 include menstruation, tampons, douching, pregnancy, menopause and even intercourse.  While these things aren’t necessarily bad for your vagina, it’s important to always cleanse properly to decrease your risk of bad bacteria growth and/or infection.

What are the Symptoms of an Unhealthy Vaginal pH Level?

Before we talk about the symptoms of an unhealthy vaginal pH level, it’s important to understand that the following are possible symptoms of a high vagina pH level.  More importantly, they don’t confirm that your vaginal pH level is bad or that something is wrong at all. However, these symptoms can be linked to some health concerns that you’ll want to address with a physician.

So, what are they, you ask? Abnormal vaginal discharge and bad odour are common symptoms when the vagina has too much bad bacteria. Vagisil products can help maintain healthy pH levels while also eliminating the unpleasant scent, but you should still see a doctor just to make sure everything is in working order. 

What are the Health Risks of an Unhealthy Vaginal pH Level?

Having too much bad bacteria in your vagina can be more than just irritating and uncomfortable. In bad cases, it can cause permanent damage, which is why it’s crucial to stay on top of your vagina’s health. Women with extremely high vaginal pH levels can experience premature delivery if pregnant, an increased risk of infections including STD’s such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility are also serious health concerns that have been linked to high vaginal pH levels.

How to Maintain a Healthy Vaginal pH Value?

The good news is that you have a lot of control when it comes to your vaginal pH value.  Simply being healthy can contribute to a healthy vaginal pH value. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are incredibly beneficial, and cleaning properly is probably the best way to keep your vagina happy and healthy. Place importance on the intimate products you use, and choose a pH balancing intimate wash if needed.

Never underestimate the power of cleanliness, especially post sex, during and after your period or after a sweat session at the gym. Remember ladies, a dry, clean and fresh vagina is a happy one. Take control of your vaginal pH value and increase your vagina’s health with the vast selection of vagina-friendly products available within our Vagisil collection.