Many women struggle to restore their normal vaginal pH balance, leading to bacterial infections like yeast and UTIs. These bacterial infections may be caused by semen, which is more alkaline than the vaginal fluid.
A normal pH level is 3.8-4.5. When sperm mixes with vaginal fluid, the pH level rises. This raises the bacteria levels and makes it hard for sperm to reach an ovulated egg and fertilize it.
1. Avoid Douching
Douching is not only associated with bacterial vaginosis but also with sexually transmitted diseases. Women should avoid douching as much as possible. Douching can change the pH balance of your vaginal fluid, making it more acidic than usual. This can interfere with sperm’s ability to swim through the vagina and fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg.
A healthy vagina has a pH between 3.8 and 4.5, meaning that it is slightly acidic. Semen has a pH of 7.1 to 8.5, which makes it alkaline.
The acidity of the vaginal fluid helps to prevent disease-causing bacteria and fungi from growing there, but sperm are attracted to an alkaline environment because it is more fertile. This is why it is important to keep the pH of your vagina in a normal range.
In order to do this, you should avoid using harsh cleansers like douches. Your vagina is designed to eliminate semen, blood and other discharges through natural processes without the need for harsh washes. Douching can disrupt this natural process and may result in infection or even serious complications.
The same is true of vaginal lubricants, such as those used for sex or to treat dryness. These lubricants can also cause your vagina to become more acidic, which can throw off the sperm’s ph level and prevent them from swimming through the fallopian tube to the ovary.
2. Avoid Chemical Lubricants
While personal lubricants may make intercourse more enjoyable, they can also throw off the pH balance in your vagina. Many chemical lubricants have a high pH that can damage sperm. Additionally, some lubricants have been shown to reduce DNA integrity in sperm.
The natural pH of the vagina is acidic, and it helps to ward off unhealthy bacteria. However, when semen enters the vagina during unprotected penetrative sex, it can raise the pH to an abnormally high level. This can create an environment that is more conducive to the growth of pathogenic fungi and bacteria, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Using the right lubricant can help to prevent this from happening. When selecting a lubricant, look for one with a low pH and osmolality. You can find a wide variety of lubricants online, including fertility-friendly options that are free of harsh chemicals and glycerin.
Similarly, you should avoid douching, which can also increase the vaginal pH. Additionally, it is best to use a condom during sex, as this will provide a barrier that can protect against both STIs and pregnancy. In addition to avoiding these things, you should take steps to boost your immune system and maintain a healthy diet. This will help to keep your vaginal pH at a normal level and allow you to conceive.
3. Maintain a Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
A pH level is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. The higher the number, the more acidic the liquid, and lower, the more alkaline. The human body’s acidity and alkalinity are balanced by a complex system. The average vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5, which falls on the acidic side of the scale. Sperm, however, has a much higher pH of over 7, which can throw off your vagina’s delicate pH balance.
Luckily, there are many things you can do to help keep your vaginal pH balanced. Avoiding douches (which can increase pH levels), drinking lots of water, and avoiding acidic foods like meat, dairy, and sugar can all help keep your vaginal flora healthy. Taking probiotics can also help restore the healthy bacteria that help balance your pH.
Using barrier protection during sexual intercourse can also help maintain a healthy vaginal pH, as can regularly changing your tampons throughout your menstrual cycle. Additionally, using condoms will prevent alkaline semen from disrupting your vaginal pH and can help protect you from STDs. Lastly, using a natural lubricant without chemicals or detergents can help to maintain a healthy pH balance. You can shop our selection of natural lubricants here.
4. Use a Water-Based Lubricant
Using lubricant can make penetration and intercourse more comfortable, increase the fun factor of sex toys, and allow for smoother insertion of pelvic wands or dilators. However, it’s important to use a safe, condom-compatible lubricant to avoid bacterial infections. There are many different types of lubricants on the market, and each one has its own set of compatibilities and attributes. Water-based lubricants are a good all-around choice because they’re safe to use with condoms and most sex toys, and they’re easy to clean up. However, they can dry out quicker than silicone or oil-based lubricants, so you’ll have to re-apply during longer sessions.
The pH level of a woman’s vagina normally is acidic, but it rises during unprotected penetrative sex to create an alkaline environment that sperm needs to swim through and fertilize an egg. This unbalance can also encourage growth of harmful bacteria that can cause disease and infection.
Other factors that can disturb the balance of pH levels include douching, medications that contain estrogen (especially during fertility treatments or menopause), and sex with a man who isn’t using a condom. Millions of women struggle to restore a normal pH balance each year, and the problem is more likely to occur during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are lower.
