3 Common Triggers for Elevated Vaginal pH

Many women do not realize the vagina is an ecosystem that requires a balanced environment to remain healthy. Events like menstruation, sex, and hormonal changes can throw off that balance, resulting in odor and discomfort.

Many women have never had the benefit of a frank, open discussion about vaginal health and the importance of maintaining a healthy pH balance “down there.” Healthy pH and beneficial lactobacillus are the keys to reducing the risk of vaginal issues. pH refers to the vagina’s acidity level. A vaginal pH of 3.5 – 4.5 indicates that the vagina is populated by good bacteria (lactobacilli) without overgrowth of the bad bacteria that can cause odor and irritation and an elevated pH means that the healthy flora of the vagina may struggle to survive, while harmful bacteria thrive.

Yet women experience many of the triggers for elevated pH on a regular basis:

Your period: The pH of blood is 7.4, which is much more alkaline than normal vaginal pH (3.5 – 4.5) which can lead to elevated vaginal pH.

Sex: Semen has a pH of 7.1 to 8 and can increase vaginal pH.

Hormones: Pregnancy, menopause, and your normal monthly cycle can cause hormone changes that alter vaginal pH.

To eliminate vaginal odor and relieve discomfort, women should know that an unbalanced vaginal pH is often the culprit. RepHresh Vaginal Gel (which is available without a prescription), is specifically designed to bond to the vaginal walls and provide long-lasting support to maintain healthy vaginal pH and eliminate odor.

By learning how to maintain a healthy pH, women can maintain vaginal health and help avoid any issues that could stem from elevated pH.

Additionally, RepHresh Pro-B contains the strains of probiotics that are specifically designed to promote vaginal health to balance yeast and bacteria every day. Pro-B contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1™ and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14™, two clinically documented probiotic lactobacilli specifically optimized for vaginal health as opposed to a probiotic or yogurt that supports immunity or digestion.

Taking control of pH means taking control of the natural vaginal environment, putting an end to unpleasant odor, discomfort, and itching.

This post was written by Lauren Streicher, MD, Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause and Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. Check out Dr. Streicher’s blog, When Your Vagina’s in a pHunk.