Introduction:
The pH of the vagina plays an essential role in balancing vaginal health and acts as an indicator for vaginal infections. The normal vaginal pH ranges between 3.8 to 5.0, which is slightly more acidic than regular blood and protects it from disease-causing pathogens. Daily, this vaginal pH can be affected or altered due to various reasons, including a person's overall health, hydration level, age, diet, and practicing safer sexual habits. Vaginal pH is age dependent, and the pH of the vagina in women of reproductive age is around 4.0 to 4.5 and is more acidic than in pre and post-menopausal women.
What Is the Significance of Restoring Vaginal PH?
A healthy vaginal pH is determined by the metabolism of bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus, internal microbial flora, glycogen, estrogen, external and preexisting flora, and pathogens. These organisms ferment the glycogen in the vaginal mucosa, creating an acidic pH of around 4 to 4.5. The significance of restoring the pH of the vagina helps create a protective environment and fight against the potential bacteria that cause vaginal infection.
What Are the Factors Affecting Vaginal pH?
Vaginal pH constantly alters nature, even under the influence of simple circumstances. Knowing the possible causative factors to restore normal pH levels is essential. The factors influencing vaginal pH are:
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Infections - Infections in the vagina cause a change in the bacterial flora, where the disease-causing pathogen is ruled out by the good bacteria changing the vaginal pH.
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Unprotected Sex - Vaginal pH can be altered during unprotected sex as the pH of the semen alters the physiological buffer leaving the vagina more prone to infection.
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Menstrual Cycle - The period flow during the menstrual cycle changes the pH of the vagina as the menstrual blood is alkaline. The alteration in the alkalinity increases the pH around 3.8 to 5, and during conditions like abnormal or irregular menstrual cycles, it further changes the pH acidic.
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Antibiotics - The purpose of antibiotics in case of infection is to kill bacteria. Here in the case of vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), antibiotics are used to kill the disease-causing bacteria, but rather the drug is potent to kill both the good and bad bacterial flora, thus altering the pH of the vagina.
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Vaginal Sprays - The vagina is a self-cleansing organ and does not require any solution or procedure to clean it except with normal water. But excessive cleaning of the vagina, especially with antibacterial solutions, creates an imbalance in the vaginal flora, altering the vaginal pH.
How Can Vaginal Infections Be Identified?
Change in the pH of the vagina alters vaginal health, and it can be identified by the symptoms of vaginal health, and they are:
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Change in the color of vaginal discharge and consistency.
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Alterations in the vaginal odor.
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Pain during urination.
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Itching and discomfort of vagina and vulva.
What Are the Natural Ways To Restore the PH of the Vagina?
Changes in the vaginal pH and vaginal irritation can be hard to deal with as it can be painful and has a burning sensation during urination resulting in urinary tract infections. When left unnoticed, urinary tract infections can cause possible severe damage to the system. Here are some ways to restore the pH balance of the vagina naturally.
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Staying Hydrated: Increasing the amount of water intake and water-rich food naturally cleanses the vagina with frequent urinary flush resulting in the removal of pathogenic bacteria. It also gradually reduces the irritation caused by pathogens.
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Probiotic Intake: Increase in probiotic-rich food and supplements like yogurt, fermented foods, kimchi, fermented rice water, oral probiotic supplements, etc., increase the production of the "good" bacteria in the system, also called Lactobacilli that alters the abnormal vaginal pH and establishes a healthy balanced vaginal pH and health. Although probiotic Intake helps increase the good bacteria, it does not inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria.
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Boric Acid: The usage of boric acid for vaginitis has been under practice for a very long time now and is one of the easily accessible remedies. Although using boric acid for vaginal health is still under clinical study, using it for mild to moderate symptoms rather than to prefer antibiotics is considered ideal.
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Wearing Breathable Undergarments: Wearing underwear made of breathable fabrics like cotton provides air circulation and is also hypoallergenic in nature, preventing cross infections from detergents. It is also ideal for changing one's underwear during excessive moisture buildup or going to sleep without wearing one to keep it at bay from moisture buildup and bacterial infection.
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Mindful Vaginal Cleaning: Care should be taken while cleaning the vagina. However, the vagina is self-cleansing in nature and does not require special vaginal washes. Using products with high perfume or alcohol content can harm the vaginal flora. Also, gentle handling of the vagina is advised instead of vigorous scraping, as it can alter vaginal health.
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Protected Sex: Using protection during sexual intercourse can significantly help prevent vaginal infection as the semen tends to alter the vaginal pH. Protection also prevents transmission of cross-infection, creating balanced vaginal health.
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Quitting to Smoke: The effect of smoking creates a lot of changes in the body generally, which also affects the vaginal flora with decreased evidence of Lactobacillus. Hence, quitting or reducing the degree of smoking can lead to a healthier vaginal environment creating a balance in pH.
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Destressing: Stress dramatically impacts overall health; it also reduces the normal vaginal flow creating vaginal dryness. Hence, it is very important to keep one void of stress or have some distressing activities, which improves vaginal health.
Conclusion:
An imbalance in the vaginal pH causes an overgrowth of certain unnecessary bacteria rather than the required good bacteria, which needs to be controlled in order to prevent serious vaginal infections. All the above-mentioned ways help in naturally restoring the vaginal pH and balancing it. But in case of persistent symptoms, like itching, rashes, pain, etc., it is ideal to seek medical help. These remedies effectively restore the pH rather than treat the systemic cause.
