When it comes to reproductive & vaginal health- PCOS, Ovarian & cervical cancer, we have been surrounded by a lot of grapevine & so called flawed assumptions & recommendations. Such obnoxious recommendations, consulting & solutions have led to cascading impact on reproductive health. The fact is reproductive & vaginal health is associated with vaginal microbiome, which is said to be sourced from gut microbiome.
Potential of hydrogen or normally called as pH level (acidic level) of female’s vagina has important role to play in vaginal health as it acts as a natural defense against infection, inflammation & ultimately life threatening diseases( Bacterial Vagionisis)
We are going to discuss the key factors that can impact the Vaginal pH level & play a vital role in upkeeping vaginal health.
Vaginal pH level is a scientific measure that determines how acidic & alkaline a female’s vagina is! The pH level varies from 1 to 14 with 7 being the midpoint. A pH level less than 7 is considered to be more acidic & in the range of 7 to 14 is considered to be Alkaline. Research & empirical evidence suggest that a female’s vaginal health is best managed in moderate acidic vaginal pH level (3.8 to 4.5). This acidic level, the key biomarker for vaginal health is determined by lactobacillus- the lactic acid producing bacteria. The abundance of this bacteria fends off infection & keeps pathogens away. Disruption in pH level from moderate acidic to alkaline is associated with overgrowth of candida- leading to yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis (imbalance in vagine microbiome), pelvic inflammatory disease & even sexually transmitted diseases.
Higher the abundance of lactobacillus, the more acidic is vaginal pH level, better the vagina health & lower incidence of inflammation. Changes in dietary & lifestyle choices & hormonal imbalance can reduce the acidic pH level & can negatively influence reproductive health.
Signs of abnormal pH level include changed smell, quantity & color of vaginal discharge & experience of burning & itching in the down area. However, this indication of abnormality of pH level cannot be considered as standard rule. It is important to evaluate what is abnormal for you
Some of the factors that can make vagina pH transit from acidic to alkaline level include:
- Sexual activities: Disruption occurs due to introduction of new bacteria &/or fluid
- Overgrowth of Candida leading to yeast infection
- Adoption of drugs & medication which kills off both good & bad bacteria in the vaginal microbiome
- Using body wash & performed bathing products that have high chemical levels
- Mensuration: During period, a female’s pH level is elevated
Maintaining a healthy acidic pH level is not an easy task given the complex vaginal ecosystem females have. As such activities such as sex, menstruation can cause fluctuations in vaginal pH level. Fluids such as blood (during menstruation) & sperm (during intercourse) are far more alkaline & can make pH level go beyond 7. A lot of female experience disruption in their pH level post menstruation & unprotected sex.
To keep a balanced acidic pH level, it is important to keep good hygiene (prevent using a lot of perfumed body products, gel & moisturizers) & eat a diet married to your unique biology which will keep inflammation at bay. For more details on how can feed your gut microbiome what they are hungry for, give us a shout at www.genefitletics.com
Sources:
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/57172
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2018.00181/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28435139/
https://bmcmicrobiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12866-019-1388-8
