The vagina's natural acidity is between pH 3.8 to 4.5. This acidic environment helps protect the body from infection. Acidity is created naturally when lactobacilli (friendly bacteria) live in the vagina and create lactic acid. Lactobacillus is present in almost all healthy women's vaginas. When the pH level drops below 4.5, it can cause yeast infections. Yeast infections are caused by an imbalance in the amount of lactobacilli in the vagina. It could be due to antibiotics, birth control methods, or hormonal changes during menstruation. An imbalance of these friendly bacteria can lead to a variety of problems such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. BV is characterized by a foul smell, discharge, and irritation. If left untreated, it can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Vaginal dryness can also be caused by a low pH level, which could result in more frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and infertility. The vagina has a self-cleaning mechanism that keeps itself clean, so douching isn't necessary. Douching disrupts the natural balance of microbes and can make things worse. Avoid using scented tampons, underwear, perfumes, and washing with harsh soaps. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, and avoid wearing tight clothes to maintain optimal pH levels.
The vagina's natural acidity helps prevent infections by inhibiting harmful bacteria. Acidity is created naturally when lactobacilli (friendly bacteria) live in the vagina and create lactic acid. Lactobacillus is present in almost all healthy women's vaginas. When the pH level drops below 4.5, it can cause yeast infections. Yeast infections are caused by an imbalance in the amount of lactobacilli in the vagina. It could be due to antibiotics, birth control methods, or hormonal changes during menstruation. An imbalance of these friendly bacteria can lead to a variety of problems such as BV, yeast infections, and sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. BV is characterized by a foul smell, discharge, and irritation. If left untreated, it can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Vaginal dryness can also be caused by a low pH level, which could result in more frequent UTIs and infertility. The vagina has a self-cleaning mechanism that keeps itself clean, so douching isn't necessary. Douching disrupts the natural balance of microbes and can make things worse. Avoid using scented tampons, underwear, perfumes, and washing with harsh soaps. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, and avoid wearing tight clothes to maintain optimal pH levels.
The vagina's natural acidic environment between pH 3.8 to 4.5 protects against infection by suppressing harmful microbes. Lactobacillus creates lactic acid naturally when present in almost all healthy women's vaginas. When the pH drops below 4.5, this results in yeast infections. They are caused by an imbalance of lactobacilli in the vagina, which can come from antibiotics, birth control methods, or hormonal changes during menstruation. An imbalance of these friendly bacteria leads to various issues such as BV, yeast infections, and sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. BV is characterized by foul odor, discharge, and irritation. If left untreated, it can increase HIV transmission risk. Vaginal dryness can be caused by low pH levels leading to more frequent UTIs and infertility. The body naturally cleanses its vagina without needing douching since it disturbs the natural balance of microbes; use only plain water for cleaning. Don't use fragrant tampons