Ahh, the good ol pH balance. The “potential for hydrogen” that vagina owners have heard about since the beginning of time. You may know that we have to “keep it in balance” and that certain things will “throw it off,” but what does this actually mean? Let me tell ya, there is an entire crackpot of an industry out there dedicated to deodorizing and scenting our perfect flowers…and I am here to tell you to leave your poor vagina alone. I am referring here to the vagina - the interior canal which connects directly to the cervix. Things like sugar waxing and scrubs tend to and care for the outer skin, the labia and the vulva which are safe and A-okay. But assaulting the vagina with chemicals and various products, no matter how “natural” they claim to be will not solve your problems. Alternatively, they can make the problem way worse and cause dependence on the product. Vaginal pH is important to understand because it affects your ability to conceive and your body’s ability to fight off infection.
When I share with people that I specialize in brazilian sugar waxing, I often get a question about the “smell”…and I always respond that vaginas are amazing! Sure, every girl has a smell, but we are not gross, and we are fully capable of getting a wax without offending anyone. The societal pressure on women to cover up their natural scent and to instead smell like roses or some other synthetic chemical formula is actually what tends to cause the opposite effect - throwing off your pH and causing your vagina to have a negative reaction.
Let’s get into it…
How does pH affect your vagina?
Inside of each and every one of us is a vast and completely unique ecosystem of bacteria and fungus, lactobacilli, candida, and millions of microorganisms that are very much alive. These acid-producing bacteria have a particular environment they thrive in. And for vagina-owners, this environment exists at a pH level between 3.8 and 5 (the pH scale is between 1 and 14 with perfect neutral being a 7). Of course, there is some variation depending on your body, but this environment is slightly acidic to aid in killing certain bacteria and maintaining a healthy but delicate ecosystem. When the environment changes, the bacteria can’t produce certain acids and the “bad” bacteria will start to overgrow, which can lead to yeast infections and other uncomfortable conditions.
These symptoms also lead us to a common solution, a cream and a pill - the pinnacle of women’s healthcare. I can’t tell you how many times these have been given to me without any explanation other than to follow the directions on the bottle. But it inevitably has led to more complicated and recurring infections because it did not address the actual cause of the infection. There is some basic education lacking about women’s health that might save you a trip or two to your doctor.
Here are some things that you need to know about pH and your vagina!
Your vagina is self-cleaning. I repeat, your vagina is self-cleaning… There is absolutely no need to put anything inside of you (i.e douching, soap) to clean it. The outside parts and the skin around it can be exfoliated and washed but be sooooo careful with what is allowed inside. There is no better time than today to throw away these harmful products!
Things like medication and a poor diet can alter your vaginal pH. This can include birth control. And remember sugar feeds candida...So any type of processed sugar should be kept to a minimum especially when trying to rebalance your pH.
Semen can throw off your pH! Semen is highly alkaline, so choosing the right partner and showering after sex can help minimize the negative effects from exposure. Additionally, having an imbalanced pH level can damage the sperm and prevent it from fertilizing the egg!
Wearing the right clothes is crucial- I am team no underwear! Oxygen is amazing at helping to heal and provide the body with the building blocks for healthy biological functions. At least wearing loose fitting clothes to bed will help everything to get the oxygen it needs! Tight clothes can lead to increased frequency of infections.
Understanding vaginal pH is critical for women’s health because it affects everything from our quality of life to the ability to become pregnant. Generally speaking, if you are questioning a product or a serum, less is more. Of course, check with your doctor, but understand that there is an incredible intelligence that exists in our bodies, particularly with our incredible vaginas that is able to outsmart even the fanciest synthetic “clean” smelling chemical ever made!