Vaginal pH:
the good,
the bad and
the healthy

It may surprise you to know that there is an entire world inside your vagina. It’s called an ecosystem – the body’s way of maintaining a natural balance of good bacteria ‘lactobacillus’ and pH acidity internally, and that’s what keeps you healthy.

The role
of bacteria

The vaginal ecosystem thrives when good bacteria outweighs the bad. Its job is to keep your internal vaginal pH within a normal range of pH 3.8 to 4.5 to prevent harmful growth³³. When things get out of balance, as with anything in the natural world, there’s a greater chance of unwanted bacteria or fungi taking hold and causing unpleasant urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis or thrush³⁴.

There are lots of things that can affect this delicate microbiome – both internally and externally³⁵. Semen, menstruation, age and hormonal supplementation can sometimes alter the smell, taste and appearance of your vaginal discharge³⁶. Speak to your doctor if you experience recurrent infections of any kind.

It’s all
about balance

Fortunately, there is much you can do to keep this finely tuned ecosystem in balance. Look after your health by prioritising good sleep, hydration and a balanced diet, get plenty of exercise, and reduce stress where possible³⁷. Don’t go overboard on cleaning your vulva, or vagina, by using unnecessary intimate products. This will wash away a lot of bacteria – the good and the bad. And always practise good basic hygiene such as wiping from front to back to help keep bad bacteria and faeces away from the vaginal opening³⁸.

Ref:

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/vaginal-ph-balance#normal-ph
https://www.canesten.co.uk/intimate-health/learning-zone/what-is-vaginal-health
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000897.htm
https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-your-lifestyle-giving-you-thrush
https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-your-lifestyle-giving-you-thrush
https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/lifestyle/hygiene-and-beauty/how-to-clean-your-vagina

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Vaginal pH: the good, the bad and the healthy

The role of bacteria

It’s all about balance

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Discharge is a sign of being clean, not dirty.

Vaginal pH:
the good,
the bad and
the healthy

The role
of bacteria

It’s all
about balance

You might
also want to read: