First, What is pH?
The pH scale is a way to measure how acidic something is, with 0 being the most acidic, 7 being neutral, and 14 being alkaline. Different parts of your body have a different pH balance. For example, your stomach is acidic (usually 1.5 to 3.5), which helps it kill harmful bacteria and break down food. Your blood should be right in the middle of the scale, typically between 7.35 to 7.45.
Women in their childbearing years tend to have a normal vaginal pH level that leans towards the acidic side, around 3.8 to 4.5. Before menstruation and after menopause, a healthy, normal vaginal pH tends to be higher than 4.5.
An acidic vaginal pH is protective, as acid kills harmful bacteria, parasites, and fungi and helps protect your vagina against germs. In fact, having a vaginal pH level above 4.5 increases your risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as trichomoniasis (a.k.a. trich) as well as bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that results from an overgrowth of bacteria.
So, What Causes an Unbalanced Vaginal pH?
Your vaginal pH can change based on a number of factors, including:
Your menstrual cycle:
Vaginal pH increases when menstrual blood is in the vagina, according to research, becoming less acidic. On the flip side, pregnancy may make your vaginal pH more acidic—which is nothing to worry about, unless you’re experiencing itching or burning. (Interestingly, oral contraceptives may also make your vaginal pH less acidic, making you more prone to bacterial overgrowth or yeast.)
Whether you’ve reached menopause:
Normal vaginal pH becomes higher (around 5.3, on average) in postmenopausal women, which scientists believe is caused by estrogen depletion. (In fact, research shows the use of estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women leads to a reduction in vaginal pH.)
What medication you’re taking:
Antibiotics tend to raise your vaginal pH because they kill all bacteria—the good and the bad. This in turn can upset the balance of bacteria in the vagina that creates a normal pH level.
Products you’re using to clean your vagina:
Douching (inserting a fluid mixture into your vagina with a tube or other tool to “clean” the inside of the vagina) disrupts the balance of bacteria in your vagina, which can raise your vaginal pH as a result. This is why experts recommend washing only the outside of your vaginal area, and with soap and water only.
Lubricants you’re using:
While your go-to lube may reduce dryness in the vaginal area to make sex more comfortable, many products have a pH that’s higher than 4.5, which can kill healthy bacteria and raise your vaginal pH as a result.
Unprotected sex:
Semen is alkaline, which can raise your vagina’s pH level and encourage the growth of certain bacteria. Plus, the penis has its own bacteria—and when these bacteria come in contact with your vaginal environment, it can upset your bacterial balance (and your vaginal pH as a result).
Signs Your Vaginal pH May Be Unbalanced
While there may be a number of no-big-deal reasons why your vaginal pH isn’t at the ideal 3.8 to 4.5, it can also be a sign that you’re dealing with a bacterial infection, STD, or other health issue. That’s why it’s important to understand some of the symptoms of an unbalanced vaginal pH, so you can test yourself with a DIY vaginal pH swab or schedule an appointment with your gynecologist.
Some of the most common symptoms your vaginal pH is off include:
