Balancing Act

FROM PH IMBALANCES TO SENSITIVE SKIN, THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT CAN MAKE OUR INTIMATE ARE AS LESS THAN HAPPY. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FEMININE HYGIENE

- Erin Fisher

Most people remember in high school science class, being taken through a lesson on pH levels and testing a range of tiny paper strips, watching to see what colour they would turn. The teacher may have mentioned how the body has its own pH level too, but they probably didn’t explain how important maintaining a healthy pH is for feminine hygiene. A normal blood pH level sits at about 7.4 on a scale of zero to 14, with zero being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. Depending on your stage of life, your vaginal pH level changes.

Prior to menstruation and after menopause, it tends to be higher than4.5, but during your reproductive years, a normal vaginal pH level is about 3.8 to 4.5, making it more on the acidic side. While this might sound unusual, there is a reason for this unique pH level: protection.

A vaginal pH level above 4.5 creates the ideal environment for unhealthy bacteria and yeast to grow and multiple quickly, which can cause infections such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

While the body generally does a perfect job of maintaining this healthy level on its own, there are a range of factors that can throw your pH out of balance, or cause the area to feel sensitive or irritated.

Healthy habits